A faint lead

[Vulpes]

[This technically is a flashback thread, taking place prior to the Battle of Coruscant.]

"Blasted weather," Arikka muttered to herself, using her arms to clasp her overcoat tighter around herself. Many metal surfaces within view of her had a light frost on them, and soon she would too if she didn't get somewhere warm. The Codru-Ji glanced up for a moment, looking at the grayish sky as small blips of white came down, it was beginning to precipitate, whether it would be sleet or snow, Arikka did not spend the time to find out.

The closest place she could find refuge in was a very barebones cantina, clearly a store designed for those fresh on world, and wanting a drink to simmer down from a trip. The minimal interior design and the fact that it was simply named Cantina didn't do it any justice. Never-the-less, Arikka relaxed in it's artificial heating. In truth, she could have used the Force to aid her, but exerting the energy at this point was not worth it, when this was an option.

The bartender was a Lurmen, one of the native species of Mygeeto. In basic, he spoke though, "What're you having, off-worlder?" He asked, almost in a snarky tone. "Water is fine, no ice." She fainted slightly, her eyes hidden behind her hood. Arikka dressed like a typical civilian, and used the Force to conceal her presence, a technique she had just recently learned from Ebberla Daw. The Kngiht waited unti she received her drink before she began her task, to attempt to locate a Force-sensitive child she had heard rumors of. After all, she wasn't a recruiter for no reason.

Ignoring the murmurs and chat within the Cantina, Arikka began to Focus on the Force, and it's presence. She communicated with it carefully so that she could attempt to detect this child on the planet, hopefully she was at least on the side that she landed on.

 

[Catharsis]

A mixture of snow, sleet and hail flourished around her, battering against her skin and threatening to drag her down into the drifts which surrounded her. The only sign of civilisation from horizon to horizon was one solitary stone building, single story and mostly built under the ground with only the entrance showing through the snow. Ice fields dotted her surroundings which she sought to avoid - her feet were cut, blistered and torn from stepping in them, but it was all part of her training she presumed. All the same, it wasn't very nice.

She had been there for nine months, which left three more before her training was complete. There was no other with her, she trained in solitude and silence from dusk until dawn with one break in the middle for her strictly dieted meal and time to warm up. If such a thing was really possible there on Mygeeto. She was not wrapped up, as one might expect in such a harsh climate, but instead wore the same training garments as she had on Eshan and Tatooine, thin, tight fitting and perfect for what she was doing, although not the weather.

But what would be the point in doing harsh-weather training if you hid yourself from the elements? It had gotten to the stage where she barely felt the cold, just as she had learnt to overcome the oppressive heat found upon Tatooine, and before she left Mygeeto she would be well adjusted to the cold too. Whether or not this would last the girl did not know, but the fact she was able to cope in the situation meant that she would be able to again; some things were all about willpower. Kassa did not lack for such, otherwise she thought she might have given in a long time ago.

She remained out in the cold, running through her regimes with her cortosis-durasteel vibrosword, not following any orthodox style or stance, having adapted to her own use. Her actions were fluid, agile and well placed, often moving with her eyes closed to feel the weapon and her movements rather than see them. At points the Force flowed through her, boosting one action or another when she felt her limbs seek to seize up. Her breathing was well regulated, as though in meditation, which added to her concentration. Kassa was determined to finish her training. For Honour, For Loyalty, For Justice.

 

[Vulpes]

Arikka's eyes slowly opened as she tracked through the Force, where Kassa was. She had studied the mapping of the planet prior to her arrival, in the event that she was not fortunate for her to be within the city. Nevertheless, it was a good day's travel to the desolate location, something that she did not wish to take any longer than it would. If they are out that far, they are likely hiding something, or do not wish to be disturbed, Arikka bared in mind.

She took a few minutes to relax and finish her drink before embarking on her trip outside once more. It seemed that the storm had lightened up slightly, and the wind eased up. The Codru-Ji could tolerate the cold so long as the wind was not pounding on her, and hopefully this would keep her from exerting her use of the Force in the technique Tapas. It took a little searching before she could find a mode of transportation which would not draw much attention, in the outskirts of the city, there was a small Muun owned ranch which lended and sold Tauntauns. Like the owner of the shop, the species must had immigrated over to this planet at some point of time.

After paying the fees associated with the shop, she embarked in the direction that she sensed the Force-Sensitive child. There must be some form of shelter where this child is staying, no human would be able to survive this otherwise. Human, it was the species that her sources linked the girl towards, and with so many species that appeared similar to humans, who could really tell?

She pulled on ropes which helped to direct the tauntaun to stop. She was careful to be gentle with the being, as she has been with all beasts in her life. It came to a pause, and looked down, beginning to scavenge food. Arikka allowed it to do so, it had been at work for a few hours. She closed her eyes once more, but it served as a dual purpose. Both required communication with the Force. She began to ignore the ice grazing across her face and atop her hood as she searched through the Force for the Force-sensitive once more. Are they really this close? she pondered, sensing the proximity was within a couple of kilometers. The other purpose was to tap the power of the Force in order to perform Tapas, which would protect her from the cold. She had a strong feeling that it would take quite a bit to impress someone who spent their life out here.

She kicked at the tauntaun's side, gesturing for him to begin again, until they finally approached the building. It was basic, yet impressive so far out here. The Jedi Knight dismounted the tauntaun and began to walk, squinting her eyes slightly to look for her target, and it seemed that they were out in the cold as well.

From the distance, she watched for a moment, watching the cold durasteel weapon slice through the air, in an unorthodox style, or at least to her. Arikka began to walk towards Kassa, attempting to offer something that may interest the teenager. "You know, combat training is more effective when it is against a target." she grinned slightly as she crossed her arms.

 

[Catharsis]

The young girl continued to move across the snow, avoiding the icefields at all cost. Her shoes were already worn down, she couldn't deal with ripping yet more shards of ice from her feet. She sensed the presence of another, but thought nothing of it. Your mind playing tricks with you again, Kass, something which happened more frequently than one might imagine. Maybe it was time for her to head into a village, even if only to get some supplies. But doesn't that negate the point of the exercise..? Caught in her pondering she was startled to hear a voice, and swung around with the blade in an arch. The tip of the vibrosword was inches away from the woman before Kassa pulled it back with wide eyes. "I-I'm sorry..." She said, her voice sounding hoarse due to lack of use. Honour, Loyalty, Justice she mentally reminded herself, "I never meant to... I didn't realise..."

The young girl slipped a few steps back from the woman, surprisingly agile and light on her feet despite the oppressive cold. "No one... Ever comes out here." She finally settled on, stabbing the vibrosword down into the snow at her side. "And... I know. It's not about the target... It's about the environment." Although having someone to spar with wouldn't go amiss. She didn't say that aloud, however - this woman probably didn't even expect to see her here, let alone want a spar. "Sorry I'll..." Kassa finally stepped to one side, as though worrying that she was in the way of the woman. It was clear that the child hadn't had to hold a conversation in a while, the incomplete utterances far too frequent. Kassa didn't quite know how to handle the situation, save to gesture the woman on.

 

[Vulpes]

The Knight held a straight face as the blade came mere inches from her face. She remained silent for a moment, giving a stern look to the young girl as she stepped back, a discomfort could be felt from her. Arikka then gave a hearty chuckle before smiling, her arms still crossed. "Life's too short to be sorry, sometimes... Especially when you train yourself to death."

Arikka paced around slightly now, uncrossing her arms as she walked. "I suppose if they don't have a reason to come out here, then why would they?" The wanderer was not quite sure if she would reveal her identity quite yet, as the unfavorable opinion of the Jedi as of recent.

 

[Catharsis]

Especially when you train yourself to death - this made the young girl frown, wondering if the Woman saw issue with what she was doing. Shuffling awkwardly on her feet she tilted her head to one side, leaning her weight upon the vibrosword, wondering why the woman before her wasn't passing her by. No one ever comes here just to see me. No one ever came there at all. "I... You must be cold" she finally said, finding her voice. "Would you like a warm drink?" She gestured across to the hut which was half-buried into the ground, and raised her free hand to rub the back of her neck.

"And no, you're right. There's nothing out here besides snow, and ice..." Which makes me wonder why you're here... Yet she wasn't one to pry, and thus she pulled the sword from the snow and turned, wondering if the woman would follow. You're breaking your routine, your regime, she scolded herself internally, but she thought that upholding her respect and honour was more important at this point. The Elders would forgive me, if they knew the situation. - She couldn't let a woman freeze to death. "You can... Attach the Tauntaun's reins to the side of the hut, it will be safe here."