The Desert's Test

[Brandon Rhea]

OOC Note: This is a NO KILL thread. By posting here, you agree to that.
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The stars hung over the desert like spectators of the madness of twilight, when the savages roamed and the foolish, seeking adventure and excitement, would remain out when day began its descent into night. The deserts of Tatooine were a treacherous and seemingly endless land, infested with all manner of unspeakable horrors from the most loathsome creatures. Even now, their roars and screeches could be heard from kilometers away. This was an hour when the sane returned to their settlements and homes.

Few ever called Jhon Cordatus sane, so it was no wonder that he and Lana were here now, standing on the outskirts of Mos Eisley, a few kilometers from where they landed their ship; Jhon didn’t want to provide their names at the starport, or risk being recognized by anyone official. It would be easier to blend in once they were in Mos Eisley, past the gates of the port authority.

This planet was the home of Lana’s ancestors, the place where her destiny began a millennia before she was born. It was as good a place as any to take the next step on her trials, for it was said that the desert tested all beings. Countless fools would come from all across the cosmos in a vain effort to tame the untamable, to seek adventure and excitement where only stagnation and despair could be found. They failed to realize the purpose of the desert. The true test of the arid wastes was to look inside oneself and become stronger for it. The true adventure was within.

Few ever accomplished that, of course. Spirits often broke in the desert. The sands were merciless and could take everything away from a person. Even the strongest of beings could fall upon their knees, sinking into the dust and dirt, and wait to drown in death, hoping for anything that would end their pitiful existence. Scavengers, barbarians, the blinding rays of the suns; it never really mattered what would kill them. Trek into the desert, journey beyond the most distant dunes farther than the eye can see, and soon enough anyone would gladly await the cold embrace of death.

But death didn’t take everyone. Jhon remembered hearing the story of a, born of the desert, named Elias, written about in the ancient Warden journals of two Humans called Ahdam and Qailan. Elias, too, was willing to die, to be lost in the sands of time and accept a fate that he would never be anything more than another shell of what was once a man.

It was then that a woman, one with beauty that he had never seen before, came to him in a vision. Whether it was drought-induced delusion or an actual vision was something Elias never knew. All he knew was that he saw her. As he looked closer, he knew she wasn’t just a woman. He said he saw an angel blazing with the light of the Force, calling him towards a greater purpose, and he realized that the desert offered more than suffering. It offered strength and enlightenment.

He learned that the desert tested all beings. Like Elias, Lana's test was coming.

 

[Sreeya]

Lana wasn't thinking about any of that. While during the day Tatooine was known as a scorching, hot planet, during the night it was frigid. Lana kept glancing all around her, spooked out by any signs of movement or shadows. She had jumped at her own shadow a few times before reminding herself that she was a Jedi, and not a 2 year old. The noises around them didn't help either.

"You still haven't told me why we're here. You're doing well to play the part of a vague, senile mentor."

She started to walk, her toes digging into the sand that was still warm from a hot day. Lana hadn't seen much of the galaxy, having been quite isolated in her upbringing. She had absolutely no idea what to expect, but if Jhon was involved, she knew it would include more stupid trials for her. Thankfully, from a quick scan, she couldn't see any obnoxious mountains around that he could order her to climb. She could see the silhouette of a city ahead, and from what she could tell, it looked quite busy.

"I hope we actually meet others. I'm going insane talking to just you!"

 

[Rector_Ras]

Jason had never been to Tatooine before and everything he had heard about it told him going there was a wast of time. He heard that it was just a bid sandy hot crime infested planet with nothing worth protecting what so ever and from what he could see it was all right. It wasnt so hot as the sun had gone down but it was still sandy. Mos Eisley was not where he was likely to stay long. Hearing things he would never want to actually find he started looking around to find somewhere he could spend the night

He was on the outskirts of the city looking as he was told the farther you get in the city the more you will want to leave. Jason had been looking for maybe twenty or so minutes without seeing anyone at all when he saw two figures walking into the city. Thinking that maybe they would be locals that might have a spare bed he started walking towards them. As he got closer he noticed one was a younger female female to was digging her feet into the sand and the other an older male walking beside the girl. "Father and daughter maybe?" He thought as he got closer.

 

[Nor'baal]

Repulsive planet.....thought Amelleous as he made his way through a small expanse of sandy wasteland. Small expanse, the entire damn palce is sandy wasteland...he mumbled to himself pulling his clothes tighter to himself to block out the wind.

He crested yet another intolerable sand dune, coming to a rest as the top of the sandy hill and resting on his stick, a dry piece of wood he had found in the waste. Tatooine, one of the very few places he could pick up his old gear without raising any suspicion. He eyed the crate that one of his old Military Partners had left for him, and opened it. Placing on what he found inside, he looked up to see a few other figures in the waste before him.

A man, and a woman, and in the distance something else. A city? he realised. Picking up the final contents of the crate, Amelleous walked towards the City, behind the man and woman. Father and Daughter, Mugger and Potential Victim, Hunter and Bounty? He neither knew, nor cared particularly....

 

[Silver Cutlass]

The Mos Eisley Cantina. Scum, Scoundrels, and Alcohol to spare.

Sitting in one of the booths in the back of the Cantina, a green-skinned, stoic-looking Nautolan sat with one arm on the table and a glass of alcohol in front of him. Just by looking at his face, one could tell he was thinking. Thinking about his ship. Thinking about the blaster his other hand rested on. He thought about various things, but the one thing he wished he could stop thinking about was Abregado. That was why he came here, after all, to drown the memory of Abregado with alcohol.

The Cantina was about as busy and bustling as it usually was. In the background to everyone's conversations, the band, made up of two Bith, a Rodian, and an Ugnaught, played one of their most-requested songs and one that was a favorite at the Cantina. Throughout the place, customers had conversations in every language from Basic to Huttese to some strange dialects Nev didn't recognize. Once in a while you'd hear the sensors at the entrances to the establishment go off as someone tried to bring their droids in, something the place has had a long-standing policy about.

Grumbling, Nev grabbed the glass and brought it up to his lips, taking down a few sips, feeling the course, hardy brew trickle down his throat. He sighed with pleasure as he gently placed the drink back on the table, and began to look around the place. Mos Eisley was famous for being one of the most 'wretched hives of scum and villainy' in the galaxy, and a most of the people here looked mean, and probably were. He even recognized one person there, a Devaronian pirate with an eye-patch, who probably still held some disdain for Nev. However, he looked too drunk to even recognize his own mother, so the Nautolan pirate didn't expect any trouble today.

Still though, he kept fairly alert, while still trying both to think and drown his thoughts at the same time. Growling at his little conundrum, Nev took down another sip of alcohol, fairly content to do so until he couldn't think straight.

 

[Jax Vos]

Luin Magist walked into Mos Eisley Cantina. This place was full of history. This was the place where the heroes of the Alliance to Restore the Republic first met. The place, apparently, hardly ever changed.

Mag had been here before, it seemed so long ago. He had gone by a different name then. The years had gone by, but now he was different. He was no longer a Jedi. He was no longer leading soldiers as he had once done. He was just a man who knew how to use the Force wisely.

Mag stood in front of the bar and ordered a gav. It had been a long time since he had tasted a drink with alcohol. He had been drinking only water for six years. He was glad to be away from the pile of ice that he had been living on and to be away from his twin teenagers.

Mag headed outside and looked around himself. There were various people, a small table, and yet he noticed something. There must have been someone he knew there. He never had that feeling unless he recognized a presence, but he could not detect anyone he knew. He decided to just sit down, stay put and enjoy his drink.

 

[RollingThunder]

Hannibal followed closely behind Amelleous, his eyes constantly scanning the horizon for signs of banditry or other undesirables. The deserts of Tatooine held many dangers within its canyons and dunes.

Hannibal slung his blaster rifle over his shoulder. They were close to Mos Eisley, and ambush this close to this city was unheard of. He looked back to Amelleous. He was a tall bastard, and politically motivated at that. Not the sort Hannibal was used to hanging around with, but he knew what he was doing and was remarkable with a blaster. This Hannibal respected, so as of now they wandered together.

Hannibal picked his teeth and stared towards the city. He could make out three silhouettes on the road directly ahead of them against the lights of Mos Eisley. Each of them carried themselves in a certain manner. He knew that gait.

Hannibal let out a quiet whistle as to get Amelleous' attention. He nodded his head towards the figures and spoke, "Jedi."

 

[Brandon Rhea]

Jhon couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched Lana practically demand to meet other people, all while jumping at the sight of even a mere sand-rat. But it was time for her to step outside of the bubble he had kept her in for the last ten years. The longer he waited, the more difficult it would be for her to transition into a life filled with other people. The more difficult it would be for her to embrace her destiny. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to take precautions, however.

“Be careful what you wish for, Lana. You don’t know what insane means until you’ve been to Mos Eisley.”

Grabbing his cloak tightly, and making sure the winds could not blow his hood back to reveal his face, Jhon limped his way through the city gates, keeping Lana right beside him and in his sight. His recent climb to the top of a mountain had left his legs sore and bruised, making his already damaged-legs difficult to walk on. Ever since the Battle of Coruscant, he had never physically been the same, to the point where walking was difficult and he needed a cane just to get around. Normally it would have been a simple enough medical fix, but nothing in this galaxy was simple anymore. Not since the Alliance fell.

He looked around the immediate area, scanning the buildings that dotted the streets. They were still in the outlying areas, where the most destitute of people lived in shanty towns all across the outskirts. Expecting more here was nothing short of native. Metal was dried and split. Paint faded in a matter of days. Stones cracked. An untrained eye wouldn't be able to tell if the neglect was by choice or a testament to the environment, but anyone who knew anything about Tatooine understood that it was both.

Jhon could hear footsteps behind them, and sense the approach of a number of different people. Perhaps it was nothing more than people returning to the city now that the suns had set, or maybe it was something else. Something more dangerous. Jhon wasn’t recognizable under the hood, and no one knew who Lana was, but anyone could tell that Jhon’s brown cloak looked like that of a Jedi. In this day and age, anyone could be a Jedi hunter, lightsaber or not.

“Stay alert,” Jhon whispered. “Mos Eisley is not to be traveled lightly. We must be cautious.”

 

[Fallah Shoma]

Fallah wasn't sure why she had decided to come here. It wasn't her first time to the planet and where her stops here always tended to make her feel better about herself. In as slightly more attractive, extremely wealthy by comparison way. Not that, that was entirely true most of the people who she liked to compare herself to, tended to live in almost hovels. By comparison she could by her own star system. A woman could dream after all. Not that she knew what she would do with a star system even if she did come across one that needed an owner.

She was making her way though the town, careful to make sure there were not people with blasters paying undue attention to her. Of course here, she would do well to assume that every one had a blaster and might shoot her simply because they were bored and decided some target practice was in order. Her musing where cut short when to figures caught her attention.

The cloak on one of them made her tend to think of jedi. Although she was not sure this was the case, and she tended to be fairly neutral towards the jedi regardless. Unless of course they made things difficult for her. Which they some times did. If she were lucky they left her be. Still, it was enough to catch her attention and she decided to keep an eye on their activities, so long as she did not draw attention to herself. She was sure that, that would not end well.

 

[Green Ranger]

The beauty of Mos Eisley was that noone ever really bothered to look up. With the majority of the city held in the labyrinthine catacombs underground, and the twins suns of Tatooine bearing down on the ground constantly, the sky was always ever just something to stare up at to curse. Course, noone ever suspected that anyone would be crazy enough to shun what little shade there was to be found to get a superior vantage point of the sprawling spaceport. Some a select few, such a small thing proved to be a considerable advantage. The Ubrikkian Trade Tower was the perfect vantage point - the tallest structure in the entire city, and located at the very beating heart of Mos Eisley, there was a clear view for miles. The tactical advantage still came with its fair share of unpleasantries, however - this high above the spaceport left one exposed to the hot winds of the Great Mesra Plateau, and sand and dust flew from every direction. The heat was nigh unbearable in direct sunlight, and there was no shade whatsoever to find relief. There were many reasons to not choose the tower as a vantage point. Even in the twilight hours of the day, when the shadows of the Twin Suns grew long and the people began to disperse, it was an unpleasant place to be.

Still, as the people of Mos Eisley went about their daily commute, travelling down the wide boulevards that led away from the heart of the city, two figures found themselves standing atop the Trade Tower nonetheless. Tan cowls and long cloaks concealed their bodies and protected themselves from the heat and dust - red-lensed goggles covering their eyes. The taller of the two raised a pair of macrobinoculars to its hidden face, scouting over the crowds in silence. With a muffled, illegible squawk of some sort, the shorter individual pointed, and the first of the pair refocused its lenses.

An older man, cane in hand and hobbling. Brown robes and tan tunic. A younger girl with him. The first of the hooded figures lowered the macrobinoculars, turning to its companion. There was a silent nod between the two, and they took to the stairs that led back down to the streets.

The evening, it seemed, was just beginning.

 

[Rasputin]

Cassus pulled his ragged and dusty traveling cloak over his head and knelt his head downward, hiding his face from most of the populace of Mos Eisley. It wasn't like they cared, though. On Tatooine, it was survival of the fittest. Even so, it wasn't like Korriban. Korriban was a sanctuary of the Dark Side. Tatooine was a hive of scum and criminality. Half of people who land on Tatooine don't make it off. Usually, it's either the criminal gangs, sandstorms, or savage natives that get you. If Cassus held a choice in the matter, most of the time he would avoid Tatooine. However, he held reason for venturing on this despicable world.

Besides the fact he was in need of refueling, he felt somewhat drawn to this world, as he entered the system. The Sith didn't know what it mean't, but it clearly was something he could look into while he waited for his ship to refuel. Something was strange was here. It was some sort of power, majestic and free while at the same time wild and untamed. It's presence was faint at first, but as Cassus landed on Mos Eisley, it grew stronger. Ever since, it's gradually become even more stronger with every passing second.

For an hour, he roamed the city. His grabbed his head, suddenly overcome with a headache. It was so intense that he nearly blacked out. Luckily, it quickly faded, but the strong power did not. It was close. Pulling himself outside the cantina, which he had loitered in for a while, he looked around. The presence came in the direction of a group of people, lead by a cloaked man and young girl. Instantly, he put it all together: the way he walked, the choice of clothing. The apprentice hypothesized that he must be a Jedi, and clearly the source of the power. More than likely, he was a trained Jedi Master. Cassus was puzzled why the Jedi wouldn't hide his power. Of course, why would you need to hide your power on a planet the Sith barely venture to? Not pondering too much on it, he followed the supposed Jedi, keeping his distance. No sense in engaging him, for a Master would more than likely be more than capable of dealing with an Acolyte with ease.

 

[Sreeya]

They were almost about to enter the city, and already Lana had an uneasy feeling. She constantly kept glancing back behind her, though she spotted nothing. She looked back once more and could've sworn she saw a figure, a particularly tall one. Lana fidgeted uncomfortably, quickly looking forward again.

"I think people are following us.."

She muttered the words under her breath, her uneasiness quite clear. Though she dreamed of becoming an upstanding Jedi, it didn't mean that she wasn't a total girl when it came to unfamiliar situations. The stars began to disappear as the lights of the city came into clearer view. Already she could see a thin layer of smog, and even from here the smell was unpleasant. From a distance she could hear a drunken man happily singing off key, followed by a loud crash and an angry cat. Lana couldn't help but believe Jhon had brought her to a very scummy planet, and she dared not ask why.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

“As Jedi, that should always be expected,” he told her, "especially during a war,"

As he continued to hobble along, making them walk slower than he would have preferred, they rounded a corner, and Jhon led her into a small cantina, where even in the doorway he could smell the foul stench of booze-soaked spacers oozing out of the building. It was an eyesore on the outside, with scorch marks from a battle long ago, but within it could be a comfort for many of the spaceport's visitors. The rowdy night time crowd was only just beginning to trickle in, as the last few daytime patrons slipped out to avoid all manner of shady types that would crawl out of the cracks and corners of the city.

Jhon led Lana to the far corner of the bar, out of earshot from the conversations going on throughout the building, and they sat down on two of the stools. Jhon scanned the area, looking at the different types of people who sat in booths on the outer walls, or at the bar that circled around the center of the cantina. There was a fat, nearly naked Kitonak from Kirdo III, and a blue, stickly thin Er'kit from the world of the same name on the other end of the bar. Closer to Jhon and Lana was a tusked Aqualish and a long, gray-necked Ihtorian, rocking back and forth as Ithorians always seemed to do. Between them, the cantina was a place brimming with the most unusual of lifeforms, at least by Human standards.

Across the bar was an alien band, each member equipped with strange instruments whose intricacies he wasn't even going to try to understand. The large-headed, black-eyed Bith musicians swaggered back and forth, swaying from side to side with the rhythm of their song. For a moment, he lost himself in the music, the first time he had heard music in years. The soft beats, mixed with the clashing of steel in a neo-industrial tone, wasn't the best he had ever hear,d but it was relaxing, even tranquil, after ten years of exile. The overbearing bass emanated outward and filled the cantina with its vibrations. The sharp clashing of steel on steel drums hid its lighter, eerier tones, but an attuned ear could still pick them up.

“Well, here we are,” Jhon said, “a place full of people you’ve never seen before. What do you think?”

 

[Rector_Ras]

the two people had been walking and Jason didnt catch them before they went inside of a cantina. He also didnt feel like he was the only person walking to them anymore. Knowing it was a long shot that they could or better even would help him he walked in and tryed to spot them. The smell took him faster then he would have liked and made it hard to concentrate. After looking around for some time he finally spoted them again and this time walked fairly quickly towards them. Approaching the couple Jason said " Uh hey guys. I'm not from around here and wanted to know if you could help me out with somewhere to stay or give me advice on where I can go."

 

[Rasputin]

The Sith apprentice followed the Jedi and his youngling into the bar. On the outside, it was dirty and looked ready to fall apart. On the inside, however, it looked rather decent--as decent as a place could be on Tatooine, anyway. Inside here, Cassus relaxed slightly. The Jedi was obviously here on a social call, and not aware of his presence. He wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Before he could proceed, he was confronted by a stout and portly Zabrak, a few feet taller than the Sith. Clearly, he thought to gain something from Cassus.

"Hold up, fell'a," the Zabrak commanded, "Comin' to collect taxes. Pay 'em up or--"

Cassus responded in kind, choking the fat man with the Force. Gasping for breaths, he collapsed onto his knees and grabbed hold of his throat with his right hand. He'd gotten the message. As Cassus released him from his grip, the Zabrak face-planted into the hard, cold floor. The terrified Zabrak pulled himself up and walked fast out of the restaurant. He didn't want to be around to see the Sith get angry again. Fortunately, for Cassus, most of the patrons didn't seem to notice or care.

Act normal.

The cloaked figure would go to wear the Jedi was last heading and notice him sitting on a barstool, near the counter. Casually, Cassus took a seat next to the young girl, acting as if he wasn't listening to them.
As the bartender came around, he order a class of water, mostly because the dry heat of Tatooine was making him parched.

 

[Sreeya]

Lana's eyes were as big as saucers, her jaw hanging open. She had never seen so many different species before, and honestly, she was terrified. Lana saw shapes and sizes of all forms, and many of them spoke strange languages she couldn't understand. She felt oddly invisible here, as no one took note of one another. She, however, was overly curious and paying attention to everything around her. The stench of alcohol almost made her dizzy and she had to bite back from feeling sick. As a man approached them to ask about a place to stay, Lana helplessly shrugged and looked to Jhon.

"This is the first time I've been here, sir, I have no idea.."

She was soon distracted by her surroundings again. In particular, she spotted a Zabrak that appeared to be giving a man a hard time. She watched with great interest to see how the man handled the situation. Suddenly, the Zabrak began to choke and she noticed that the man across him kept constant eye contact, appearing very calm. Lana tapped into her senses, immediately understanding the man was Force sensitive. However, she couldn't gauge anything more than that. All she could conclude was that the man was responsible for whatever happened to the Zabrak, and she watched the poor victim rush off. The man acted as if nothing happened, walking over to sit near them. Lana's eyes narrowed.

"Excuse me, but that was quite rude of you."

She scared herself with how bossy she sounded. She could pass for a lecturer at some academy. Her arms were folded across her chest.

"You didn't have to...do whatever you just did. He wasn't a Force user like you."

It was clear Lana was very blunt and not at all tactical when it came to social situations with people she had never met.

 

[Jax Vos]

Mag looked up as an old man and a young woman walked by. If he had been raised in a remote area he would have assumed they were a father and daughter, but he could tell they were more than that. The man looked familiar, obviously it had been a long time so Mag was not sure who the man was.

He watched several people follow the two inside. He had no desire to get up until he saw a human with gold eyes go inside. This would not be good if that man tried anything. Magist stood up and went inside. This was not the day for a Sith to bother Jedi. Mag was here to relax for a few days, then he would have to check in with his kids.

Mag looked around as he he got inside. The Jedi were far in the back corner, and the Sith was heading towards them. Mag could not decide weather he should talk to the Sith, see if the Jedi would talk to him, or stay back and wait for things to unfold. He saw the Sith sit down near the girl, he waited to see if something would happen.

 

[Rasputin]

Cassus almost laughed. The naivety of the girl amazed him. Such an innocent view of the world was hardly found anywhere in the galaxy anymore, even less so on Tatooine. He did not turn over and kept his hood over his head, hiding his pale face and gleaming golden eyes. She sounded pretty young, still in her teenage years probably. Cassus held one question about this girl: Why would an exiled Jedi Master have a child as a companion?

"Clearly you are new to Tatooine," Cassus pointed out. He looked up at her. Keeping himself from grunting, he suddenly got an intense headache, which, like the other before, faded. It all made sense now. That power, it came from the girl, not the Jedi. It would explain why the power felt wild and untamed--she must be a Jedi-in-training. Cassus wanted to know what these two were up to.

Forming a half smile, he spoke in a more calm, yet welcoming tone. "What would bring you to this criminal-infested town?"

 

[Brandon Rhea]

For a moment, Jhon felt frozen in fear, feeling the dark side presence within the young man that now sat down beside Lana, and it was clear from his actions that he was a Sith. Despite being in exile, Jhon had kept close tabs on the progress of the war. The Bacta Crisis had stopped Sith expansion into the Mid Rim, so their territory was nowhere near Tatooine. He would not have expected to see a Sith so far away from Imperial space, especially on a planet as strategically insignificant as Tatooine, but then again, there was no telling what operations the Sith were undertaking throughout the galaxy. It didn’t come as a surprise to know that they had eyes everywhere.

As the Sith sat beside Lana, Jhon was able to more clearly feel his presence in the Force, and though it gave him pause at first, Jhon knew that the young man was no threat. His powers were limited, likely that of an Acolyte. His actions were sloppy, one that a poorly trained acolyte would display; it was a common mistake for Sith to believe that the appropriate response was to somehow attack those who annoyed them. Despite being a Jedi, as the former Sage Master Jhon had studied the Sith teachings well. He knew that the appropriate response for a Sith was to ignore the weak fool who got in their way. Further irritation might result in using the Force to knock him aside, or to simply get him out of the way, but outright attacking, especially in public, was a fool’s choice. The Sith may have ruled half the galaxy, but out on the frontier, where they were hated, Sith needed just as much discretion as the Jedi did.

It was for that reason that Jhon did not think of this young man as a threat. He was content to let Lana talk to him, to see how she handled the situation. For someone who had never seen a Sith before, it would be quite the experience. For now, Jhon would simply sit here and enjoy the show.

Motioning towards the bartender, Jhon called out, "I'll have a rum."

 

[Sreeya]

Lana was taken aback when the man was entirely nonchalant about her bossy attitude. Partially, she was thankful, as she wouldn't know what to do if he got offended. She was about to protest that she had been to Tatooine loads of times, when she noticed he looked slightly troubled. It was almost as if he was in pain, and concern flashed in her eyes.

"Are you all right, mister?"

However, he quickly recovered, offering a half smile and asking what they were doing here. Lana simply stared at him with curiosity before realizing he asked a question.

"Oh! Well um.. I um...wait, criminal infested? Well that would explain the smell..."

She thought for a long moment, still gawking at the man.

"I still don't understand. You are a Force user..but you used it differently than how I am taught. Are you some..sort of mean Jedi or something?"

Lana coughed after the question, looking to Jhon, who appeared to be obliviously staring off in another direction. To say that Lana was socially awkward was a massive understatement. She mentally cursed Jhon for not teaching her out to deal with people. She focused back on the man.

"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to call you that. You weren't mean to me per say..."