Can't stay

[Nirvana]

John sighed and looked at the duffel bag the he had placed on the ground next to the bed, he had been thinking about leaving for some time now. Needing time to himself, time to straighten things out. To well find himself, maybe find a place where he really belonged. After the incident that happened a few months ago, John had begun thinking about what could have happened if not for the intervention of Ashara. Most likely he would have killed the knight known as Asalla, she that tried to help him get rid of his troubles. It hadn't helped one bit, just had made it worse, made it surface and show it's true nature. With a low mumble of curses did he stand up and started to collect some of his belongings, things that he might need for a long term mission. Even if this wouldn't be a mission, this would be him running away from the order. In only a few minutes had he gathered what he deemed necessary for his 'mission', and shortly there after did he leave his room and made his way to the hangar of the temple. On the way to the temple several knights and padawans looked at him like he was some sort of freak, many had heard of what happened that day. And they feared him for it, saw him like him rabid beast that should be put down. John didn't like it one bit, that they acted that way. Just staring at him instead of actually confronting him about it, cowards, the whole bunch of them.

Arriving in the hangar he moved swiftly to where his own interceptor was, the machine that he had built with his own two hands. He chuckled at the thought of how many hours he had spent building it, flying it and tuning it to reach it's maximum potential. It had been so long since he started building on that ship, and today it would serve him again. This time to escape. Opening the cockpit he stuffed the duffel bag into the small cargo hold that was behind the seat, shutting it close after having stuffed it there. Before sitting down in the pilot's seat, grabbing one of the controls with his left hand he inserted the so called 'key' that was needed to start up the ship, before punching in the password and firing up the ships power supply. In only a matter of seconds did the ship come to life, and he would be ready to leave. Closing the canopy John fired up the engines and lifted of, not caring if he hurt somebody by accelerating with full speed out of the hangar of the temple. As he ascended into the sky he accelerated with even greater speeds to escape the planets gravity, a mere minute later had he escape the planets gravitational pull. And was now free of anything that could stop him from leaving, turning his attention to one of the screens he started to press the keyboard to his right. Searching for a place to go to, where would he go. Narrowing down the search for a planet he typed in crystals, getting a list of planets that was known for their supply of crystals. Taking a planet rather far down on the list John punched in the coordinates, a planet that was still in alliance space. Sarka. A few minuter later had the ships computer calculated the fastest course to the planet, and one that was done, did John initiate the hyperdrive.

 

[Cassanova]

Sarka. Technically it lay within Alliance territory, but such minutiae mattered not to the Forge Master. There were items on this planet that she needed, so she would come, gather, and leave on her own time. Carna was settled into a small ravine, her ship, The Anvil sitting proudly in the widest part of the area, whereas she, accompanied by a repulser trolley half filled with mining tools, the other half nearly full to the brim with stunning red stones known as Nova Rubies - Sarka's number one export.

Considering the warm nature of the planet, Carna had chosen to go with her, as yet, incomplete Mark I armour, but it provided her with the mobility that she needed, and considering she was alone down on the planet, she saw no reason to parade around with false modesty. The ravine in which she was nestled was, unlike the vast majority of the planet, lacking in vegetation. This particular canyon system was actually quite out of the way, but provided with a number of natural creek beds of fresh water, natural wildlife, and was well protected from the elements. An ideal location for staying 'out of the way'.

As the Forge Master, it was her duty to explore and experiment different possibilities for weapons. She had her ideas as to how to improve these things, but some materials simply needed to be trialled. The Nova Ruby resembled, in many ways, a naturally grown lightsaber crystal that would produce a red blade, however it was generally a much more lightweight stone, gleaming in it's beauty. Carna had been on the planet's surface for the better part of two days, mining and gathering the precious stones to be returned to her quarters on Ziost. The possible results of the stone's affect on lightsabers was one Carna was curious to test. Would it hold a blade's energy on its own? How would it couple with a lightsaber crystal? Would it provide new and interesting properties if it was imbued with the Force, or would best results be yielded in the event that the stone was left in it's natural form? So many possibilities.

Carna at this point, decided to have a break from the mining, as using the tools was not easy work, even for a Force user, and she was nearly done with her quarry anyhow. Moving back towards her ship, bringing the trolley with her, Carna eventually settled into a make-shift camp she had set up beneath the nose of her freighter. Settling onto a ribbed crate as a chair, Carna sipped from a water bottle, recovering in the heat.

---

OOC: The ship looks like this (Link), is about 30-40 meters in length. I haven't had a chance to do the write up for it. :(
ITS COMING!​

 

[Nirvana]

When the ship exited hyperspace a set of lights starts to blink in rapid session and a alarming sound went off, waking John from his slumber. After waking so abruptly he blinked several times before becoming fully awake, looking around in the cockpit he saw what caused the alarm to go off. And the only thing he had to say about it was shit, the ship had exited hyperspace way to close to the planet. Causing him to get pulled into the planets gravitational pull right away, with how the ship entered the planets gravitational pull and atmosphere caused the ship to start go out of control. To try and counter that John grabbed the controls fast, while calibrating the engine output on the ship to give him some increased control of the ship. In the nick of time did he manage to complete it and grab the controls with both hands, turning sharply did he manage to avoid crashing into the planets surface and instead managed to get the ship to fly in a ravine. Breaking the sound barrier as the ship accelerated to supersonic speeds, giving away the distinctive shriek that the engiens did when they worked at their peak capacity. Little did he know that only a few seconds later did he pass over the ship and make-shift camp that Carna hap put up under her ship, most likely would some of the equipment that was loose get sent flying by the winds that was whipped up after the ship.

After only a few more seconds of supersonic flying speed did John slow the ship down enough for him to land it, soon enough did he land the ship in the same ravine that Carna had hade her camp. But just much further down the ravine, a few kilometers to be precise. Breathing heavily John leaned back against the headrest for a minute or so before starting to chuckle, what the hell had gotten into him. This shouldn't even had happened, this wasn't like him. To almost get killed by a rookie mistake like that, that was not like him one bit. After having opened the canopy did John climb out of the ship, grabbing the duffel bag that was stowed away in the small cargo compartment before pulling out the key to the ship and closing the canopy. Now no one would find this ship, at least he hoped so. After drinking a bit of water from a bottle did he start to walk, from what he had read about he planets the crystals would be in ravines such as this one. So in a way he had been very lucky.

 

[Cassanova]

Carna dropped her water bottle in recoil as the small fighter blasted past her camp. The sonic boom alone, rattled her body - especially being that close. The wind blast, however, really annoyed her. Despite the fighter's streamlined body the blowback from the ship toppled the trolley of nova rubies, and scattered her tools. Remarkably unimpressed by the stunt, she took a moment to gather her water bottle, drinking what little remained in it, and tossed it aside. Her hand idly brushed past her lightsaber on her belt, and she took a moment to adjust the chest plate of her armour, and frowned. This stunt pilot needed a lesson taught to him. Pulling from her belt a datapad, she linked it with her ship, and brought up a scan of the area.

The ship's sensors quickly picked up where John's star fighter had settled, and transmitted the coordinates to Carna's datapad. Frowning she set off down the narrow path, no more than twenty meters wide, following her datapad which was leading her right towards John.

 

[Nirvana]

After having walked for almost an hour did John sit down and leaned against the wall of the ravine, he still hadn't managed to find a cave that contained those crystals that was said to be sound in ravines such as this one. Picking up the water bottle he had clipped to his belt did he drink some from it, clenching his thirst and dry throat from the heat. Why had he been such and idiot to wear the combat armor now, he didn't exactly plan on fighting anyone or anything on this planet. So why the hell had he even put on the damn thing to start with, then again. It was do save room in the cargo compartment and to make sure that everything fit, but now that he was out of the ship he could remove it. Though he should have done that earlier for sure..

Sighing did John push himself up from his sitting location and began removing the armor, keeping only the gauntlets and boots on, the rest of the armor was removed. After stripping down to nothing but the pair of boots, pants and gauntlets did John sit down again and leaned against the wall. The armor had been stuffed down into the bag, and would remain there for now. Picking up the bottle of water John poured some of the water on top of his head to cool himself, after closing the bottle again and putting it down did he close his eyes for a few seconds. Expanding his mind and tried to sense the crystals, but instead of the crystals he sensed something else entirely. Some one was coming towards the place where he was right now, the realization of that caused him to sigh and bow down his head in shame. He had just packed down the armor.

 

[Cassanova]

Carna neared the man who was hunched over in the heat, drinking on a bottle of water. While she didn't appear to be excessing any particular amount of caution, truthfully she had her mind split in two - one half committed solely to the defence of her own and the readiness for what may come. The other half, however, controlled her visibly and had her walk towards the man.

Standing over him, she raised an eyebrow and spoke softly, in tones that were not hostile, or defensive, but curious, "Based on your speed of coming in, I'm gonna assume that this was an unplanned landing?"

She moved over to him, offering him her outstretched right arm, which was clad with her gauntlet, "Come on. Is your ship flyable?" Eventually, Carna made it to the chase of the issue at hand, "...Why are you here anyway?"

 

[Nirvana]

Raising his head John noticed the woman that was walking towards him, only looking for a second before lowering his head again to hide the blush on his face. Why did she have to have such little armor on her, biting himself in the lip did he listen to her speak. Not exactly correct, but it was sort of close at least.”Not unplanned, just got bad luck with the flight trajectory that caused the ship go out of control. Took a bit of calibrating to regain control and a hard pull to the right to avoid crashing into the ground.” he said and looked up at her again, seeing the hand extended to him he hesitated for a few seconds before accepting it.

Once on his feet again did he continue talking.”Nothing wrong with the ship.” he started, as to the other question, how was he gonna respond to that.”Beats me, just wanted to go somewhere and this is where I ended up.” shrugging he sighed.

 

[Cassanova]

Carna raised an eyebrow, "Rather stupid place to end up. There's nothing here but heat, jungle, and if you know where to look and have the equipment - Nova Rubies."

The latter, of course was why she was here. John, however, she still wasn't entirely sure, "So why Sarka, of all the planets in all the systems - why here? Who are you?"

Admittedly, Carna made no mention of her own title, rank, or name. There was such a time for things, but she did not feel it to be the opportune one.

 

[Nirvana]

“Guess that it is a stupid place to end up then if there is nothing but heat and jungle then.” when she mentioned Nova Rubies he looked at her with a questioning expression, as he didn't know who she was he decided to play safe and pretend that he didn't know what that was.”Nova rubies?" He asked her.

“like I said, just wanted to go somewhere and this is where I ended up. You'd be amazed of how many places you can end up in by letting the ship computer decide where to go.” he said and chuckled a bit.

“My name is William, and yours is?”

 

[Cassanova]

Nodding as she spoke, "Nova Rubies. Naturally formed gemstones only found on Sarka. The only reason this sweat pile of a planet even registers on the galactic map..."

Carna shrugged as she motioned for John to follow, "The name's Carna," as the pair started walking she continued, "I've got some rubies back at my ship if you care to join me. Anyway... what do you do for a living?"

As she awaited a response, her mind began probing ever so gently into William's own, the idea was that gradually, slowly, without him realising it, she would enter his mind, and discover more about him. Discover his uses, or at least if he was worth keeping alive. Soon enough, she would have all the information she would need about him. For now, however, questions would need to be asked, and the answers would have to be taken at their merit.

 

[Nirvana]

Nodding he listened to what she said about the gemstones, he knew about them. Though he wouldn't tell her that, not yet at least. Perhaps if she gained his trust, but he didn't think so. John looked down at the duffel bag the stood against the ground, and picked it up. Making it look like he was only gonna pick it up and nothing else, though in reality he only checked ever briefly to see if she had a lightsaber. And there it was, on her right hip, then the question came to mind, was she a sith or a jedi. Either way it didn't matter do him, he didn't belong to the order any more.”Pleasure to meet you Carna.” he said with a calm voice and slung the bag over his shoulder.

After she asked the question about what he did for a living, John felt something that was off. It felt weird, something that was creeping up on him it felt like. A feeling that he hated, he remembered the feeling from a lesson with another jedi. That sicking feeling of something trying to get access to your mind, focusing his mind he shut it close behind a solid wall. He knew that she would feel that as well, but frankly he didn't care.

“I don't work, just drift around from place to place.”

 

[Cassanova]

Carna smiled as she felt the doors close off to his mind. A trained Force user had fallen into her lap and she grinned at the opportunities this presented. Nevertheless, she continued walking and allowed her mind to continue pushing the point, planning to break through his barriers. Slowly, but surely, his defences would weaken under the strain of her mental assault. To the eyes, however, Carna was being pleasant, if not downright friendly.

"Drifting, eh?" she smiled as she led the way through the ravine, "Weapon specialist myself. You could say I moonlight in some geology too, I suppose." She didn't lie about it at all, in fact, it was probably the most truthful description of her responsibility. Forge Master. Weapons and crystals. An apt, of not naive, description of the job.

"So how'd you let your computer choose Sarka for a destination?" she frowned, "There are much more desirable locations than here to visit."

 

[Nirvana]

Weapon specialist, interesting profession he thought. Not many people in the galaxy could call themselves weapon specialists, some claimed they were, but they were in most cases just people that tried to boost their own ego.”yeah drifting.”

Following the woman he thought about the ship for a few seconds, perhaps he should return to it and get of this planet instead of staying here with this force user.”Like I said, I let the computer decide, enter a letter and let it take a pick of the planets in the galaxy to which to go to.” John started and shifted the grip on the bag.”As to you trying to get into my head, please don't. The feeling it not a pleasant one, and I would for once be able to just relax and talk like a normal person without needing to worry about someone trying to get into my head.” he said with a relaxed voice, he really didn't like the feeling.

 

[Cassanova]

Carna shrugged, and pressed her mind harder into his, "If you weren't lying to me, I wouldn't feel the need."

"I'm no idiot, William," she pointed a finger to him, "I'm fully aware you've been trained in the use of the Force. I don't care on whose side you stand, I simply do not wish to be lied to. My purpose here is for the rubies. Not some fight with a self-righteous pinup who fails to even be honest to a complete stranger."

She shrugged as they rounded the corner, her ship coming into view in the ravine. Beneath it was the toppled trolley of equipment and rubies that she had already mined. Sighing, she raised a hand and quickly righted the trolley, and levitated the stones into it. As she finally approached the cart, she pulled one from the top, and flicked it to William. "They're worth around two or three thousand credits a piece once they're cut to shape," she nodded to the ruby in John's hand, "Keep it."

 

[Nirvana]

“I haven’t lied to you about my name, my name is William.” he said and mumbled a few words as he felt her press harder against his mind. He really didn't like her trying to get into his head, he hated that feeling.”I haven't even said anything about not being, nor being trained in it. I just left it out okay.” sighing he came to a halt and just looked at her.”Does it look like I give two shits about fighting? Look at me, I don't even have any weapon on my at the moment. Even if I did try and pull something at you, in a matter of seconds you would have killed me wouldn't you." he said with a annoyed voice, ugh. Why didn't she get it, he didn't lie to her about certain things, the only thing he had lied about was why he was here, everything else was true.

Catching the ruby with his left hand he studied it for a few seconds.”Why are you giving me this?” he asked her with a much calmer and less annoyed voice then before.

 

[Cassanova]

Carna chuckled at his defensive statements, and disregarded them entirely. She did however, watch him closely as he inspected the ruby then posed his question, "Why are you giving me this?”

Smiling, "I figured considering you came in a star fighter you wouldn't have brought the necessary equipment to mine your own and I didn't think it was fair for you to have come this far to leave with nothing. Besides..." she raked her hand through the trolley's near-full capacity of rubies, "Does it look like I'm going to be short a stone or two?"

Upon moving the trolley under the cover of her camp, essentially a di-chrome sunshade that stopped a bit of the wind coming in at one side, Carna pulled two bottles of water from a cooler chest, and tossed one to John. She placed hers upon a box, and opened another, pulling a few ration bars our, and then offered one to him, "So, you're here because you are. You're force trained, but don't care to elaborate. And you're woefully under equipped for the climate and resources that this dump has to offer. If I didn't know any better..."

"...I'd say you were on the run." A wry grin crept across her face as she added, "Running to somewhere, or running from somewhere - well, i haven't figured that part out yet."

 

[Nirvana]

“If I hadn't arrived in a fighter, then this wouldn't be everything that I would have brought me.” he said and showed the duffel bag, it wasn't much that he had brought. But he didn't need to much items truthfully, that and he didn't want to bring to much things with him. Just the things that he deemed necessary, and the things that he needed. Putting away the crystal in one of his pockets he managed to catch the bottle of water before it was to late, moving into the small camp that she had done he put down the bag on the ground. Before catching the ration bar, opening the bottle John drank a bit from it. Cold water was good in a climate such as this one, if you didn't think you could faint from the heat.

”True enough.” he said as a response to her saying that it wasn't like she had a shortage of the crystals.“Running from.” he said and opened the pack that contained the ration bar before eating a bit of it, yeah, he should have eaten before leaving the temple.

 

[Cassanova]

Carna nodded, and then released her prodding of the force, hoping to gain a little more of his trust with the manoeuvre, and spoke softly, "We're all running from something, I guess."

The Forge Master eyed off the man, and pondered his origins. She took a moment to rummage around her equipment, kicking a generator to life, which lit up a few lights, and a soft fan that hung from a support pole in the camp. Only now, as the sun began its journey to set was it clear exactly how well equipped Carna had been for this mining operation. Truthfully, she had already been here for a few days, and with the equipment that had been set up, it was clear she was here for at least another one or two. Depending on how many more rubies she uncovered, that may be extended or shortened - she'd already acquired as many as she'd hoped for. Nonetheless, despite her mind wandering off to consider her quarry, she refocused herself upon William and spoke softly and earnestly, "Depending on who you're running from - I may be able to help you..."

 

[Nirvana]

“Can you really help someone that is running from themselves?” he asked her bluntly and looked at her as she rummaged through the equipment, how long had she been on this planet looking for those rubies really. Perhaps a day or so he would have guessed by the amount of crystals, and judging from that he believed that she had managed to hit a so called sweet spot for miners and geologists.”Could you really help someone in that case?”

He wondered what she really was, what her true allegiance was. Though he had the feeling that he would find that out sooner or later, he always did in situations when he talked to people. But he thought that she would be different from most other, her signature in the force was different from most people he met with.

 

[Cassanova]

"Why would you run from yourself?" Carna shrugged, slumping onto a crate, using it as a stool, "You are the only constant in the world. The only source of motivation, of power, of purpose..."

Truthfully, this was not Carna as a Sith giving this description, but Carna as a woman. At the end of the day, no matter who you were or what you were doing, knowing who you were and embracing, or at least accepting it was key to a fulfilled life. Her eyes flashed over him with a glimmer of empathy, possibly even pity, "You should be yourself. No one should tell you otherwise. Fight for what you believe."

"Not what someone else believes."