March of the Pigs

Zenya

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Strangely enough, Lanna was anxious. And not the good kind of anxiousness that gave her energy to conquer her enemies, and get loads of work done. It was the type of anxiousness that not only made her stomach turn, but she could have expelled the contents of that morning's breakfast all over the floor of the ship, if she had not forcibly swallowed down her nerves.

She was going to Tatooine. A planet she had not set foot on, in six years. what an adventure this would be. One she was not sure she was ready to dive into. She had grown up on the desert planet. And she could not help but question how it must have changed since she had last seen it.

They were not going there to see her family. That she knew, but she still had a hidden agenda in the back of her mind. Seeing her family was of high priority. Lanna was never a sentimental kid, but she was a curious one. And it was less her emotional attachment, and more her desire for answers, that drove her decisions. She wanted to know what had happened to them.

Sitting in a gloomy corner of the ship, she had her knees pulled to her chest, and, her arms wrapped around them. Why so moody all the time?

The girl was stuck in this mission to track down some major figures in the spice trade, with a certain Mandalorian she had met once before.

The encounter between them had ended with a sharp slap across the man's face, and a dirty look from Lanna's end. He had killed a Sith. Made her look inferior. At least, that's the way she saw it. Even though she may not have been giving the situation 100% of her open mind, she was acting closed off, and she knew it - It was satisfying.

"Hey, Kalan." She said to the man piloting the ship. "I've got a side project, if you don't mind. My parents are from Tattooine, and I was thinking of dropping by to see how they've been the passed six years." She said it in a voice that was basic and monotone. She was going with or without him.

Of course, she didn't really want to wander around alone this time. Even if it meant being with Kalan Ordo.

@Prudence
 

Prudence

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Spice traders, really? There was a fekking war going on, but the Dominion had dispatched him to Tatooine alongside a young Jedi in order to look into Spice Traders. He could understand, it, if he really tried. The Dominion owned Tatooine, and they were presently trying to cozy up with the Jedi. The Jedi were morally opposed to spice trading, and thus Kalan was babysitting a youngling as she was sent to wave her lightsaber around at some pirates and tell them to behave.

Funny enough, Kalan actually knew this youngling in particular. He'd run into her on Umbara a few weeks back, when he'd put down a Sith. He'd spared the girl from doing it herself, though he was pretty sure she felt like he stole her kill. He just chuckled at the thought, and wondered if that was why he was being stonewalled by her at the moment.

Presently he was sitting against the bulkhead of his Hunter-Class Enforcement Ship, his holophone in hand with a pair of earbuds plugged in and stretching to his ears. He was listening to some music as he flipped through a holomag on his phone. He was vaguely aware of the broody teen sitting in the darkest corner the room had to offer, and then he felt her approaching before him.

He looked up pulling an earbud out as she approached, "Uh sure... Doesn't really sound like you're asking anyways."

He took his other earbud out and tucked his phone away, standing to stretch his legs. He was dressed in his armor, sans his helmet and weapons. "So you're from Tatooine, huh kid? Would explain the rough edges. You almost fekkin popped that Sith back on Umbara. You're welcome by the way. General Green seemed like the type that would've had an aneurysm if one of his kids held a field execution. Anyways, blood isn't something you wash off your hands so easily."
 

Zenya

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"Yep. The dusty planet," she nodded, as her attention trailed off to his next mention of the Sith back on Umbara. "Valen would have been very unhappy of I killed the woman... Luckily I wasn't planning to."

She wasnt. She had no intention of killing the woman. In fact, it was because Kalan stepped in and shot her, that Lanna was unhappy with him. Or, that's how she fabricated it in her head. maybe it was just an excuse. Even so, she went with it.

When the ship landed, she pulled her cloak over her head, and kracked her knuckles. Holding her breath, she stepped outside when the door opened.

Heat washed over her, and she squinted as the sun beat down from overhead. She breathed in the air, and stepped down into the sand, with a heavy boot. Her chin was raised slightly, eyes narrow, as she peered down her nose at the village on the horizon.

It felt the same. It was all the things she remembered. If course, she was really only experiencing the heat and the sand. The real challenge would be when they approached the city.

The two of them walked until they reached the outside structure of the place. The girl remained in a state of observation. Her demeanor was set to receive all information she was given.

Reluctantly, she pulled a scarf out of her bag. One that her good friend Yva had made her on life day. She wrapped it around her neck, and hair, letting messy tangled strands pour out from the bottom. She hadn't worn a scarf like that in a while, but always did if she were to travel to a sandy planet.

" Oh... And a place to pick up some local intel."

Her eyes trailed over to a bar coming up from where they were walking.

"That seems promising. Are you one for a drink every now and then?"

@Prudence
 

Prudence

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Kalan just snorted at her assertion that she hadn't planned to kill the Sith. Kalan had seen her eyes, he'd seen how animalistic she was acting - it was something he'd seen in many young people before they took their first life. There was no point in arguing with the girl, instead Kalan just returned to his music, flipping through holomags until he felt a shudder through the ship, indicating that they had come out of hyperspace.

Kalan rose from the deck, donning his helmet, and made his way into the cockpit to land the ship. He wondered whether the kid would follow him into the cockpit, and unsurprisingly she didn't. He'd been on complete blizard worlds and still the ice coming off of her was colder than anything he'd ever felt. He set the ship down upon the sands, just outside one of the small provinces on the desert world.

He exited the cockpit, moving through the ship towards the egress ramp. Waiting for him already there was Lanna, dressed in her Jedi robes. As the ramp lowered he felt the heat wave wash over him, but his armor's external cooling unit worked against it, keeping him cool inside his armor. The walk through the sands was silent, as the young girl hardly spoke to him. It was just as well, as Kalan wasn't too fond of Tatooine, and just wanted to hurry up and get finished.

He rested his hands upon his A-140 as they walked, and then caught the young girl donning a scarf to help fend off the sand. He wondered how a child could possibly grow up here, and live here. This place was dead, and everything that rested upon its sands was only growing closer and closer to death.

"I never say no to a drink."
Kalan grinned a bit, "You seem a bit young to have a drinking habit, but I'm not one to judge. Lead the way, Madam Jedi."
 

Zenya

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The two of them walked into the bar, passed the sliding door, and received a few looks upon entering. Lanna pulled down her hood, and stepped forward, taking a look around the dim lit place. The shady characters of Tatooine would most certainly be spending their down time in a place that catered to their special needs. And alcohol was the main attraction.

"I don't drink habitually. Only from time to time,"
she said, without turning her full attention to Kalan. She was still analyzing her surroundings. Taking a seat at the bar, she put down a few credits on the table.

She didn't have any specific tastes when it came to alcohol, so it was up to the bartender to surprise her with something.

He set down a glass and poured a dark liquid over the ice. She leaned on the bar, and stired the drink with a tiny little straw.

"Sir," she said with a low voice, to a rodian sitting beside her. "I don't suppose you know anything about Spice..."

He let out a snort, and leaned away from her, turning his shoulder between them.

She rolled her eyes, and looked at Kalan, then back at her drink. Sucking in a breath, she took a long sip of the bitter liquid. Swallowing, she slowly opened her eyes, waiting for the buzz to kick in. If it would. Sometimes she had to have more than one drink, and sometimes it was strong enough to just get the job done. She had been growing fond of the effects it had on her.

"It's hot." She wiped a way a bead of sweat on her forehead. Oh how familiar.

"Okay Kalan. I smell it. Someone is smoking it. We just need to get our hands on some. This guy's not going to tell us anything," she murmured. "From what I've studied, spice goes through a certain process of creation. So there needs to be a location that they are processing the stuff... Meaning. We need to find a dealer."
@Prudence
 

Prudence

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The two of them walked into the bar, passed the sliding door, and received a few looks upon entering. Lanna pulled down her hood, and stepped forward, taking a look around the dim lit place. The shady characters of Tatooine would most certainly be spending their down time in a place that catered to their special needs. And alcohol was the main attraction.

"I don't drink habitually. Only from time to time,"
she said, without turning her full attention to Kalan. She was still analyzing her surroundings. Taking a seat at the bar, she put down a few credits on the table.

She didn't have any specific tastes when it came to alcohol, so it was up to the bartender to surprise her with something.

He set down a glass and poured a dark liquid over the ice. She leaned on the bar, and stired the drink with a tiny little straw.

"Sir," she said with a low voice, to a rodian sitting beside her. "I don't suppose you know anything about Spice..."

He let out a snort, and leaned away from her, turning his shoulder between them.

She rolled her eyes, and looked at Kalan, then back at her drink. Sucking in a breath, she took a long sip of the bitter liquid. Swallowing, she slowly opened her eyes, waiting for the buzz to kick in. If it would. Sometimes she had to have more than one drink, and sometimes it was strong enough to just get the job done. She had been growing fond of the effects it had on her.

"It's hot." She wiped a way a bead of sweat on her forehead. Oh how familiar.

"Okay Kalan. I smell it. Someone is smoking it. We just need to get our hands on some. This guy's not going to tell us anything," she murmured. "From what I've studied, spice goes through a certain process of creation. So there needs to be a location that they are processing the stuff... Meaning. We need to find a dealer."
@Prudence
"Probably better for your health that way kiddo. Me.. Well if one is good, two is better, and three's a party." He felt himself relax as the two of them entered the bar. It was his comfortable environment, and well it should be. He'd spent enough time in establishments exactly like this one over his life to feel at home here.

He leaned up against the bar and jerked his head in a nod at the bartender "Two Corellian whiskeys, and whatever the kid wants." He slid a credit chit towards the man, and then popped his own helmet off and clipped it to his belt. The bartender set out the three glasses and began to fill them, two for him and one for her. He tried hard to keep a straight face as she asked if the man knew anything about spice. Kalan himself was well acquainted with the various substances, and had, on more than one occasion, imbibed quite a bit too much of it.

Kalan finished draining one of his glasses about the time that she shot him that typical super annoyed teenage expression, and he just shrugged at her. "Can't very well go asking people if they know about spice with that glow stick hanging from your belt, now can you?"

He reached out and snagged her lightsaber, clipping it beside the other one that he had claimed from a dead body on his belt. He shot her an amused look and said, "You can have it back if there's trouble, or when we're done. Just wait, we'll have a lot more success."

It's hot.

"Thank you for the insightful commentary on life on Tatooine. I had assumed so, but hearing it from a native really confirms my suspicions." He rolled his eyes with a cocky grin as they stood there. He finished off his second glass and then shrugged at her statement, "Didn't take you as a typical spice junkie, but if you really want some I can score you a hit kid." The comment was followed by yet another chuckle at his own joke.

"Stay here, I do have an idea."
He set his glass down and strode across the bar. His pace had a certain swagger about it, that both embodied confidence and familiarity with how these establishments worked. Kalan plopped down on a couch that surrounded a small table. Beings were packed in on a couch that faced it, and a couple others were sitting on his own couch. One of them was passing a cigar, likely filled with spice, between them.

He looked to a blue skinned twi'lek girl, "How much for a dance, miss? And while I'm at it how much to score some of the good stuff?" He jerked his head towards the cigar they were passing around. She cast a seductive smile at his armored form, "Depends on how much of each you want, hun."
 

Zenya

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Lanna didn't say much to Kalan. Best not to argue with a man that seemed to prefer performance over logic. So instead she carried a mood of little amusement, and deep sighs as she sucked up her retaliations. It was always entertaining to watch someone with Kalan's demeanor, but to have to work with it, was mind numbing, as she ignored her growing impatience.

She was suddenly snatched out of her thoughts, when the man grabbed her light saber right off her belt.

"What are you doing?" She hissed, but he had already clipped it on his belt, and began to stand up. She wanted to believe that what he said was nonsense, even though it did have some merit to it. She looked like the product of the typical Jedi Army stereotype. Someone who was ready to bust any shady individual for their crimes. When in reality, most Jedi did not care. They were more concerned with the advancement of the Army, and how to deal with anyone that got in their way. "Don't get too comfortable with that Light saber, because I will be getting it back."

She watched as he walked over to a table of humans and aliens who were passing a smoky roll of something sweet between themselves. He seemed all too confident, but Lanna had come to realize that it was his constant mental state.

Of course, of course, he asked for a dance. It was that moment, Lanna decided she needed another drink. She turned back to the bar, and drained another glass of the stuff, running her fingers up, through her hair.

If they could get the spice, they would know who was selling it. Then, after that, they would apprehend the criminal, and make him talk. Where was he getting the Spice? Then, they would soon find out. With that information, it would likely lead them to the big manufacturers that sold the drug all over this area of Tatooine.

She looked over her shoulder to observe the careless events Kalan was stirring up, raised and eyebrow, then turned back.

"One more, please."

@Prudence


 

Prudence

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Kalan was in his zone now, paying no attention to the Jedi Padawan lest he give himself away. After all, why would a Mandalorian attempting to hire a dancer and buy a hit start staring at a 16 year old. Kalan simply gave one of his slick smiles to the Twi'lek and shrugged, "Why don't you pass me that smoke and I'm pretty sure you'll like my answer a lot more."

The dancer gave Kalan a toothy grin, revealing her yellowing teeth. Kalan held back a grimace at the sight and reached to take the blunt from her and stuck it between his teeth, taking a long hit from it. Part of him shuddered at the thought of what had been in her mouth before she'd taken her own hit, but he put the thoughts aside.

"Why don't you take me back to your private room, dear, and we'll discuss.... business." Reaching down to his belt Kalan gave a pouch full of credits a small shake, causing the credits to chink together, and from the look in her eyes he could tell that she got the hint. Slowly and seductively the blue skinned twi'lek stood from where she sat and sauntered towards a room in the back of the sandy cantina.

Kalan stood and followed her, dropping his right hand to his side as his left hand squeezed the joint between his teeth, holding it steady. He heard a swooshing sound as the sand-packed durasteel door slid open and allowed him access into a near completely dark room. Kalan's stomach began to tighten as he stepped through the door, a few blinking lights and the glowing tip of his cigarra serving as the only light in the room. He could make out the twi'lek moving towards a cheap looking bed in the room, and then he heard what he had been expecting - the scraping of a boot against the sandstone floor.

Kalan dropped to a knee, his right hand whipping his sunspear out, and he shot two shots into the dark. He heard a sharp cry and a body slumping to the ground as the air lit up. From the body sprayed an unaimed stream of fire from an automatic carbine clutched by the dead hand of an enforcer he'd just dropped. The twi'lek scrambled back, hiding under the bed as Kalan swung around, firing twice more and dropping another of his attackers, but not before a pistol shot rang off from the attacker and hit him in the chest plate.

There was one last attacker in the room, coming at him with a vibroblade, swinging harshly down at Kalan to cut him in half. Kalan's arm shot up fast, catching the blade across his gauntlet, as his left hand released the cigarra and grabbed Lanna's lightsaber, snapping it on. The blade jumped to life and he plunged it into the weequay with a wet gurgling cry. Content that he was now safe Kalan rose back to his feet and stepped towards the bed where the twi'lek hid. With a sharp boot he kicked out and sent the bed sliding away. Below it was the cowering dancer, blubbering out excuses, attempting to save herself. Kalan knelt down beside her, retrieving his joint with his right hand and jamming it into her collar bone as his left hand still held the lit saber, "Now, why don't you tell me where I could find where this stuff is made."
 

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Lanna let the liquid work it's magic, seeping into the corners of her mind. It didn't make her act stupid so much, as it enhanced her confidence. Which could technically go hand in hand. She set down her third glass, thinking her decision to consume so much alcohol, was not very wise. However, she was a person guided by emotion at this particular moment in time, and pushed away the likely repercussions.

It was sometime in the middle of a very detailed thought she was having, that she heard a loud thud in one of the back rooms. She snapped out of the headspace, and turned towards it. Nobody else seemed to notice. Or, if they did, they didn't care. Looking up and down the bar, wide eyed, she jumped down from her wooden stool. She paused, to wipe down her coat, then made her way to the room.

She moved to open the door, then knocked instead. After there was no answer, she changed her mind and opened the door. It was dim, and the only piece of furniture in the room, was pressed at a sharp angle against the left wall. On the floor was the blue Twi'lek, and kneeling beside her, was Kalan.

What was an even more eye catching about the scene, was the electric blue light saber he held in his hand, and the carnage along the floor. A small whisp of smoke drifted up from the whimpering woman's blue skin, where a burn developed.

"I see you used my light saber," she said, raising her voice. Swiftly, she shut the door of the room behind her. She wasn't so intoxicated that her emotions were bouncing off the walls, but she was definitely closer to quick judgements. Walking up beside him, she knelt down, and wrapped her hand around the saber. Taking it from his grip, she moved the blade forward until it lay horizontally with the woman's neck, and made a sizzling sound. She reeled back from the black, screeching. "Shut up lady, and tell us where you got the spice, before I really decide to slice you up."

She sucked in a shaky breath, then spoke. "The East side of the city, in the green domed building. I don't know any names."

"Alright then," She huffed. "Let's go. My family lives on the East side." She opened the door, but before she stepped out, she paused. "Oh, and Kalan. If you touch my light saber again, I won't think twice about retaliating."

@Prudence
 

Prudence

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A hissing sound filled the otherwise silent room, alerting Kalan to the fact that the door had just slid open. He turned his head, assessing the newcomer, and found that it was the Jedi Padawan from earlier. He shot her a look and then turned his attention back to the twi'lek. She seemed like she was going to talk for a moment, but then Lanna cut in, her ire filled voice mentioning Kalan using her lightsaber. He rolled his eyes a bit as she snatched it from his hand, and then she began torturing the prisoner herself. Manda, Kalan mentally mused, kid has anger issues. I've killed Sith more serene than her.

As she pressed the blade towards the Sith's throat, Kalan's empty left hand reached out and grabbed her wrist, squeezing tight enough to hurt a little, and ensure she couldn't wiggle out of his grip. He listened as the twi'lek squeaked out the location of the spice plant, and then he released the girl's hand. Kalan had never been particularly fond of Force users, but this one was fekking unstable. At least most of the Jedi he'd met in his time had been fairly professional, but this girl was about to behead a stripper just to find some spice.

He rose silently, tossing his burnt out joint towards the twi'lek as he followed the Jedi. Pausing for a moment he turned to face her, dropped his left hand to his belt, and threw her some credits. "Go buy yourself a transport off of this place, lass." Turning to the padawan he shook his head, "You would behead a stripper, just to figure out where someone is getting glitterstim?"

As they stepped out of the door he grabbed her shoulder and spun her around so that she was looking towards him, and pushed her back into a wall, "Let's get one thing straight kid. I could put you in the ground with relative ease, and that's without the magical Force to fall back on." He locked eyes with her, his hand gripping a little harder, "You don't believe me? Test me. You're a loose cannon. You've got potential, but right now you're just recklessly inflicting pain."

He squeezed a bit tighter until his fingers were biting into her skin, and definitely hurting, and then abruptly he let go, "Pain is fine, but only if it has a purpose." With that he spun on his heels and began for the exit to the cantina, "Now come on, we've got some spice to seize."
 

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Kalan threw down some credits, and turned to leave, before tossing Lanna a disapproving remark, as they walked out the door.

"I wasn't going to kill her," she said with a tone of raspy indignance. "She wouldn't have said anything otherwise."

Even though that's what she stated, it may not have been true. The Twi'lek woman may have talked under lighter circumstances, but Lanna was much too impatient to wait for that to happen. Her mind was on full speed, and she was becoming irritated when that mindset was interfered with.

She moved with her current focus sharp and intent on getting to her next challenge of the day. So she was surprised when she was suddenly pulled from that mindset.

Kalan had a firm grip force itslef onto her, and for a moment, she was taken back.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"

She wavered for a moment, a shred of fear rising up, but she dismissed it. He shoved her against the wall, or at least, it felt that way, and she scoweled at him. After his challenge for her to test him, the girl tried to break away. She grabbed his wrists, and struggled. To her own frustration, his grip only tightened, making her bite back any display of pain.

Meeting his eyes with a gleaming gold stare, she spoke with the alcohol infused words, "I get it. I apologize."

With that, he let go. One last dose of advice, and he headed for the door.

Lanna huffed, pulling her hood over her messy hair, and turned to follow him, avoiding the eyes of any onlookers. She was like a child being disciplined, and the humiliation was written all over her face.

***
They rented a speeder, which they took to the East side of the city. Of course Kalan drove, because Lanna possesed no piloting skills whatsoever. The whole driving experience made her stiffen up, and get anxious. Therefore, she sat in the passenger seat, looking out at the scenery to the side of her.

They sat in silence throughout most of the ride, until Lanna blandy interjected. "Turn that way." She pointed. "If all goes well with my family, we might have a place to stay for the night."

Eventually they neared the area where she grew up. Her stomach turned, and she wiped any perspiration from her forehead.

She continued to face away from him. "I don't suppose you'd be nervous to see your family in a situation like this?

@Prudence
 

Prudence

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Lanna reacted exactly as Kalan had expected her to, like a scolded embarrassed child. He mentally shrugged it off and continued on, musing about the differences between Jedi and Mandalorian societies. At her age Kalan had been a precursor to who he was now, a blade growing ever sharper with each passing day. There was a reason that the Mandalorians were known to be the fiercest warriors in history, no small part of which was due to their extreme professionalism and resolve. As she drew her hood Kalan retrieved his helmet from his belt and slid it onto his head, its seal giving a pop-hiss as it locked in place.

~~~

Kalan had rented a speeder, using his own credits - which he would bill back to the Jedi - and piloted the pair into the desert. He was relaxed as he piloted the speeder off into the wastelands, sand beating against his windshield and helmet. The two were still situated in an awkward silence, born of Kalan's earlier words. He could practically feel her anxiety washing off of her even without the Force. They had been cruising more or less straight for half an hour when suddenly the girl interjected a set of instructions, and offered that they may have a place to stay for the night.

Without speaking Kalan adjusted his grip on the controls, shifting in the direction that Lanna had indicated. The speeder slowly drifted according to his course correction, and they continued on their new path. Joy. If the family is anything like her, this will be most enjoyable. He rolled his eyes behind his visor as the pair drifted over the sands, and he could make out a settlement ahead.

In what had to be an intentional over dramatic show, the girl still faced away from him. I'm pretty sure I dated a girl that acted like that once... He just shrugged at her remark, "Depends on how things were when you left home." He shifted the speeder so that it was parked and slid over the side, his feet meeting the loose sand with a thud. "Lead the way, Master Jedi."
 

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Lanna's gaze was droopy, and unfocused as she was stewing in her head. Based upon the mandelorian's reply to her aching question, she was still nervous. She had just left. As a little kid, her parents were more than welcome to accept the opportunity provided for their youngest child. They wanted her to become a Jedi Knight, and participate in a war that may have offered her more than a life on the desolate planet.

Eventually, they reached her place.

Kalan stepped out of the speeder, and she just sat there. Looking at the structure. It was a small white house, with an animal skin door. Though, the door was not actually animal skin anymore. It had been replaced with a sturdy looking door. She stepped out when Kalan told her to lead the way, and she ignored his sarchasm. Straightening up, she walked to the door, and gave a swift knock.

Holding her breath, someone turned the knob and glanced out. He looked up at Kalan first, raising his eyebrows, then down at Lanna.

"Hi..."

"Are you Miss Lanna Singh?"

"Yes."

Before she knew it, the man pushed the door aside, and wrapped her into a tight hug. Her father was always the emotional type, even though he had a tendency to be distant with the family.

"Is mom home?" She said. Her mouth was dry, and her heart beat sped up.

He called for her mother to come to the door, and a tan skinned lady with long untamable curly hair came to the door. She gasped. "Lanna!" The girl received a kiss on the head, and was then led eagerly through the doorway. Then they paused.

"Who is this?" The woman said, hesitantly. Probably praying deep down inside, that the armoured man was no love interest of her daughter's.

"Someone I'm working with."
The young girl stood straight, and politely, as if she longed to impress the people around her. "We were looking for a place to stay, if it's not too much to ask."

"Of course not," her mother said. "I'll get some food ready. Why don't you two sit down and have a drink."

"Okay..." she said, looking back at Kalan. She was out of place. Then she scanned her surroundings. "Reyna!" She said, surprised once again. "How are you?"

"I've been better," her older sister said with a short sigh. She had grown out of her teenage years, and into a full fledged woman.

"Where's Adrian?"

"He left six months ago because he got a good job offer off the planet."


"Oh," she said, pulling out a chair and taking a seat. "I see. Well, that's good for him." Glancing across the table, into the small kitchen, she caught her mother wiping away a tear from her cheek. Lanna sucked in a breath. "This is Kalan. As I said before, he's working with me to get some business done here on Tatooine. I actually met him on Umbara where I got to know his amazing... skillset. Yes. He's very tallented. And a joy to work with." She was obviously nervous, because she was babbling on.

After they sat down to eat, there was a moment of silence between them, that Lanna caught her older sister making eyes at Kalan. She looked at her wide eyed and surprised, then back at the man, and cleched her jaw, shaking her head. Her eyes were warning him. Then, she snapped out of the gaze just as her father began to speak to her.

It should have been the other way around. She should have been warning her sister. But of course, she barely knew her.

"So are you both Jedi?" Reyna said, curiously.

""I am. Kalan's a Mandalorian soldier... I graduated to knighthood about a month ago."

"That's fantastic," her father said. "So why are you assisting the Jedi knights right now, Mr. Ordo?"

Lanna turned to look at him, curiously. She was slightly paying attention, yet still buzzing with questions and excitement. How strange this was. Everything was so aged.

@Prudence
 

Prudence

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At first it seemed as if she may not actually depart the speeder with him. Kalan turned around and gave her a half shrug, palms facing up, that conveyed Are you coming? Until eventually she got out of the speeder. He waited idly as the small girl walked to the durasteel door and knocked. Kalan leaned against the sandstone archway that encased the door, as she exchanged pleasantries with her family. He could tell from how the kid had gone from moody teen, to timid mouse that this was an emotional reunion. Kalan tried to imagine having been separated from his family for over a decade, and how the interaction would go.

He stepped back a bit as the man wrapped his arms around the young girl, and out of habit his right hand dropped and rested on the butt of his pistol, ready to draw and drop the man should the need arise. Luckily Kalan did not actually draw his pistol, and instead played off the movement as just resting his hand on his hip. A moment later, an older female approached and had a similarly emotional reaction to the sight of Lanna as the first man had, and was clearly Lanna's mother. Finally someone actually noticed him, and he got an introduction as Someone I'm Working With from Lanna. Oh how nice. My parents wasted their breath naming me Kalan. They should've just named me Someone. He rolled his eyes a bit behind his helmet, and was once again glad for his anonymity.

The woman agreed to let them stay with them, and offered some food. Finally, Kalan mused, things are going well. Another presumed member of Lanna's family joined them, and Kalan quickly learned the woman's name was Reyna, clearly Lanna's older sister. Kalan's mood instantly lifted, and he thought that a night in the Singh house might not be so bad. Quickly he removed his helmet and smiled at the sister.

The two of them sat down at a small table in the kitchen, and Kalan just smiled politely as Lanna babbled on. She mentioned something about his 'amazing skillset ' and what a joy it was to work with him. He knew that was all sarcasm, but the nervous tone to her voice didn't convey that to those that she was talking to. Kalan caught Reyna staring at him, and in exchange he flashed the younger woman a grin. He caught Lanna cutting her own eyes at her sister, and it took all of his effort to suppress a smug grin. It amused him how much this was bothering the broody younger girl.

Her sister spoke up, addressing Kalan now, and asked if they were both Jedi. Kalan just let an amused smirk onto his face and realized that he hadn't actually spoken this entire time. He nodded along with what Lanna had said, taking a sip of water before he spoke, "The Dominion has been working..." he weighed his words, putting his disdain for the order as a whole aside. Trashing on the Jedi would earn him no favor here, their daughter being a Jedi herself, "alongside the Jedi. In order to build an alliance of sorts. It is pretty clear that the Republic is soon to fail, though I have no sympathy for them. The Republic was decrepit and corrupt." He leaned back a bit and shrugged, "Tatooine being Mandalorian territory, it is an olive branch of sorts, to allow the Jedi to operate within our territory. I was escorting Lanna here as she tracks some spice smugglers in the area." He chose to make it sound more like her operation, rather than a joint operation. Perhaps if he made it seem like he was bragging on her, the girl would chill out some.

"Though my experience with the Jedi is... admittedly limited, Lanna here is a pretty upstanding example of a Knight. It has been a pleasure working alongside her." He gave a humble smile, and then poised his next question towards Reyna, "So what keeps a gorgeous young lady like yourself out here on Tatooine?"
 

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There was a pause in the room, but conversation only faltered for a moment.

Reyna blushed, and Lanna dropped her metal eating utensil in her dish. She cleared her throat a bit, then raised her attention to the man. Her hands were folded, and she wore an unamused grimace.

"Oh, I just help out my parents, here at home. My father needs me at his droid shop. Growing up I watched over Adrian and Lanna, and now I'm helping out my parents..."

Sighing, Lanna tuned out the growing conversation between Kalan, and Reyna. she leaned back in her chair, and looked up and down the walls. The kitchen was tiny as ever, the curtains over the small window were replaced, and a small religious emblem hung on the front door. She hadn't practiced it since she left, as the force became her full time "religion." She did remember however, that her mother was strictly devoted to it.

Trailing her eyes downwards, she spotted something. Narrowing her gaze, she processed the image of red wrapping like that of the Twi'lek woman's cig. She looked at it for a while before the realization set it.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she felt her face get hot. Quickly, she snapped her attention away, and looked at Kalan as if nothing had happened. Of course if he caught her looking, he'd be inclined to look around the small desk behind himself. Then again, his attention seemed to be heavily turned to Reyna.

They talked a bit longer, before Lanna stood to take her dish to the kitchen. She bumped into the table, causing it to shake a bit, then stood back and apologized.

"My bad."

"Oh sweetie, let me get your dish," her mother said. She stood up and took Kalan's plate, then Lanna's.

"Thank you," she said. There was a hollow feeling in her chest. Nerves.

She had snatched up the spice, and dropped it into her coat pocket. Turning back, the girl spoke out. "We are going to have to leave early in the morning."

The reason she chose this job in the first place was so she could take the opportunity to check in on her family. Now she wanted to get the hell put of there as soon as possible. Her questions were answered, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know any more.

"Thank you again, for letting us stay."

Her father nodded, and gestured towards the very narrow hallway. "There's a guest bedroom down there."

Lanna cut in directly after. "Kalan. You take the guest room, I'll sleep out here. Perfect. It's actually really late, so why don't we all get some rest, and we'll see you in the morning." She walked over to her father, giving him a kiss on the cheek, and gave her mother one last hug.

"I'm going to just wash up, and then lay down."


She ended up brushing out her hair. Something she rarely did, but this time it was more of a stress reliever. She was pulling kind of hard, and yanking on the tangles. She had also layed out some blankets on the floor to make her sleeping space.

Once the people in the household has settled down, Lanna excused herself to step outside. The air was still warm, and the light was glowing harshly behind the horizon.

She sat down, back against the stone wall of the house. Cracking her knuckles, she titled her chin up, and lightly closed her eyes. It was in these stagnant moments, that she let the thoughts pour in and resonate inside her mind.
 

Prudence

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Kalan could practically feel Lanna's unamused stare, and he drank it up. She'd been a pain in the ass thus far as they'd made their way here, so the little annoyances that she now had to endure was just icing to him. He tuned her out and continued to chat up her sister. He wasn't stupid enough to try anything with the woman, but he could tell that she was at least somewhat interested in him - and he enjoyed the attention.

He nodded along attentively, "Ah so you're mechanics? I imagine that's a pretty in demand trade around these parts."

He and Reynah continued to talk idly for a bit, and she subtly flirted with him. Kalan didn't outright return her flirtatious remarks, lest he offend the girl's parents who were sitting just beside them. Instead he teased her a little and made a few good humored jokes, and generally enjoyed their conversation. He was aware of Lanna snapping her attention back to him rather sharply. He looked her over and just cocked an eyebrow, and she quickly stood up, jarring the table.

He could tell something was up from her snappy behavior, so he stood as well. He could see the tangible disappointment in Reynah's face at the thought of his departure, but that's not what he was focusing on. He saw Lanna's hand shoot out to snag something from nearby, before shooting down into her pocket. Kalan's eyes fixed her with a quizzical look as she practically rushed him to bed, sending him off to a guest room down the hall. He slowly moved to the room, but only momentarily. Just long enough to detach his armor and weapons. Beneath them he wore his flightsuit, a blackish grey colored jumpsuit that covered his whole body, and gave him minimal protection. He peeled that off as well, and changed into a pair of clothes that he had in the pack that was built into his jetpack.

His change of clothes was a pair of shorts that came down just past his knees, showing his hairy but pale calves, and a baggy grey T-Shirt, bearing the insignia of the Dominion on the left side of his chest. He slipped his boots on, lacing them up, and then returned to where he had dumped his armor and gear. He rifled through the pile of cloth and durasteel until he found what he was looking for, his sunspear tucked away in a leather hip holster. He unfastened the holster, before attaching it onto his hip, complete with the pistol.

He walked over towards his door and waited. After just a moment what he had expected occurred, he heard the sound of the exterior door opening, and then closing. Kalan pushed his own door open, and stealthily moved through the halls towards the door. He pushed it open, and stepped outside. He immediately felt the oppressive heat of Tatooine hit him like a brick, and could feel the sand stinging at his cheeks in the wind. A glance to the left found Lanna sitting, her back against the sandstone of the house.

"Gonna tell me what you swiped from the kitchen back there, and why you're brooding outside?"
 

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She shifted out of her state of thought, as Kalan stepped outside. If she couldn't be open with someone about her emotions, she found it difficult to even think about those things with other people around. Emotions. She hated that. And it frustrated her even more to have them eating away at her thoughts as they currently were. Since when was she so emotional? She always considered that to be a sign of weakness. Especially when they started to control a person's actions.

So she looked up at him through a dim gaze. He looked like he had changed into something more comfortable. The girl had stripped down to something much cooler as well. She took off the upper portion of her robes, and the fabric lay casually over her hips. Underneath she wore a black tank top, and her hair had gotten quite frizzy from the heat, and brushing.

"You think I swiped something?" She repeated, raising her eyebrows. Reaching in her coat pocket, her fingers brushed over the objects. She paused for a moment, as if she didn't want to admit to anything. Then slowly pulled her hand out of her pocket. "You caught me. But don't say anything. It's my mother's. I can imagine she's already going to be concerned when she realizes it's missing."

In her raised open palm was a necklace with a religious symbol on the end, infused into a pendant.

Lanna slowly stood up, and raised her eyes to the man. She shoved her hands into her pockets, and dropped the pendant down to the bottom of her coat pocket. "What can I say? I'm grabbing at straws right now. Might as well turn to a bit of faith."

She sucked in a breath, getting ready to turn and leave.

"Oh. Kalan." She swallowed. "I apologize for the lack of control I've had. It's not your responsibility to keep me in line, and I know that."

Cracking her knuckles inside her pockets, she stepped to move through the doorway.

"Goodnight. Sleep well, because we need to be back on the road early tomorrow."

@Prudence
 

Prudence

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Kalan's eyes dropped to gaze at the girl's open hand. He had wondered what she'd swiped from her parents, and had figured it'd been a bottle, or something else. Instead it was a pendant, some kind of religion that she'd grown up with. He just gave her a slight smile and tucked his hands in his pockets. Kalan hadn't grown up as a religious man, and instead had been more focused on academia and combat. Mandalorians had their own beliefs, and whether they were true or not, he didn't know. He saw the girl stand up, and she jammed her hands in her pockets.

"Hey, no judgement here. I turn to a bottle, you turn to the sky. It's not wrong to miss your family."

It seemed now like she was turning to leave, discouraged from her personal time by Kalan's presence. He raised his hands in a defensive posture and lowered his voice a little, "Hey you don't have to go. I can leave you alone out here." Before he could really get an offer she seemed to swallow pretty hard, and choke out something that couldn't have been easy for her to say. Reacting instinctively Kalan shot an arm out, hooked her around the shoulders and pulled her in for a hug.

He'd been pretty hard on her earlier, but that was how his parents had been growing up. Tough love, but support when it was earned. He squeezed his arm around her supportively and looked down towards her, "Listen kid, it's alright. You've been through more fucked up shit than most kids your age have, not to mention you have to deal with the Force, and the Jedi order. You're not a bad kid, just a little rough around the edges." He shot her a smile and loosened his arm, "I'm not typically fond of Jedi, hell we only ran into each other because Vesper sent me to fill in for her, but you're not so bad."

He pulled away and backed towards the door, turning his head to talk to her, "You ever want some more experience or training in combat, you've got my number kid."
 

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Lanna was shocked at his sudden gesture. She was expecting a serious nod, or acceptance of her apology. Or even a sharp denial if he was really bitter about things. But instead he pulled her into a hug.

Her eyes were wide at first, and then she closed them, biting back tears that threatened to overflow if she didn't keep her emotions in check. Sucking in a shaky breath, she processed his words, and then he pulled away. She kept her gaze down, and wiped away a stray drop, trailing it's way down her cheek. Letting go of his shirt, she put her hands in her pockets, and rubbed her fingers over the spice.

He left, and she stored his offer of combat training in the back of her mind.

She looked out at the now dark sky, and leaned back on the coarse stone. running her fingers through her hair, she went inside after a few more minutes of thinking.

Closing the door quietly behind herself, she stepped into the main room, catching someone moving towards the doorway of the guest room.

"Reynah?" She hissed.

Her sister stood in the hall with her hand pulling aside the curtains to the guest bedroom. They looked at each other, wide eyed.

"I had to use the bathroom," she said. Then turned, and went back to her room.

"That bastard,"
she muttered under her breath. She wondered if things would have actually escalated if she hadn't caught her sister a moment before.

Ignoring what she just saw, she kept walking deeper into the house, but she didn't get into the little makeshift bed. Instead, she opened the cabinet of the small desk where she found the spice. After peering inside a few more drawers, she found what she was looking for. Spice. Boxes and boxes of the stuff. She grabbed two handfuls, and dropped them in her pockets.


The morning arrived, and Lanna awoke with a very aggravating headache. Was it the alcohol? Or stress, maybe.

It was still very early, so she washed her face and got cleaned up, before going to the guest bedroom to tell Kalan it was time to get moving. Brushing aside the curtain, she called into the very small room.

"Time to go, I hope you're ready! I'm going to say my goodbyes, and then we can get a move on."


She had a drink brewing on the stove. Something to wake them up. The girl wasn't a fantastic cook, but she enjoyed experimenting every now and then. It was a hobby that really flared up her perfectionism.

When he came out, she handed him a clay mug. "Here." She took a sip of her own herbal drink. "I talked to my dad, and he said that there's a huge green domed building... that direction." She pointed. "We should go." She tilted her head back, chugging the rest of the drink, and set it down on the table.

"Sleep well?" She was less concerned about his attempts to seduce her sister, and more anxious that he may have stumbled upon copious amounts of spice, as she had. That would have been an issue.

@Prudence
 
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Prudence

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The remaining moments between Lanna and Kalan passed in silence. Lanna said nothing back to Kalan, and instead kept her head down. He was pretty sure he'd seen a finger shoot up to wipe tears out of her eyes, and that was how Kalan knew she'd been sincere earlier. The kid was going through more than most her age had to go through, and while he'd grown annoyed at her bratty behavior earlier, he could at least understand it. True to his word he left her alone, and returned inside her family's house. The halls were abandoned at this hour, and the house was eerily quiet. He slipped past the curtain that acted as a door to his room, and kicked off his boots. Not bothering to remove his clothes, or his holster, he laid down in the small uncomfortable bed and began to settle into sleep.

He heard a bit of a disturbance just outside of his door. He could see the curtain rustling as someone was about to enter, and then he heard Lanna's voice, and Reynah's. He realized that she was trying to visit him, and part of him laughed at that turn of events. He was sure it would cause more strife between himself and Lanna, but that he could deal with the next day.

~~~

When Lanna came into his room the next day, Kalan was already dressed in his armor, and had his helmet sitting in his lap. He looked up to meet her gaze as she said it was time for them to leave, and silently he rose from his bed and followed her out. He accepted the cup of caf and sipped at it, "That sounds like a solid lead.. This part of Tatooine is fairly remote, so it should be close to where they're making the stuff."

He smirked a little at her question, it actually seemed as if her frozen heart was thawing a bit. "I did, and you?"
 
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