The Well Worn Path

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

She nodded, "I feel like I"m full circle on the memory thing, let's walk some" She finished her drink and set the glass down. She didn't have anywhere to be no one was counting on her, no one needed her to do something, she was just here.

"Lose memories because of Akala, lose memories cause my mind split in two. I think I've got the memory wipe thing down to a science. I want to build good memories now, I want to feel good too. Wandering has helped with it" She got an odd look on her face as she thought about things. She was trying to pull a memory from long ago from her childhood with her family.

Family. Most of them were gone. Events took them one by one leaving her..with...herself. She did need to walk some.

"How is your family?" She asked remembering her own made her remember he had a large family.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Coren nodded at Serena as she suggested walking. He wasn’t really sure how to approach the memory situation with her. It seemed this woman was destined to be taken aback by just about anything in the Force and reset. It wasn’t something he wanted for anyone, but at the moment, he couldn’t figure out where to approach the problem in order to assist her. There were people who approached the main stage of the galaxy, like Serena, and paid some price. Coren, well, he just preferred to stay away from that stage.

“Sometimes you just need to find a place where no one knows you, no one expects anything from you and you’ll be fine. Unknown Regions did that, Wild Space keeps doing that. It’s a nice feeling. No one worries about what you can do, so long as you are able to help someone as you’re doing it.”

He shrugged as he walked close to her, idly following some path they were both stepping on. They’d go where they wanted to get, or where they should be, it was only a matter of time.

“They’re good, scattered. Some are back, some are… still finding their place in the galaxy. A call would bring them all together, but I’m hoping to stick out of the eye of the galaxy for a bit.” Just hang and walk it a spell.

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

"I agree with this taking it easy. Let us find something to do then Coren together, to help someone, or to build something, or find something. My Jedi skills are slow in returning but they are returning as I remember how to focus. Sometimes it is a surprise"

They were in the corridor walking along slowly as they spoke around them everyone rushed to a meeting, a ship, or who knew all they did was run past them. Serena watched them. "it is good that you know where they are and how. The Outer Time, the Wilds and a bit of peace." They were coming into the portion of the wheel where the vendors hawked their goods.

They held out everything for barter or money. Serena laughed when one stepped in front of her, "You must try it, just a sip" It was wine she thought but maybe not. She looked nervously at Coren, "what do you think?" There was no deceit in the man offering the drink it was safe. Coren may have sensed that as well.

"Please give my friend some too" They had already been drinking what was another?

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The man nodded. He knew what was needed to help repair a mind. Rest and relaxation were easily the best way to fix many of a terrible situation. He wanted to do more, but there was only so much change he could personally affect, most of it he was just needing to be a catalyst. When Serena suggested a few things, Coren was nodding. “I mean, the second we’re off this station, the choices you make bring you where you need to go.” And for him? It meant getting somewhere free, beyond the bounds of anyone who wanted to make their choices for them. “Its just a matter of knowing what you’re looking for.”

Coren had practice with that, before he made his first return from the Unknown Regions, he was a Dark Jedi, trained by a former Sith acolyte, and after that, he went and found his own answers. Among other ‘rogue’ groups, and the Aing-Tii, groups that allows him to learn and felt familiar for him. Groups who helped him answer questions and find his path.

“Yeah, keeps them safe if they stay out of trouble, for sure.” He grinned as they were approached by vendors. A specific one approached with a liquid. Coren shrugged at Serena. “What can it hurt?” They were Force users, after all, and if needed, he could probably fix things. Or destroy things, such a fine line. When the glass was offered to him, he nodded, taking a sip.

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

What could it hurt? Nothing really.

Serena took a sip, it felt like bootstrap molasses on the tongue, dark, thick and acidic. Her nose wrinkled up immediately as she tried to feign a smile. She looked at the vendor, "this is....not something I like..." She shook her head as her arms shook goosebumps ran down them. Nasty she thought.

She looked at [member="Coren Starchaser"] did he think it was good? And if he did would she question his taste in drink? yes.

She made a face and waited.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Coren grinned at Serena. She was always so open and honest with the world. It was… refreshing, to say the least. For him, though, he did his best to keep people around him from trying to murder him and his own. Of course, most of the time it came down to them coming at him with a blaster, lightsaber, or fighter. But here? It was just some bootlegged liquor from the lower decks of the Wheel.

He grabbed the took the bottle and took a swig out of it. Not what he was looking for but he feigned an ‘this is good’ look and ended up backwashing most of it. He shot Serena a look and shrugged. “Thanks… but I think we’ll pass.” He nodded and tossed a credit chit to the slinger of the disgusting booze.

“Ok, about that swim?”

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

She was glad Coren said no the stuff was..."I think we can brew better out of the bathtub." She whispered as they walked away. She grinned big as the sensations of being relaxed flowed over her. Coren's presence seemed to bring some calm.

She laughed and nodded, "Ok Coren let's go find some water who knows what will happen this...time.." She paused looking at him a flash of memory and her cheeks burned bright red. Had they, "Coren have we been close?" She was embarrassed really, she didn't think she was the type to...well...seduce a man but her memories made it seem like she had.

had she?

She wished now she had something strong to drink...and this really bit the big one not having all of this clarity.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He had tastes, they weren't always good, but he did have them. The trick was not offending people who were offering you a meal, or drink. They had every opportunity to poison it. And Coren wasn't in the mood to deal with that sort of thing. It was one of the reason he wasn't a clear Jedi, he had too much... passion? He cared about people, but he also went full force into any choice he made. It was just how Starchasers worked at times. "Probably can. Not too hard." He shook his head as he spoke under his breath.

They continued off and Coren could feel something cooking in he head. He wasn't going to ask, just allow her to work herself through what was going on. He looked at her. "Close? I mean, a few times, but..." Well, how close was it really? The Unknown Regions had cost him a lot of time, and sometimes memories were just... fluid. But he knew that Serena was a friend, and confidante at times. Beyond that? He was still trying to figure out what they were. Always had been.

"Why, whats crossed your mind?"

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

[SIZE=14pt]She couldn’t help but shrug her shoulders a bit nervous about it all. What did it say if they had and she couldn’t remember, did that mean it wasn’t memorable? Or had the memory sweep truly delved deep enough into her mind to remove even the ones that had brought joy, and closeness.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Her blue eyes looked down for a moment then back over, “I get flashes of memory as my mind heals…you probably know what that is like” She blew out as she cautiously talked about what she was seeing.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]“Anyhow” she coughed, “I see us…in room, embracing…I think…I just. Well…have we…um..ever..um…” She could feel the heat in her face a laugh escaped at the most inopportune time.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]“ya know” Lord this was uncomfortable.[/SIZE]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Coren was a traveler, a wanderer, he knew something was different in the galaxy and as a result, sometimes things got fluid for him. The Aing-Tii had taught him a lot, but flow-walking was not something he was mastering. And out in the Unknown? Time seemed to go different, or at least for him. The crew of his home-ship had let him know things were not always what they seemed out in the black.

But he was back here now, maybe things would make sense. Maybe there wouldn’t be an issue in the Wild Space of the Coalition. The Corellian exile smiled at Serena as she stuttered through her words. Looking at her, he shrugged. “I have some memory of it, but I also am working on getting things straight. I think we had…?” Maybe, a few times?

He gave her an inquisitive look.

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Oh. He thinks they had. She was unsure and then she began to laugh. She looked over at him, "we are a pair how sad for us. We can't remember sleeping together!"

Then she stopped laughing "well then. If it happens again it will be like the first time. " how funny to be back in the galaxy and not know some of the most intimate details of a life.

"Oh Coren. I know I missed you It's such a relief to be around someone who understands." The halls grew less crowded as they walked along. Unsure of where they were headed.

Serena looked at the wall tags. "Does that say water. It looks like a symbol I should know." She missed field work. But this meeting it had to be the will of the force.

Someone to trust. Someone to talk to when others looked at her oddly. A friend. She smiled.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

So many things in the Unknown Regions caused issues with the way the storyline went. Spatial and temporal anomalies, black holes, planets with a weird Force signature. It was enough to help scatter a memory and life experience. “And I’m sure it’ll be just as great, if not better!” Coren laughed a little, mostly to himself but yeah, he was including Serena in this. They walked down the hall and when she confessed she missed him, he nodded.

“The same, when things went downhill in the Alliance and I checked out, it was… tricky to leave everyone. But it needed to be done.” For his own reasons, and his own answers.

“Yeah, water. Just dunno if its gonna find us a pool or the water purifying plant of the station.” Coren laughed and nodded down the hall, holding a hand out to allow her to walk ahead of him. And he would fall in step pretty quickly behind her.

[member="Darth Ren Malgus"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

She laughed, "water purifier well that would be different...either way we are on our own journey." She had been on a journey for a long time really trying to find answers to everything that rocked her world. She only had a few that were steadfast in their friendship to her, and in mind said Coren and Seydon were it.

"It will be memorable actually" She shrugged her shoulders hoping she sounded funny. "I miss cave diving, and snorkling, and...." something in the back of her mind snapped as if part of her had been suddenly ripped away was it Ren? She wasn't sure, why now? She missed getting into an air speeder and flying by the seat of her pants.

"Well stay in touch now Coren" She reached out and took his hand, "let's investigate wanderlust. Pick a place...and we'll go. Someone needs help let's help...time passes at times too quickly Coren for...hesitation on good things." The cloud that had fallen over her seemed to suddenly clear tell her that something was up, something wrong....

"Course...now if we find a water purifier....." she gave a confused look, "we will have to wing it on what to do next."

She wanted to ask and knew she shouldn't, "Coren...why did you disappear? Can you tell me? I"m being nosey of course but...and you can tell me its none of my business..." They walked down a set of stairs to begin wondering through another hall. The sounds of the upper level began to fall away and soon it was just them and the hum of a few mechanics.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

“Yeah, it’d be different for sure.” The pilot laughed and shook his head. What would he even do if they found the purification plant? Probably turn around, not exactly a sanitary, nor terrible romantic getaway spot. But any place with a pool? Those were a bit better. He smiled at her. When she began going on about life, he was nodding.

It all made sense. Perfect sense. “We’ll figure the next step, but yeah, putting a destination in the ship and going? Always the best way to approach anything.”

She took his hand and he smiled at her. “The galaxy and my place in it was just… lost. I was in the Alliance, they were looking at me to lead, but I’m not a leader. I’m an operative, I was stopping the darkside, and I got too… deep in what I was trying to do? Lost sight of the shore, in a way.”

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

She nodded, "There is still evil to fight out there. I've never been much of one to fight them all but the growing sensations of an approaching darkness tell me evil is on the rise Coren and we may be called upon to help."

She walked along the little metal path listening to the sounds clanging, banging, and behind it all a soft whisper but nothing she could really hear and say OO that's it. No this was just the sounds of the Wheel.

"YOu know I've heard that a number of factions have owned the Wheel and made their own improvements. Like the pool, and training rooms, and quarters, and more vendors...just i don't know how much bigger it can get" She stopped to look at Coren again.

"You are a great leader Coren in different ways. Like" She tried to see him, "with your family, and .....a squadron.....and......something else but that's evading me. But yes you like being on the ground, with the troops, and blazing a path..." she laughed.

They were approaching a door with the same symbol they saw before..."Ok....pool or purifier..." She touched the door...............

 

[Coren Starchaser]

There was evil out there. Evil was really everywhere. It was why there was supposed to be Jedi, but then they get to the point where they are afraid to step out against it. That was why people like Coren existed. The man looked at Serena and nodded. “We may have to, that’s why I’m here, I guess.” He wasn’t sure why he was back in the known galaxy, but he was.


Walking with her, though, felt right, it felt familiar and nice. And the Wheel, well it was one of those places that no one cared for but everyone loved. It was always growing. “Yeah, it helps when each generation of people in charge do what they can here. Makes it almost like a mural of the galaxy.” And those who lead it.


“Yeah, but I dunno, maybe its not what is needed. Someone to spearhead a government is needed. I can just be their Hand.” He grinned as he grabbed the door and pushed it open, arm pretty much around Serena in this motion.


[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

With a single sweep and push the door was opened. Serena blinked several times as her eyes adjusted to the dark. At first she wasn't sure what she was looking at then it became clearer.

It wasn't very big but it was big enough. She smiled, "will you look at that" They walked slowly they had to go down a few steps to be on the same level. For being on the wheel it was beautiful. From where they stood they wouldn't really see how it bulged from the side of the Wheel. The slow spin kept gravity in place and the view out side could take your breath away.

"I really expected to find a water purifier." She looked up at Coren, "So...do you want to tempt it and take a swim? I mean we did find it..." They really had all the way out here in the middle of no where a pool. It seemed destined that they were always going to find water.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The galaxy was such an interesting place, and these locations, the ones where no one was supposed to live in, but people did anyway, were always fascinating. He could feel the energy, the thoughts of travel, the trips, and people finding their place in the galaxy. He knew his own, and for now, it was to be here, and reconnect with the galaxy. He had spent the past few years wandering the galaxy, looking for his place, living out his namesake. And he knew what he had to do now, and it was help the galaxy.

Somehow.

But for now? He was going to relax, and get some R&R in. Reconnect slowly, find those people who wanted him around, and then do what he could to bring the light to this darkening place. The man laughed as he looked out to the pool that he and Serena had fund. “This was definitely not what I expected. But having something like this is almost required.” He may be a spacer, but there was a connection for him and water. Perhaps it was the history of exploration?

That had to be it.

He smiled wide to the blonde. “Why not, right?” What was the worst that could happen.

Right, garbage compactor.

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

What could happen? the swirl of death she had given it some thought here and there along this journey. She looked up and smiled at Coren, "You know it's one thing to have life, its quite the other to live a life"

And that was the journey she had been on to find life, to find what was good in the galaxy for without the good it was easy to focus on the evil. Perhaps it was not coincidence that her path kept crossing those who had struggled and won. No perhaps this was the journey all along for her to learn.

"I think I'm ready to return to the galaxy and be part of the fabric once again. I've hidden away for so long allowing others to control who I am and what my path is. It's time to accept who I am. What I am." She looked at the water it was inviting her to come it was then feeling safe that she opened her mind to everyone around her letting their thoughts, concerns, and emotions run through her. She closed her eyes for a brief moment to adjust to the sounds.

Nodding as she heard questions, smiling knowing she wasn't alone in her insecurities. She reached over and touched Coren's shoulder, "We are both not everything we could be. And yes let's swim it might not be the ocean and lakes that we are use to but for now it can be the reminder of how fluid time really is around us and that anything is possible"

She slid her shoes off, "Close your eyes Coren" She stepped away looking to see if he was looking...intimacy or not she was still a bit modest about being seen. She slipped out of her outwear leaving the intimates and slipped into the water. Shockingly warm more like a bath than the cool of the ocean but it felt like home. It welcomed her.

"Come on in.." She treaded the water easily, "i'll see you down there" she motioned towards the window. How marvelous it must be to see out..

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The man grinned. Serena definitely had a way of putting things out in the open. Living life versus just existing were two different things. And Coren wanted nothing more than to live a life he could. Sure, he was here to stop the Sith, but sometimes, it was safe to just sit around and enjoy the scenery for a bit. The man nodded. Regarding Serena, he figured he was going to agree with most of the things she had to say.

And her being ready to join the galaxy? That was important. And it was always hard to think about where you should be. He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts. “Yeah, all we can do is what we can do.”

But then he was taken aback. Close his eyes? Right, sure, polite and all. But also he had forgotten about the swim a bit, lost in his mind. Wars and battles of the past. No, he wasn’t there now, he was here. When he heard her splash, Coren turned back to the water and lifted his shirt off before working himself into a swim-appropriate attire and dove in.

Swimming after her, the man smiled, for the first time in a while.

[member="Serena Bouie"]