A Not So Commenor Meeting

[Tobias Wraith]

Commenor​

Early Morning​

Shiny things, he was on a hunt for shiny things.

Be it tinsel, little bits of metal, or even small trinkets; he had to hunt them down. “Sir, what are you looking for?” That was the opening line of most vendors, and he casually waved most off. Dressed like a simple pilot, his satchel was full of various trinkets already. Sipping his stimcaf, he meandered through the morning markets. Smells he had never experienced greeted his nostrils at every turn, some were pleasant. Others, well, he could have gone all his life without smelling them. Certain vendors, well they just sold things that he didn’t need to know could be sold.

The search for shiny things continued.

“Just drop by Commenor on your way back to the Academy, let the Force guide you.” Words spoken from the Rishii himself echoed in his mind as he continued his little morning stroll. Children ran past, some were even playing a game with a ball in the street. Above, speeders and ships flew overhead. Languages from all over the galaxy echoed off the stone and pavement, some of it he understood. Most, well he was hopeless unless he had his translator hooked up and activated. If only that translator was the only thing on my belt, he thought.

Eyes followed him, every fething step.

A year ago, they would have been looking at him as if he were a simple pilot. Dressed in the ordinary leather jacket, plain trousers and tight shirt, he didn’t stand out. Sure, some would assume he was handsome, or notice the military posture. Now, all eyes looked at the lightsaber that hung from his belt along with the two Blas-Tech pistols holstered. A year ago, he would have only noticed the stares. Maybe, if he was lucky he would have heared some audible gasps from some of the children.

Now, he could feel it.

Life flowed all around him, coalesced and then split off. Emotions flooded his senses, in that sweet spot when the other five blended together. Quorl had said this was the effect the Force had the moment you emptied yourself. The experience was different, to be sure, but he carried on with the exercise after he had collected a few more trinkets for his Master. Fully immersed, he found a nice bench to sit on, and simply enjoyed the early morning view.

Tobias took another sip of his stimcaf, and simply felt life for what it was.

Beautiful, and precious. The most important thing to protect.

His entire reason for trying to become a Jedi.

[member="Avalore Eden"]​

 

[Avalore Eden]

Elsewhere in the bazaar...

The walk from Avalore's apartment to the Chasin City Hospital took her through the heart of market town every morning and every night. Her path, seldom straying from the norm, brought her to several produce stands along the way; occaisionally a visit to the local gift merchant to purchase a simple toy for an ailing young patient; and every so often when the stand was there Avalore paused at a small booth belonging to a spacer dug named Sedago.

Curious that she should run into the creature so far away from where they had initially met, but the first time spying him there through the crowd had cause her heart to stop. Now, weeks after, the shock maintained but only at a fraction of the jolt. Today she was hoping he was here and with some kind of news from the darker corners of the galaxy.

The crowd was exceptionally big this morning but Avalore drifted through the bodies calmly and patiently. She'd forgone wearing the issued blue Healer robes of the Order for some time now, feeling confined by the image and responsibilities she felt obligated to uphold while they sat upon her shoulders. So now instead of parting the crowd just by visual alone, she quietly pushed through just like every other citizen. It was nice not to be outed simply for her designation. Nice not to be stared at. Avalore brushed past man, woman, child and alien without so much as a second look until finally she reached the corner where Sedago's stand usually stood.

"Suuba!" that familiar rassp tone brought the faintest of smiles to her face as she finally spied the short creature lounging before his booth. He carried an odd assortment of salvaged parts, refurbished droids, and other curious from around various corners of the galaxy.

"Hello friend," Avalore greeted him, "you're looking well."

"I make good barter on Coruscant, eheh, now I travel fat," Sedago patted at his plump belly with a coy smirk before lifting his foot to prod at her own middle, "yoka ... is smaller. Some kind of chapka Jedi thing? Not feed you at temple?"

Avalore felt several eyes cast their direction at the mention of Jedi and temple but pressed on casually, "I'm just...exercising more. Have you been by Corelli-"

"Maybe you not cook well, eh? Have protocol droid for you, make you good deal, it only missing one eye and ehhh... maybe bad memory. But I fix it for you at fair price."

"No, I don't want a droid, just news on Cor-"

"No? What about eh...mouse droid? Eat better when more happy. Mouse droid make you happy. Give good deal for friend."

"I...that is cute, isn't it."

She'd always liked mouse droids. Maybe she did need a pet, might help her take her mind off-

No, Corellia. Stop getting distracted Avalore.

Sedago held up the mouse droid and it beeped at her, "Good deal for friend," he reiterated.

"Corellia, Sedago, I need to know about Corellia."

[member="Tobias Wraith"]

 

[Tobias Wraith]

Variance, it was what Quorl had taught him to look for. All life was similar in the Force, at least in how it was perceived. Tobias could remember the conversation on how he could sense some more than others, and the Rishi had explained to him that different entities let off different signatures. What Tobias did with viewing them was his business, but all life mattered and it was all the same. Armed with that knowledge, he had finally understood it was just a matter of perspective. The blade of grass was just as alive as the crowd of people, their light was just a different size. A fact that wasn’t up for dispute was that those who could touch the Force looked different, they stood out. Only because they could fully immerse themselves into the field of light, and it made for variance amongst the sea of life.

There was variance on Commenor, and he could feel it in the bazaar.

What is that, I mean, who is that? Tobias’ face was surely looking rather curious as a look of consternation started to materialize. Shades of white were all he could perceive, each a beacon of light he could focus on. Life was moving to and fro, simply being on this beautiful day. Among them, well there was one that stood out. Not in the sense of being a threat, but one that could touch the Force. Sweat was forming on his temples from the exertion, this was pushing his training a good bit. All stray thoughts about how physical training was far better had to be left to the wayside as he honed in on the location and it’s relation towards his.

“Gotcha.”

Rising from the bench, he started to mingle amongst the crowds again. Someone of his build stood out a little, but he kept his head down. Being a smuggler for a few years could attract the wrong attention if a few of his old contacts saw him. So he said nothing, instead he snacked on one of the nutrition bars he had in his jacket. Vendors pulled at his arm or yelled at him to try their latest product, but he kept his pace even. There was no need to stop, his curiosity propelled him onward. He wanted to see if there was another Jedi on Commenor, or at least know that he was
right in what he was sensing.

"Corellia, Sedago, I need to know about Corellia."

Coming to a standstill, he looked at the woman who was talking to the man trying to sell her a droid. She was dressed like a civilian, but he could tell there was more to her. Seeing an opening, he calmly walked up to the two of them.

“I could use a droid like that sir, if you don’t mind negotiating the price.” It was the truth, he liked collecting small droids for his Master. “Now, ma’am. My sister was from Corellia, and she said that there isn’t much news coming from that world. I’m heading in that direction if you’d like me to send you news of what I find when I head there.” Realizing his total lack of manners, he turned and extended a hand. His lightsaber becoming visible in the motion.

“I’m Tobias Wraith, and your name is?”

[member="Avalore Eden"]

 

[Avalore Eden]

"For you," Sedago gave [member="Tobias Wraith"] a sharp look over, considering the man, "full price."

"Sedago..." Avalore lightly folded her arms at her front, taking a step back to let the man have his time at the stand.

“Now, ma’am. My sister was from Corellia, and she said that there isn’t much news coming from that world. I’m heading in that direction if you’d like me to send you news of what I find when I head there.”

Had he just called her Ma'am? Feth, did she look like a ma'am? He couldn't be much younger than herself - were these past years finally starting to show?

Hold up, girl, two steps back. Did he just say Corellia?

Avalore blinked and turned her brown gaze up at him for real this time, taking in the face of the stranger who had so openly offered her exactly what she'd been seeking for the last few months. News, real news, from Corellia. The media couldn't really be trusted anymore, especially not with her old home now sitting within the clutches of the Sith. Who knew what lies were being fabricated to placate the common people. Perhaps if she hadn't fallen so out of touch with the Order...

"Really?" it was as if he'd offered her a small fortune in credits for nothing. He might as well have, given the value she placed on that information, "That...that would be wonderful. Thank you very much-"

“I’m Tobias Wraith, and your name is?”

"Oh, uh, Eden, Avalore Eden." He might have recognized it, he might not have. It really depended upon what crowds one ran with within the Order. Many of the Padawans were familiar with Master Eden, Chief Healer of the Jedi Order, for many of them had taken her classes on Ossus. Others had seen her in action at several of the wars over the years. Others yet had been the recipients of her skills. Avalore could not say if she recognize the man, she met so many faces in her line of work. Some only fleetingly, others for extended sessions. Regardless, it mattered little.

Right now, he was by far the most interesting person in her life.

 

[Tobias Wraith]

“I’ll pay full price if you need me to sir.” He could tell the vendor didn’t care very much for him coming up and interrupting their conversation. Had he the time, he would have apologized, but the woman standing there caught his attention. Fully turning his shoulders to her, his cerulean eyes met her own pair of mocha. His hands casually at his sides, he was the picture of someone just trying to help where he could. The way that her eyes had lit up when he had suggested he would pass along information let him know that she was truly looking for something. Whatever it was, he hadn’t the slightest clue.

“It’s no trouble, I was heading there for two reasons. My Master asked me to head that way to check the area for looters, and my sister was curious about her homeworld. It would be no trouble if you were wanting me to look for something specific. I’m not sure what all is fully left, the reports have been scattershot at best.”

She took his hand, only briefly. Where have I heard that name before, Avalore Eden? His smile held up even as he racked his brain. Mountains of Jedi text came to mind, all digested in a short amount of time. “Wait, you’re a Jedi Master aren’t you?” He felt like he was close to the truth in that statement, he had seen her name on a few lists. Realization dawned on his mind, she was one of the Order’s top healers. If not the top healer, her skills had been greatly noted on the matter. Most of his texts on the subject were littered with her name. Releasing her hand, he did what he had seen every other Jedi do when they met a Master.

He bowed, the stood back up.

“Master Eden, is there anything I can do on Comenor for you? It would be my pleasure to help you in any way. I’ve only been with the Order for about six months, but I’m more than willing to do my part.”

[member="Avalore Eden"]

 

[Avalore Eden]

Wide-eyed, Avalore suddenly realized the sort of pickle she had gotten into only moments before it presented itself.

Master? His Master?

Oh feth, another wayward Padawan. Avalore cringed, Here it comes...

“Wait, you’re a Jedi Master aren’t you?”

It was like a train wreck, everything happening in slow motion. Avalore heard the words exit his mouth, watched his lips form them, sensed the ears pricking at the mention. Wince. The eyes ... she could feel them upon her.

The worst was yet to- oh, there it is.

He bowed.

“Master Eden, is there anything I can do on Comenor for you? It would be my pleasure to help you in any way. I’ve only been with the Order for about six months, but I’m more than willing to do my part.”

Avalore felt every muscle in her body seize. Sedago sniggering to her right wasn't making matters any better. She shot him a glare. Frowning with a short look around at the crowd of people that had paused to stare, the Healer shifted forward and took Tobias by the nearest arm, steering him off to a nearby alley where she could get away from prying eyes.

"Stop that," was the first thing she said once they were out of sight, "Force, don't they teach you anything about couth or subtlety or-or-or, I don't know, not blowing someone's cover?" Arms raised, Avalore gestured to herself and the very obviously plain commoner clothing she was wearing, "Was this not enough of a clue? I'm trying to not draw attention to myself and you just painted a flashing marquee over my head in front of all those people."

Lips thin, gaze stoney, she rubbed at her left temple and quickly shook her head, "Don't apologize. I know you didn't mean to. Just ... call me Avalore, ok?"

[member="Tobias Wraith"]

 

[Tobias Wraith]

It was awkward, the entire interaction. Tobias had played it by the book just like Quorl and the other Jedi had taught him, regardless of how stupid he thought it was. Even the younglings did it, so he had to. The gesture wasn’t the most pleasant, and for a man who had already lived twenty one years outside of such a regimented lifestyle it made zero sense. Coming from the military, he knew how to salute, and that made more sense than to bow to a complete stranger in a market. Random thoughts crossed his mind about whether she was on a mission, of if there were any anti-Jedi citizens nearby. The Republic wasn’t known for being Jedi friendly despite their own Order, but he had followed the instructions he had been given.

Wraith quickly saw the folly in that.

Laughter reached his ears, and then her arm was around him. The humorous looks were mixed with a few threatening gazes, but he had little chance to glare back. Following the petite woman around the corner and into the alley, he spun to face her as she let go of him. Frustration and annoyance were etched in her features, and a sigh escaped his lips. Here we go, was the only thought that crossed his mind as he bit his tongue. She was not happy with him, her body language was reading like a neon sign in the dead of the night. I don’t need to Force to see that she's not happy. Wraith could only throw up his hands.

An apology was forming, but he decided to drop the whole Padawan shtick.

“Well, Avalore. If the Jedi were actually more focused on teaching Padawans real things besides how to show respect I wouldn’t have done that.”

He took a step away from her and ran his hands through the short, tawny locks.

“Sorry, but I meant what I said. I would be glad to help, you can even come if you’d like.”

[member="Avalore Eden"]

 

[Avalore Eden]

Avalore sighed. She'd never really had a legit padawan herself - at least, none that lasted long enough to be considered so - but she was certain that life lessons were exceptionally high on her list of priorities for one to learn. Respect and honor was all good and well, but only where circumstances necessitated those sorts of things.

On Commenor, in jeans and a t-shirt? Not so much.

Course maybe he wasn't really to blame. Not like too many Jedi Masters ran around wearing jeans and a t-shirt anyway.

"Thanks," she said finally after collecting her thoughts during a few moments spent silently staring at the Padawan as though he were wearing a fish on his head, "I'd really appreciate any information on Corellia. All I know is it now belongs to the Sith ... so far as my track record of being on Sith planets go, I'm not sure going with you is a great idea."

[member="Tobias Wraith"]