Bankor

The Mandalorians had been pushed out, hurrah. Perhaps it brought a little normality back to the city, Layne thought, and the commerce that went with it. Hell, even if stores weren't going to be open as if nothing had happened, she'd surely find *some* merchants eager to sell to Republic forces. Credits made the galaxy go 'round, after all.

And so, the young 'Jedi' went around for a walk. Proverbial air quotes around her affiliation, since her armored robes and general body language could still give one the strong image of a Sith rather than a Jedi.

His foot crunched against the loose gravel of the road. Durasay looked about, his eyes drawn to the hustle and bustle or a rebuilding metropolitan area. Still, he was wary, keeping his guard up, apparent in the way he wore his heavy battle armor, even with the helmet slung back.

A slight breeze caught the flaps of the overcoat that was part of the armor, as Durasay felt something in the Force. The presence of someone else, a ripple in the pond. Following his instincts, the former smuggler turned senator found the source of it. A young woman, walking the market.

"Morning."

She was in the middle of looking at some wares... or junk was a better description in Layne's mind... when the Pantoran greeted her. She turned her head sideways, then up, to get a look at him. With her hands in her pockets, slightly suspicious eyes, and much shorter stature, she kind of looked like some punk teenager. Which she kind of was, to be honest. Though random punk teens didn't carry ancient Jedi armor and lightsabers, one might suppose.

"Sup?"

Sup? The taller Pantoran tilted his head slightly as he regarded her question. Despite her stature, she certaimly came across as fearsome. His own discipline kept him grounded, and he was able to keep a smile on his face.

"It is nice to see the city coming back together, after being under occupation, don't you think?"

"People will always pick up the pieces," she said, "so long as there's people."

"Well, we're here to keep those people up, aren't we?" He raised an eyebrow as he regarded the young punk. There was a moment of brief recognition, maybe from a news report, but it passed quickly, unable to really make the connection. His hands clasp behind his back, standing at a parade rest, the Senator from Pantora looked over the wares for a moment, before looking back to Lane.

"Though I think a Jedi tends to be seen a bit more in that light than a Senator. I'm just glad we've been able to earn these people's trust."

A senator huh?

Despite being on the republic side of things now, Layne had an innate distaste for politics. Not that she was going to be rude; by her standards; about it unless it was called for.

"Some of 'em anyway," she said, reminding herself to check up on the Zeltron before the day was done.

"True. But small steps are key, to eventually have that full cooperation." He nodded. He would have to make sure the medical supplies had been delivered to Gena and Lelia later.

"Name's Durasay."

"Layne Hoshin," she said. The name might allow him to make the connection. Or it might not.

"jedi... padawan."

His eyes widened with recognition. He remember the broadcast by Darth Baras, given over Nar Shaddaa as a result of the bombings. The way the newscast came in, it seemed damned odd, but Durasay didn't seem to show any sign of concern or distress. After all, he had his own things going on, as well, during the bombing itself. "A Padawan? Pretty heavily equipped for one. But then again, it is a war zone." He grinned again, looking about. "Let me ask you something, does this place seem to be calling to you?" He indicated with a hand.

"Not necessarily right here and now, but in general. Like the planet was calling for something across the stars?"

"The planet? In general? No."

She'd experienced such calls before, of course. And the way he was talking about it certainly indicated he wasn't just some senator. So Layne reached out through the force, idly trying to get a read on the man's emotions as they spoke.

"I have other reasons to be here."




Sense Emotions: 2eF 2 Light Side, 1 Dark Side


Discipline contested: 3eA+1eC+1eD 1 failure

Durasay smiled as he felt the pull of the Force flowing into him. Only through his military training was he able to occlude his thoughts.

"You could just ask, you know." He certainly didn't seem bothered by the attempt. "No reason to be so tense about it."

As he spoke, he pushed with the Force, reaching with a calming aura.

Guiding Emotions MM3 (Influence Basic Power, Willpower 1, Discipline 2, Layne's Willpower difficulty): 1eP+1eA+3eD+2eF 2 failures, 1 threat, 2 Light Side, 1 Dark Side

She blinked as he pushed back, then frowned.

"Whatever. I didn't mean anything by it."

There was a pause, and then she added. "Sorry."

He waved her off. "No need to be sorry. I appreciate the attempt. To use all the abilities at your disposal, shows good instincts. The kind of thing we're going to need here." He breathed in deeply, feeling strained from his own attempt to push out with his emotions. Brushing a hand through his hair, he shook his head after. "Though I should have mentioned that before our conversation, that feeling of the Force." Looking away for a moment, Durasay breathed in deeply.

"So, Layne Hoshin, Jedi Padawan. Do you feel comfortable sharing the other reasons why you're here?"

Young padawans talking to force sensitive senators... for some reason it seemed like a slightly dangerous thing to her.

"Sorry, it's Jedi business. I can't talk about the details."

"That implies you can talk about the broad outline, then." Durasay inclined his head slightly, looking back to the padawan learner.

"All I can say is that it concerns things much more important than the conflict on this planet. To say anything more would be dangerous."

"Dangerous? For whom? For me? For you?" He raised an eyebrow at that statement. "Danger has never scared me away from things before. And if it's thay dangerous you might need some help."

"Dangerous for everyone," she said. "And no offense senator, but while you're clearly brave in just coming here, you don't strike me as the type to be a professional artist with the blaster or lightsaber. Even if the force is with you."

"I was a smuggler before I was a Senator. I've been in more than my fair share of shootouts." He smiled in response. "And before that, I was a military officer. I'm glad that my attempts to not give that away have succeeded."

"Well," she said, "I'll keep it in mind at least."

But the subtext was 'I don't know you and what you can do'.

"Doesn't look like you'll have any shortage of opportunity to be in shootouts, though."

Durasay, being the social creature that he was, definitely picked up on the subtext. Still, the idea was planted. That's all he needed.

"Likely. My goal is to keep as many people alive in those as possible."

"Staying alive is good. That's what lets people move on with their lives."

Layne was still amazed she had a sense of humor some times.

He smirked at her response, the shrugged. "Truer words never spoken, Layne Hoshin, Jedi Padawan." A slight laugh at that, then a sigh. "But it's more to try and keep the scars of war to a minimum here. No one wants that."

"You mean nobody on our side. The Mandalorians revel in it, and the Sith wouldn't mind it either."