Anchorhead Schmanchorhead!

[Jacques]

The Jedi Order was fractured. Broken, really. But healing slowly yet surely. For a while, the Knight believed that things wouldn't get any better. Kiowaan Dorneau sat in a dingy cantina set in the city of Anchorhead, the place he had been calling home for the past few weeks. Since the fall of the Galactic Alliance he had lived the simple life of a nomad, traveling from here to there and back again.

Tatooine was the place he would always call home though. It was where he was born and the planet he had been whisked away from, when he was too young to even know he had a choice. Not that it was a regrettable decision; the Jedi Order was something to be proud of, even in its destroyed nature. Even torn apart, the Jedi were squabbling over one issue. The issue of how to save the Galaxy from the grasp of the Sith, the Empire, the Hutts...whatever force chose to gain control for their own selfish needs. Selflessness was all Kiowaan had ever known and it was the basic principle of the Jedi that he respected and admired the most. He had almost lost his life several times during the war and would gladly do it again in an instant.

Now here he was; an outcast. A rebel. Living a life of simplicity that could only be appreciated after knowing a life of lavishness and immodesty that flourished on a planet such as Coruscant. A planet he had called home for almost thirty years.

So he sipped from the broth of his cheap, lame soup. And he was happy. The Jedi were on life support, breathing only through the example of the newest Grandmaster, and he was content to survive as he had before. Kiowaan drifted off, remembering what it had been like to absolutely hate moisture farming. He'd only been thirteen when the Knight Ireza Pryor had told him the power of the Force flowed through his veins. The ignorant teenager that he had been barely knew what the hell that even was, but it definitely sounded better than barely surviving harvest after harvest with his father and three siblings.

Why had he been the only one? For all he knew, neither of his parents had the same gift he did. None of his siblings did either. So what the hell was so special about him?

He could pull things and push things without using his hands. Pfft.

Kiowaan stood up when he was finished with his soup and left some money on the table. A large Weequay bumped into him as he tried to make his way through a cantina that, frankly, was too empty for there to be a reason to bump into anybody. So he sped up his step, unwilling to get into any unnecessary confrontations. He didn't even have his lightsaber on him, nor a blaster or anything of the sort. Just the ignition codes to the used speeder he had bought the day before.

'Damn, I really hope those blasted Jawas stop by today...I could really use a droid or two for cheap right now.' The farmer thought to himself, admiring his late father's resolve and ability to get by as a moisture farmer for around half of a century before his passing. For a fleeting moment, the aging Jedi Knight even considered going by the old moisture farm to see if his brothers were still running the forsaken thing half as well as their dad had. But he shook his head no and started to climb into his speeder when he noticed two thugs doing what thugs do best; harassing some poor soul who probably just wanted to get a drink or have something to eat for lunch.

"Yolta is happy..." The Kel Dor crossed his arms, tapping a blaster pistol against his shoulder with a smug look on his face. His partner, a slimy looking Rodian laughed.

In a language Kiowaan only understood because he had been a Jedi and traveled a lot, the Rodian added, "You owe him close to 40,000. Gambling debt, bar tabs...lost cargo...Yolta isn't happy." The green skinned alien tapped his fingers against a holstered weapon. But Kiowaan could tell it wouldn't be holstered for long.

The man looked confused after the Rodian spoke, offering up a simple, "Huh?" in response. He was greeted with a large shove from the muscular Kel Dor. He wasn't scrawny, but wasn't big enough or ready enough to stay on his feet after his aggressor, who must have been about 6'6" and all muscle, pushed him. He let out a large "Oof!" as he crashed to the ground, face down, and began to push himself off the ground before the Rodian offered him a kick in the ribs in return. The Kel Dor put his boot on the man's bag as he once against struggled to get up and laughed.

The blaster clicked from stun to kill settings and said, "It's been half a year and your debt just keeps...growing. So Yolta figured that if you didn't have a head...well...you know."

Now pleading, half sobbing, the man asked, "But then I can't pay him back! It's 40,000 credits!"

With a shrug, the spokesperson of the two thugs replied, "40,000 credits is pocket change to even the lowest level Hutt, dead man. Knowing an unreliable smuggler who never got the job done won't bother him or his establishments ever again? That's worth more than 40,000!"

Kiowaan contemplated what would happen when his cover was blown. The short time reliving his life as a moisture farmer was moot compared to a life he could have saved. The blaster flew from the Kel Dor's fingers and into the Knight's hand. As he flicked the setting from kill to stun, the Rodian blew the pistol from his hand and he grasped it, feeling the burning sensation.

'I may be a little outta practice though...'

Now the barrel of the Rodian's blaster was pointed in his face and the Kel Dor went to pick up his pistol. But the near-dead man leaped to his feet and took off in the opposite direction, and Kiowaan was at least fairly happy that he had saved a life. Even if it had taken his own. The two thugs inched closer and closer until their guns were aimed at him point blank. The Jedi Knight let out a sigh, shook his head, and didn't even bother to try and strike a deal. If that was the way it ended, that was the way it ended...so be it.

But that wasn't what fate had in store for him. On the streets of Anchorage wasn't how he was going to die, at least at this point in time.

 

[Fang.]

Tatooine, a backwater world of scum, villiany, but most of all sand. A place where no one cared who you were or where you came from, because everyone came from nowhere here, sand shifting from one place to another. As strange as it was, Fang came to this backwater world from time to time to center himself, but the last time he had been here.... well Fang didnt want to think about the last time he had been here. Fang walked through the streets, heading nowhere in paticular, lost in thought, letting himself drift through the proverbial sand as it were.

The bump of someone running into him shook him from his thoughts he looked up to see the one responsible running away. looking in the other direction, Fang saw 3 figures, a human, a rodian and a kel dor, the human was unarmed while the other two had blaster pistols, until the pistol the kel dor was holding flew to the humans hand, and the rodian dropped his, obviously in pain. Fang could feel the mans aura, aligned with the light, and from what he could peice together, he was not masking it, no sith would help a man who would help a man in debt. Fang cautiously approached the scene, a throwing knife already in each hand.

Fang could see the rodian eyeing his pistol on the ground, Dont try it. Fang spoke ominously. The pair glanced at him, then the rodian`s eys went back to its pistol, there was a long moment and then the rodian lunged, but Fang was faster, he unleashed a throwing knife. The knife flew through the air, and struck into the rodians hand, pinning it to the wall, The rodian squealed in pain, grabbing at its hand, but it seemed to lack the will to pull out the knife, The kel dor took a step towards Fang, but he flashed the knife in his other hand and the Kel dor stopped unsure of what to do.

 

[Logan]

The long road to Anchorhead always depressed Eisley. She was not one for long speeder rides through the roiling desert just to get something as simple as some bread and a new screwdriver. Making her home in the fringes of the desert seemed like a good idea at the time, the Jedi wasn't exactly the safest thing to call yourself right now, but every time she had to make this trip Eisley regretted it just a little. It took her a little over an hour to get to Anchorhead, and by no means was low speed a factor in her time, but the familiar sight of the whole in the wall that was Anchorhead brought a small smile to her face. Parking her speeder, Eisley set off to the various shops whose necessities she required.

Walking the streets of Anchorhead was never really that dangerous, even with the reputation that settlements on Tatooine had garnered, so Eisley did little to make herself seem guarded. She had a reputation around here, considered a small glint of happiness in an otherwise depressing place. Walking through the streets Eisley waved at a few people she knew, a Jawa here, a Twi'lek there. Cutting down a small alley, something made Eisley stop in her tracks. It had been a long while since she had felt another presence in the Force, even longer since she had felt one attuned with the Light Side. Given the current situation in the galaxy two, what she could only assume to be Jedi, readily revealing themselves meant something was going wrong.

Taking a sharp right towards the direction she thought the auras were coming, Eisley moved with a quickened pace before happening upon a rather peculiar sight. An older fellow, a younger fellow, a Rodian with his hand knifed into a wall and a Kel Dor looking like he was about to make the most important decision of his life. Eisley smiled slightly before making the Kel Dor's decision for him. Walking slowly but with more confidence than she should have had, Eisley approached the younger man, noticing the knife he held in his hand.

"I don't think that will be necessary," She said with a small laugh. With a small motion towards the Kel Dor, Eisley let out a force push with enough strength to fling him into the wall next to the stuck Rodian, making him smack his head up against the brick. Out cold, how sad. Eisley noticed the Rodian was now futilely trying to yank the knife from his hand "Might wanna do something about that one before he goes to get back up and we have ourselves a real problem." She said putting a hand on her hip.

 

[Jacques]

The Rodian's face formed the best scowl it could as he glanced over to his partner. Two thugs with blasters could easily take on one aging gentleman who was doing his best not to use the Force too obviously, even though he already had once. Another two force users on the scene working against them...well, that wasn't going to be a very pretty scene. However, the Kel Dor wasn't out for long. He stirred and sat up slowly, grumbling all the while. He glanced over to his partner in crime and sighed, though not yet willing to admit defeat. Kiowaan sauntered over to the two, against the wall of a petty merchant's store and got on one knee next to the Rodian. The green little shit looked at him disgustedly, but with one swift effort the Jedi removed the blade from the Rodian's open palm. He growled in pain and hunched over, in the lap of his larger counterpart.

"I would suggest getting that checked, friend." Remarked the Knight with a casual shrug, taking a sleeve of his long, brown robe and cleaning the blood from the throwing knife. He spun it around on his fingers and turned around to face the other two, a man about his age who had thrown the knife and a younger girl who had sent the Kel Dor into the wall.

The Rodian spat, and the Kel Dor said, "Three Jedi...you may seem strong now against us two, but when Yolta gets word of this, you'll know what it's like to be overmatched." They got to their feet and searched for their weapons, which the Jedi allowed them to do.

Finally, they turned around, ready to spit out another little bit of warning and threat at the team of three. With a swift, subtle movement of his right hand, Kiowaan 'convinced' them, saying, "Yolta won't find out." The two looked at each other, then at the Jedi, and nodded in agreement, "Tell them his little friend is dealt with. The Rodian was injured when he fought for his life." Again they agreed, and finally he added with a smile, "Have a good day, boys."

They walked away, and quickly too. The two were out of side and out of mind in seconds. With an exhaled breath, Kiowaan's shoulders dropped in exasperation. He threw his hands up, angry with himself and looked at his two saviors. He had not wanted to make a scene, to the point of accepting his own death, even though the scene had already been made. And he'd forgotten about the damned Jedi Mind Trick. He wondered what the hell was wrong with him for a moment, before remembering he was staring at the two, having zoned out for several seconds.

With a shrug he returned the throwing knife and gratefully said, "Thank you...both of you. Apparently I'm a bit rusty, with fighting, with the Force. Hell, with thinking." Kiowaan chuckled and stroked his goatee, almost losing himself in thought once more, before glancing over to his landspeeder and remarking, "We should go. I've a moisture farm several clicks away, it might be best to lay low for a little bit...if you wish." He began the walk over, noticing that he hadn't introduced himself. He figured an introduction could wait a little while. The Jedi Knight climbed into the driver's seat and turned it on, waiting for his Jedi friends to get in.

 

[Fang.]

Upon flashing his second knife, another Jedi appeared sending the Kel dor off into darkness with a force push, and here FAng thought that the order was still scattered, Fang smirked at the thought. The two thugs crawled back to search for their weapons, threatening them, before the man whom he had "saved" simply resolved the situation with a Jedi mind trick and sent the two scum on their way. He then picked up Fangs throwing knife off the sand and offered it to him saying

"Thank you...both of you. Apparently I'm a bit rusty, with fighting, with the Force. Hell, with thinking." Fang accepted it taking the throwing knife and putting it back on his belt with the others. "We should go. I've a moisture farm several clicks away, it might be best to lay low for a little bit...if you wish." the man continued. Fang shrugged and followed him to the speeder, he was not doing anything paticular here on tatooine and was curious about his fellow Jedi, he sat in the passenger seat without a word

 

[Logan]

If she were anyone else Eisley would have found the idea of getting into a speeder with two strange men a laughable suggestion. She had a good nature and was very easy to trust, and given that the two men she was with were Jedi themselves Eisley didn't see any danger in tagging along. It would be a refreshing change of pace to be in the presence of others that followed the Light, for too long Eisley had to hide the fact that she was a Jedi. It didn't sit right with her that she had to do that, it was a very precarious reality when the good guys couldn't even be open with who they were. Her mind was far away from the original intentions she had for visiting Anchorhead.

"Sure I guess I'll tag along," she said trotting up to the speeder and hopping in the back. "My name is Eisely by the way." Her attitude was upbeat and her voice was happy, it was becoming more and more evident that she was going to have to be the spark of humor between these two serious Jedi. The one with the knives seemed particularly brooding.

 

[Jacques]

"Kiowaan, by the way...Kio if you're feeling adventurous." The Jedi Knight said, not solemnly but oozing joy either. He was tired. Close to defeated and no longer used to sentient interaction. Moisture vaporators weren't exactly the best at holding up a conversation. He couldn't understand whatever the hell it was those cheap Jawas were saying either, and half of the shit they sold him didn't work or needed an excess of repairs done to them to make them function. Kiowaan wasn't the most mechanically inclined fellow, too, so often times the repairs only worsened the droids or machinery he had bought.

As the group drove along he let out a sigh, a long one. "My farm's only a few clicks out from here, not sure if I told you guys that already. Shouldn't take too much longer to get there at least."

Some time passed and silence prevailed, a little bit uncomfortable, although Kiowaan didn't quite mind it. He didn't need the time to think or anything like that, and there most definitely wasn't any breathtaking beauty about the dry, rotting wastes of Tatooine. The aging Knight just had never been much of a talker, often preferring to stay out of conversations and just listen. Sure he would throw a suggestion, a remark, anecdote or a quip or two in here and there but it was never much beyond that. Even when he was participating in diplomatic negotiations it was always the bare minimum from him. Although Kio was always the kind of guy who, when speaking, people turned their heads and listened. He was a big fan of the, don't say much but when you do, seem smart approach. Some people liked to talk and talk, but with every word came off as less intelligent than the last.

The speeder drove past what seemed to be the same damn mountain of sand and rock formation that it had gone by just moments before. On Tatooine, things always seemed the same. Landscapes. Crime. Jawas and Tusken Raiders. Kiowaan loved and hated it at the same time, always leaning one side or the other depending on his mood that day. They were almost there, just a mere five minutes from his farm when he finally spoke up again, remarking, "It's nice to see Jedi out and about. It's probably been over a year since I've run into one. And damn, can't even recall the last time I saw two in one place!"

Kiowaan grinned, feeling his ginger mustache rubbing against his left nostril, tickling it. "Kept it contact with a few old pals, I kinda know what's going on with the Order but...you still feel completely disconnected, you know? But that run in back there tells me it might be time to pack up my shit and head on back to the Order, wherever the hell they are these days. I'm sure the Jedi could use all the help they could get at this point." He chuckled, shrugged and kept on driving.

 

[Fang.]

Fang He replied with his own name, watching the passing dunes of sand, as crazy as this backwater planet was it was still one of the most peacefulll places in the galaxy. Fang chuckled as Kio talked about how rare it was to see two jedi in one place.

"Kept it contact with a few old pals, I kinda know what's going on with the Order but...you still feel completely disconnected, you know? But that run in back there tells me it might be time to pack up my shit and head on back to the Order, wherever the hell they are these days. I'm sure the Jedi could use all the help they could get at this point." Kio continued, Fang took a breath.

That we definatly could, that's why I enjoy these moments when I can...

 

[Logan]

Listening to the other two Jedi talk, Eisley sat in quiet contemplation in the backseat of the speeder. Unconsciously she pulled a cigarette case from her pocket. Putting one of the thin sticks in her mouth, she lit it with a small lighter. It never even occurred to her to ask if Kiowaan if her minded. She had been living on Tatooine for almost nine months now, her time at the Jedi temples seemed so far away now. Images of their hallowed halls stained with the blood of her fellow Jedi flashed in front of her eyes as she took long drags from her cigarette, ashing it idly into the whipping desert air above her head.

Both of these men were above her as far as skill in the Force was concerned, Eisley ascertained that much from the auras they exuded back in Anchorhead. She wondered if this chance encounter with two Jedi on Tatooine could end with her having a real Master for the first time in her life. She knew that it was a far off chance, usually when someone settled themselves on a desolate rock like Tatooine they were looking to stay away from other people. But still, it was an interesting idea to entertain. Maybe she could actually learn how to fight and help the rebellion for real.

"That's probably the understatement of the century," Eisley said, flipping what was left of her cigarette up and out of the speeder. "So what made you settle yourself on Tatooine?" She asked Kiowaan. "It's not exactly a desirable destination."

 

[Jacques]

The speeder pulled up to a small hut that the aging Jedi Knight called home. It was dirty, incredibly unclean, but how does one keep a house clean in a damned desert wasteland? Kiowaan hopped out of the land vehicle and sighed. The young padawan asked him why, exactly, he would call a planet as desolate as Tatooine home. He shrugged and turned around, looking around the rest of the small farm as he neared the hut's entrance.

"It's simple, really. It was the only home I ever knew before becoming a Jedi. In fact, my family's farm is only another few clicks away I believe. At least it used to be my family's farm, I'm not sure if it still is. Desirable? No. Familiar? Yes." Kiowaan stroked his goatee and entered his home. He always forgot how much larger it seemed on the inside than how it looked on the outside. An incredibly messy optical illusion, "I moved around quite a bit before this, only settled here a few months ago. Maybe half a year. What about you two? Just here for a visit?"

Walking past the kitchen, although only with two chairs and a very small dining table and very few cooking implements, Kiowaan entered the living room. A small, beat up couch and a simple reclining chair made up the unbelievably tiny area. Almost no extra room for walking was available, and the only other thing in the room was a large, black trunk. The Knight opened it up and peered inside before pulling out his lightsaber. Glancing at it with contempt, he sullenly stuffed it inside his robe and then pulled out a blaster. Looking at it with more disgust than he had the lightsaber, Kiowaan indifferently tossed it back in the trunk and shook his head. Shutting it thereafter, the bald man asked his guests:

"Care for a glass of blue milk? I don't have much to eat outside of some bantha steak and leftover rations, but you're also welcome to that if you wish..."

 

[Fang.]

Eventually the Speeder came to astop infront of a small dusty building that was Kio's moisture farm, Fang stepped out and followed Kio into the house. As they went in Fang quietly lisened to the mans story taking it in. Fang watched as he rumaged through a trunk, and pulled out a lightsaber before placing it in his robe.

Fang offered him a glass of blue milk to which he politley declined saying No thank you, I am not thirsty. As to why I am on tatooine I am mostly just here to center myself...

 

[Logan]

Entering the modest abode with her fellow Jedi, Eisley smirked at the sparse surroundings that Kiowaan called home. It looked almost identical to the little shack she called her own, Tatooine didn't offer much variation as far as the housing market went it seemed. Pulling one of the two chairs at the small table back, Eisley took a seat and sighed. She was never very fond of blue milk, she would prefer to have just had some water or something.

"No thank you," She said politely. "I actually was born and raised here, though I can say my family's farm is a little more than a few clicks from here." She laughed a little bit. "It's the only place I've ever know besides the temples, and with those in their current state, Tatooine just seemed like the most logical place to go. It's quiet, out of the way, and if you try a little bit the only way you'll ever be found is if you want to be." The last part was the most important to Eisley. The Imperium had gone to great lengths in attempts to eradicate the Jedi from the known galaxy. Hiding seemed like the only logical answer at this point.