Sands of Change

[Pho Gorcru]

Pho had recently escaped the under city of Coruscant only to find himself in the outer rim. He was uncertain if this was exactly better than his previous situation, but at least out here he wouldn't endanger his family or be directly under the thumb of those bully Imperials. Tatooine was a planet of sand and horrible people. At least it was free of some tyrannical ruler for the moment. The scum here were usually just individuals who could be avoided or punched. It was weirdly nice compared to Coruscant. The sand was getting old real quick though.

"Why did I come here?" The young Zabrak mumbled to himself as he wrapped a bandana around his face. "Don't people need help somewhere less sandy?"

The small job had mostly been finished already, there were just bits to clean up. Pho had to head off to the dunes and find the wreckage of a fight from earlier. He was to scare off scavengers and clean up any signs of a rebel presence. It was to look like a local skirmish and nothing special. It wasn't exactly a glorious mission but he had done his bit to start working his way into their circle.

Town was pretty crappy as well, but at least had some shelter from the sun and sand. Pho re-entered town and made his way towards the spaceport. It was not quite time to leave but he knew he could find some relief and refreshment near there. His rebellious friends who sent him out here said some contacts might check up on him, but he was in the dark as to who it would be or how to tell it was them.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Sand. Aurora really did not like sand. There was no keeping it out of your clothes, hair, everywhere. No matter how hard she tried to keep the sand out she failed. The Morellian Jedi much preferred the forests, jungles, or even kriffing swamps. Almost anything was better than damn sand. Well, she didn’t exactly get a choice of where the Rebellion decided to stir up trouble. The wise Commander Ion had targeted Tatooine as a potential location for a knew a Alliance operational command. It was a good idea. Tatooine was outside of the clutches of the Empire, and rather lawless. The perfect location to avoid detection. Aurora just really disliked the sand. She had promised her fellow Jedi and Commander Ion she would do whatever was best for the Alliance. For what was best for the Alliance was best for the Order.

She was overseeing a small clean up operation in a podunk down in the middle of the desert. A skirmish had taken place a few miles outside the town, and it needed to be quickly whisked away. Her pale green eyes were currently boring into a younger human Rebel. Aurora’s displeasure was palpable. “What do you mean we don’t have anything to haul away the scrap? The young man shrugged confusingly. “The convoy took off before we could snatch a couple up.” A huff of frustration burst from Aurora. “Kriff, fine. I’ll call the Captain. Just get your little bad of clean up boys ready.”. The young human saluted and wandered off. Most of the Alliance still had no idea they existed but Commander Ion had given them some authority.

Aurora stalked off to find a com station. This was the last thing she wanted to deal with. As she headed towards the com station she spotted a young Zabrak going in a similar direction. She raised her voice. “Hey kid, come here.” She might as well wield some of this authority.

 

[Pho Gorcru]

Just ahead Pho could see a break from the sand. He just had to make it a bit further without being assigned a new task. The Zabrak was just about to push open the door to go indoors when someone called to him. A momentary debate in his mind contemplated pretending not to hear, but he decided against it. A woman who seemed to likely be in charge was asking for him. Pho did not really know who she was but he decided it was not worth the fight to resist her. He trotted his way closer to her and tried to not look too annoyed.

"What is it?" He asked plainly, looking her over carefully.

She seemed nice enough. Nothing about her screamed warning signs to the young Zabrak boy but she did seem interesting. Not in a 'I want to hit that' sort of way, but something was different about her. She certainly was not the usual scum that he had worked with in the under cities or the rim. This one seemed more put together. Though he could be imagining all of that too. Pho decided to at least give her the chance to prove herself as kind.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

The little Zabrak trotted forward and the Force rang in her mind. The clear unmistakable ring of recognition. Aurora’s eyes nearly widened in surprise. Was everyone in the galaxy suddenly Force sensitive? She felt like she was running into those who could feel the Force every few moments. Perhaps this was the Force’s way of ushering along the rebirth of the Order. Aurora had never encountered this many Force sensitives in her life, certainly not this many untainted by the Empire. She smiled softly as the young boy approached. There was no reason to give him the full Aurora experience.

“I need a com to the convoy that just pulled out. Otherwise we are going to be pulling that scrap a loooong way, kid.” Aurora smiled as she started to walk. “Show me where it is please.” By the Force, she was terrible at being nice. “How’d you get here, aren’t you a little young to be out in the desert?” She needed to know exactly where this little child came from. That would be the first step. Step two would be determining if he knew he was Force sensitive, and if not, finding a gentle way to tell him. The kid seemed excitable. “Oh, and a name would be nice. I’m Aurora.” No need for the fake today. @Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

Woman in charge didn't even know how to get to the comms and she called him a child. Typical old woman had no clue how to use technology anymore and looked down on him for being young. That was certainly nothing new for Pho. At least she was trying to be nice to him instead of making tons of demands. Pho knew just where to take her for the comm station and he could grin through a little questioning if she felt so inclined. He had to remind himself that this wasn't the Sith Empire.

"I ain't hauling it through that sand any more than I already have... we'll get that convoy here. This way." Pho chimed back, trying to seem obedient and proper.

He took a moment to answer the other questions. His focus was on trying not to sound pathetic but to explain himself honestly as well. No point in lying about his past to these people. Pho just wanted to make it seem a bit better than it was. Not a lie so much as careful wording. The old lady might have sympathy and put in a good word but he had too much pride to say too much.

"I'm Pho. I got here the same as most did. Bummed a ride on some freighter and here I am." This was not the answer she wanted and he knew it, so he gave in a bit more. "Don't get to decide how young you are when you have to grow up and survive. Is that a problem? How old do you think I am?"

So much for being obedient and proper sounding. Pho was a bit rebellious and was bad at being formal. He was also bad at being proper and nice. The two had that in common it seemed. Aurora she said her name was. If that was even her real name, he could not be certain. So many in this crowd tended to use fake names or stupid call signs.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Why were all the children of the galaxy pint sized sass machines? Aurora literally couldn’t go a day without dealing with the sharp tongue of a toddler. Had the entire galaxy turned into ‘spunky’ teenagers? She prayed to the Force it hadn’t. There were days she swore she was surrounded by brooding and sass. Awash in a sea of angst. The Morellian Jedi rolled her eyes at the kids attitude. She at least several decades older. “Not everyone is picking on you, shorty…There are a few of us left in the galaxy who think kids should get a chance to be kids.” She quickly looked him up and down. “I’ll eat this boot if you’re older than 19.” Aurora was pretty damn confident she was right.

The Force prodded her. Yes, yes she knew she had to get going. “Sounds like you weren’t born on Tatooine.” Her feet kept swishing the dry sand as she walked. “How did you find your way to the Alliance?” She had to learn something about the kid. She couldn’t just pounce of him like a Kath hound, yelling that he was Force sensitive. “We all got here in our own unique but hopefully with the same goal.” Aurora’s goal’s just happened to be a little different. The rebirth of the Jedi Order and the end the Sith. Balance in the Force.

She contained to walk when a shiver cascaded up her spine. Her eyes shift to towards the sandy walls of the small outpost. For a moment, the world paused. The alarms rose the next second. “Raiders!” Sounds of blaster fire began sounds around the outpost. Aurora’s blaster sprang into her hand. Her eyes darted to Pho. “What you got kid? Her eyes darted around, searching for signs of Raiders coming over the walls. @Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

Pho had been staring at the sand while Aurora spoke about his age, almost tossing her a glare when she mentioned his age but decided against it. The Zabrak knew she was right. He had asked her to guess. It just was bothersome that people saw him as a child still. When did he grow up and start looking like an adult? Old people were the worst about age. At least she attempted to sound caring about it. She seemed trustworthy enough for some reason despite seeming super old. He was considering an answer to her next question and how sarcastic he would be before the sirens went off.

"I..," Pho drew his basic blaster pistol. "... Just this."

The chill down his spine was not nearly as good as the Jedi Master's. Nor did he really recognize it as more than a reaction to the alarms. The force was not something he really considered so the thought did not cross his mind about who she could be beyond a Rebel and what he could become. Instead he was a kid with a pistol next to a woman with a pistol in the middle of an outpost being raided by enemies. That felt unsafe and horrifying.

"What do we do?" He asked Aurora while trying to find something to hide behind nearby.

Seemingly in response to the Zabrak's questions, a pair of Tuskens leaped over the wall nearby to their left and roared at them. Both took cover at the corner of a structure before taking pot shots at the pair. Pho ducked fully behind cover and checked his pistol. He did not usually sharp shoot and this was high range for his weapon. It would take all his focus and luck to hit let alone avoid being hit himself while aiming. Now he would let the woman take the lead before he started spraying inaccurate pistol fire.

"In case I die, I'm only 17 and I'm from Coruscant. Last name is Gorcru. Can find my family there to tell them." He said, losing some of his sass with the reality of death on a crappy sand planet.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Chaos erupted quickly. The small outpost hadn’t exactly been prepared for a sudden assault. That was almost certainly the reason for the attack. Aurora could sense fear rising all through the outpost. Young Pho was no exception. In that moment the Zabrak seemed every bit a child. Aurora followed behind the building. The Jedi Master was calm in the storm. Her breathing was slow and steady. Her heartbeat even. Aurora was in command. Instinct honed over decades quickly took over, coupled with an overpowering need to protect those in the outpost. Most important was she had to protect Pho.

The fear coming from the young man was palpable in the Force as the two raiders fired in their direction. She looked at him and smiled. “Relax, we are going to be fine.” She didn’t need to look around the corner to see the raiders. She could senes the bundle of murderous intent in the Force. “Deep breaths. Focus your mind and take this one step at a time. One pull of the trigger, one look around the corner.” Aurora kept her voice low. “But stay focused.”

She whipped her blaster around the corner and squeezed a couple shots off in the direction of the raiders. This was a useless exercise. The raiders could overwhelm the outpost if not quickly stopped. She was tired of this. Tired of always pretending she was something she wasn’t. Aurora took a deep breath. Her will resolved. She looked at Pho. “Look kid, I need to know right now I can trust you. Right now.” The Force flooded her body. In an instant she was awash in the ocean of the Light. Her left hand began to gather the Force, a powerful blast beginning to form. She stepped out from behind the barrier and her left hand shot forward. The Force ripped from the Jedi Master, hurtling towards the two raiders. The men went flying, crashing into the wall from which they came. “We have to help the others.” Her eyes searched for other raiders. @Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

Pho started to get more control of himself as Aurora seemed to take charge. She was certainly more of a soldier than he was. Street scraps were one thing but a raid in some hole of an outpost was another. The Zabrak boy was about to gain the confidence to take a shot or two himself when Aurora spoke up about trusting her and then turning the corner before he could answer. He was about to chase after the old lady and help when he witnessed the force attack. The fear he had worked so hard to push away suddenly had changed to something different. There was only one type of being capable of that type of power.

"Of course you can tr..." Pho had never managed to finish speaking his reassurance before she acted. "...huh."

The woman seemed less interested in any debates or questions than in helping the others. It was good that she was helping but the only beings who could do that were Sith. The Sith were magic, terrifying things that he had been told to never trust. If one such being was among the Rebels, was he just helping a Sith take on another Sith? One powerful being for another did not seem good but at the same time this one seemed nice at least. Pho did not even consider the idea of a Jedi. Such things were spoken of as myths and dead dreams on Coruscant.

"Yeah... help the others..," His gaze never left Aurora as they searched for more raiders. "I'm trying to... trust... but... what are you?"

Pho was terrified of what he had put himself into here in the rim. The Sith were feared and spoken of as monsters. That was everything he was fighting to destroy. Was fire with fire really worth it? It was at least reassuring to know they had this power, but at what cost? Pho would need to really tear into her for her to be trustworthy but he was sure she would rip him apart if he dug too hard.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Reckless. She was being reckless. The words rang in the back of her mind, the elderly voice of Master Orady clear as a bell. Be patient, Aurora. Be cautious, Aurora. Be smart, Aurora. Kriff it. She loved that old man, and everything he had taught her. His death had nearly crushed her heart. Even knowing he was one with the Force had not taken away the pain. Master Orady preached watching and waiting, but that time was over. They were returning. Aurora did not wish to simply watch and wait. The Force was intoxicating. So rarely did she have the chance to dive deeply into the ocean of the Light. To truly exercise the strength in the Force she possessed. Oh it was an indescribable feeling, one she did not wish to relinquish.

Fear pumped into the Force. Sith. The word sang in her mind. Aurora turned to face Pho. The panic in his features was clear. The troubling words in his mind spilling around him. How could she have been so stupid? Pho had only one thing to think she was. Sith. Aurora spoke quickly. “Not Sith.” She tried not to smile. She realized how creepy it might be if she smiled. “Do I look like a monster?” Bad question probably as the raw power of the Force roared through her.

Aurora kept her sense extended to ensure there weren’t suddenly more uninvited guests. “Look kid, we don’t have a lot of time to play twenty questions. I’m not evil, I’m not here to kill anyone, and I don’t worship some Darkside kriff.” The Force nudged her. No, he wasn’t ready to know. Always so pushy. “You and I can have a very long talk when this is over. Actually, we need to have a very long talk…which this is rapidly becoming.” More blaster fire was nearing. She feel the hate in the Force. In mere moment, they would not longer be alone. @Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

Not Sith. That was not exactly reassuring. Pho was unsure what exactly to say in response to Aurora. She seemed like they had to have a long talk after this... whatever... raid... was over. The Zabrak had heard of friends of friends who had to have talks with Sith. They were never seen again, or if they came back their minds were broken. Evil was a machination of one's own mind and saying she was not evil was subjective. It at least was better than her admitting to being a Sith among rebels. He wondered if Aurora was some sort of Sith Exile, or maybe something else entirely.

"Okay." Was all Pho could manage to say as more weapons fire echoed in the outpost.

A few raiders were left but they quickly were realizing the Rebel outpost was not the typical moisture farmer raid. Even without Aurora the Not Sith, the Alliance had weapons and some training. Pho spotted another raider coming their way as it ran from a heated fight, only to find itself in the vicinity of the Not Sith and the boy. Fear was already high so there was nothing the Tusken could add. Pho shot twice from his pistol and dropped the robed raider. Even Pho was surprised that he managed to do it.

"I think they're starting to run..," Pho said, trailing off as fear cracked his voice. "Not Sith, what do you call yourself then? Aurora your real name?"

The pistol shook in his hands due to the nerves, but he kept it at hand. Not that he thought he could raise it quickly enough to stop her if she ended up wanting to kill the witness. Pho would at least try to go down fighting rather than be a nerf for slaughter. Something deep down told him to trust her, but he fought his own instincts out of experience.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Fear continued to roll in the Force. A mixture from the fighting Rebels and invading raiders. Aurora could feel the tide of battle turning in the Force. The raiders had hoped for an easy target but stumbled upon a well armed outpost they didn’t expect. The Alliance was not all superior warriors, but even the lowest of them had training of a sort. Aurora had decided one flashy display of the Force was enough. As Pho seemed to settle, in his odd little way, she scanned for any raiders remaining. One slipped around the corner while the young Zabrak was firing away. Aurora fired twice at the raider, intentionally missing. Her aim was only the scare the creature back over the wall, a desire that was a success.

Death suddenly pulsed through the Force. The Morellian Jedi turned to see Pho having downed one of the raiders. She knew it was a necessity. Not ever conflict could be solved without violence, but unnatural death was of the Darkside. The Light accepted the circle of life. Not in this way. Pho was right about one thing. This battle was over. The raiders were routed after having discovered their prey was not really prey. Aurora had to have a different kind of battle now.

“Good shot, kid.” She considered nearly all of the rebellion to be children in some way. “My real name is Aurora…that was not a lie.” She paused again for a moment, extending her senses in the Force. Yes, she was pretty sure they were safe. “I fight for the Rebellion and the fall of the Empire.” The Force nudged her again. Now it was time. “I am everything the Sith are not. Everything the Empire wishes the galaxy to forget.” They were alone in the small courtyard. Thank the Force. “I am a Jedi…I am what you can become.” Her voice became serious. “You have a gift Pho. Let me teach you how to use it.” The Force rang in her mind. There. That was how it was done. @Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

Pho's fear of Aurora briefly faded as she spoke to him about being a Jedi and that Pho could become one as well. He had grown up in the heart of the Sith Empire. Jedi were a myth that parents told their kids to make them feel better about the future. Jedi were never real. Darkness and magic belonged to the Sith who used their powers to oppress the people. A Jedi on Tatooine helping the Rebels fight against the Sith Empire. That was laughable. A Sith had truly tricked the Alliance into letting them into the fold. Maybe they were helping a nicer sounding Sith take the throne instead. This was crazy. Despite the fear, the Zabrak had to laugh a little.

"A Jedi? That's just a myth. You don't even have green skin." Pho retorted with a little chuckle, holstering his pistol finally. "If I can become like you, I'll sacrifice my life for the greater good, but I don't know if I believe this Jedi line."

As a 17 year old, Pho knew everything. He was certain the Jedi could not really exist. This was just a Sith toying with him. Maybe she would be better. Maybe this was a good Sith. A good Sith might call itself a Jedi, but was it? Pho figured it was a more hopeful front than saying reformed Sith. It would take some time for Pho to really accept the truth. Time and evidence. Even then his stubborn mind would be a tough one.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Aurora did roll her eyes this time. Kids could be really kriffing annoying. She was a karking Jedi, she shouldn’t have to prove it. Aurora was far more used to saying the ‘J’ word and seeing eyes grow wide. Astonishment was usually the reaction she expected. The reaction she preferred. This skepticism was unusually, but maybe she should have prepared for this. “Is that what they really say about us? That we were green?” Aurora scowled slightly. It would be heartbreaking if it wasn’t so odd. The Jedi Order reduced to strange myths after being snuffed out. Her heart ached.

At least Pho seemed honest in his convictions. The young Zabrak had an earnestness about him that she liked, despite his awkward little personality. “Don’t pee your pants.” Aurora quickly gathered the Force, she reached out and tapped Pho on the forehead. In that instant she connected with his mind. Aurora flooded the young Rebel’s thoughts with images from her life. Memories of Aurora training with Master Orady, learning the Force, and forging her Lightsaber. The brilliant orange blade of the saber was clear in that memory. Everything she showed Pho was blanketed with an overwhelming sense of truth. After a few moments she stepped back.

Aurora smiled. “See, not a Sith. No green skin. Just your run of the mill myth come to life.” A small laugh punctuated her sentence. “Don’t be ignorant, Pho. This is the chance for you to change your life, and the galaxy.” If she had a sign up form she would have whipped it out. Aurora’s little band of students was growing in number and in strength in the Force. They were the best the future Jedi could offer. She was confident Pho fit that mold, or at least he would in time. Everyone started out in need of a little word. His heart was good and that was what mattered above all else. @Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

One thing that could be said of Pho was that he was bad at taking orders. He was a Rebel in an Alliance but preferred not to be in some military structure. It was the lesser of many evils though to say the least. Pho could not help but grin at her frustration. Aurora was too old to be attractive to Pho, but she was adorable when mad. He was about to comment about what a Jedi was supposed to be then but she suddenly touched him and told him not to pee his pants. That was a weird command to make.

Pho was bad at taking orders, therefore he pissed his pants. It was subtle, slow, and uncontrollable. The Zabrak had been unprepared for what hit his mind. So much history, so much secrecy, and now he was to be a part of it. It was hard to call her a liar at this point but he had that small tinge of doubt still that wouldn't let go so easily. That would take time. There was no way for him to know this was not a trick or magic... or both.

"Okay. I'm in." He said quietly, hoping Aurora would not notice he had failed her only real command.

Memories of his own began to food Pho's mind as he stood there. Times when it seemed luck was on his side. When he could not explain that sick jump to escape or when he had a nagging feeling to move somewhere. Was this the force and Jedi ability she spoke of? Maybe he did have something special. Maybe it was just that paranoia all living beings get when they think they might be special but are not. It was hard to say but he was willing to give it a shot.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

What. The. Kriff. Did Pho just pee his pants? Seriously. What. The. Kriff. Aurora didn’t say a damn thing. She knew sudden contact between minds could be shocking, even extremely disorienting. She’d seen folks faint, gasp, and scream. Not once had she ever watched another humanoid pee their pants. Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything. Aurora had mostly thought it was a joke. Yet, here they were. Ignoring the wet pants, her little maneuver in the Force worked. There was still skepticism in Pho’s mind. She could feel that, but the other riding feeling was of acceptance. He was beginning to see what she was and what he could be. The Force rang approval. Her feet were on the right path.

“Kriff kid. You didn’t exactly make this easy on me, all the others just got all wide eyed and misty when I said Jedi.” She held up a hand to stop any questions. “Yes there are others, yes you will meet them, and no you can’t tell anyone else about us.” Aurora could practically see the questions rising in Pho’s mind. She turned and started to walk towards the small landing pad in the outpost. “My purpose here is done, which means we are leaving.”

She motioned for Pho to follow. “Get your things and meet me at the landing pad in an hour…I can’t train you on this Force forsaken rock.” Aurora hated Tatooine. She’d literally rather be anywhere else. Besides, the planet was not ideal for what she had in mind. There were far too many onlookers in the various outposts and cities. No Aurora need solitude, and she was not about to go running off into the desert. “One hour Pho, don’t be late…and change your pants.” Well, she had resisted as long as she could. Aurora was a Master of the Force, wise beyond her lengthy years, but still a bit of a pain in the ass. She let out one little snort of laughter before continuing to saunter towards the ship. This would be fun.
@Cazar

 

[Pho Gorcru]

"I'll be there. One hour." Pho muttered back.

Pho was overloaded with information and had not even begun to ask more questions when Aurora answered more. That would do plenty for now. The Zabrak had a lot of research to do. He also had some pants to change. An hour to gather his things which were few was easy enough. Awkwardly, he split off from Aurora to grab what he could from his quarters. A quick pants change was done as well as he cursed himself for pissing himself again.

"Okay... this should be it..." He said to himself out loud as he took his bag and jogged to the landing pad where Aurora was waiting.

He tried to smile as he approached but he was nervous. It likely looked forced. He was glad this meant leaving Tatooine though. No matter what happened next it couldn't be worse than the sand world. This place could stay behind him forever as far as he was concerned.

"I'm ready to go."

//The-End??

@Valen Pelora