A stranger in the night

[Viera Valorious]

"No! Please sir! I can pay!"

Viera had never been thrown out of a store before, and yet here she was, sitting in the dirt clutching her legs close to her body to preserve warmth. Her once indigo dress no longer resembled its former first class self save for the remains of a designer tag. Ripped and dirty, her clothes showed her fall from grace. The only thing to her name, besides dishonor, was a tattered gown and a credit chip worn on a chain, backwards, to be hidden from potential muggers by her hair.

"Please..."

A door slammed in her face. I can't stay here. Viera picked herself off the ground and dusted off her legs, still bruised from earlier in the day. That man, he had saved her life, but she couldn't know where he was now. They had been separated before she could even thank him. Jedi, was the first thought that creeped in her mind, he had to have been something like that. A hero.

Viera shivered and brought her arms together around her shoulders. She needed a jacket, and shoes, but every place that looked even reasonably respectable cast her out as a beggar. She missed her shower, her wardrobe; she missed everything about her old life except her father. He could rot in jail for what he did.

Viera found herself stopping in the shelter of an alley as it began to rain. She found respite under the tattered overhang of an old shop. It was darker, quieter, than the Main Street but it wasn't quite as bad as the slums. There were no thieves nor rapists. There were no bounty hunters looking to cash in on her father's mistakes. It was safe.

Her face filled with quiet tears as she watched the people go by without giving her any notice. According to her father, she used to be above them, and while she never believed him then, she certainly felt inferior now. People-watching on Nubia had been a fun way to pass time in the past. Today, it only made her depressed.

"If you've come to r-rob from me, I-I don't have anything."

A sudden voice from behind her caused her to jump although she tried to hide it. Her body tensed and there was no mistaking the fear in her voice, but Viera didn't move a muscle nor did she turn around. In a fight or flight world, she was too tired to run, too weak to stand. She had enough money to buy a small starship, if the chip still worked, on her person, but the stranger didn't need to know that. To him, she figured she must of been quite a sight, a poor girl too pretty to survive. He'd probably keep walking like the others who passed on by.

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance had been passing through the alleyways staying out of sight. It was a cliche but in heavy robes and a hood was very helpful for not only hiding his features but looking unassuming and unimportant. In passing he had caught the tail end of what had happened. Normally he would have not bothered him in the least much less enough to stop but this was different. For one this poor little waste of air was much more than she realized. It was barely noticeable her force signature but the potential was there. The second being after Melori Vengeance had a soft spot for blondes.

He made his way up to her with a chuckle.

"There is much more valuable things to be had than possessions little one."

Vengeance reached down grabbing her by the shoulders and yanking her to her feet.

"If you want something you have to take...........nothing in this life is free."

Vengeance turned moving over to the store she had just been kicked out of. He paused reaching back with his hand and slowly pushing forward. As he did he used the force and blew the door apart calling into the store.

"Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeres Vengeance."

He smiled as the store owner screamed in terror.

"Really you are just going to slam the door in this young girl's face as if she were trash to be tossed to the curb?" "That was rude and rude people get punished."

Vengeance reached out grabbing the back of the man's head and slamming it against the counter then he leaned out the door to look at [member="Viera Valorious"] with a questioning look.

"You coming or what?"

 

[Viera Valorious]

Love, happiness, hope Such were the first things that popped in Viera's mind, despite her state, when the stranger mentioned things greater than possession. However, it became clear the stranger was talking about something else when he yanked her to her feet.

The man cloaked in black radiated an odd aura of charisma but it wasn't enough to prevent her from being taken aback as the man howled a rebel yell and blew open the door of the store that had tossed her out. She continued to stand there, dumbfounded, as she heard screaming. She wanted to run but, she didn't. Maybe it was the man's voice, or her own curiosity, but when the stranger stuck his head out and asked if she was coming. She followed.

Was it bad to smile when she walked into the shop? She was now out of the rain, out of the cold. Viera wiped her eyelids and only then noticed the blood on the counter and the owner clutching his face.Then her smile faded. Viera wanted to ask the shopkeeper if he was alright but she couldn't do it. He had tossed her out with far less care for her own well-being. All the same, it just didn't seem right or just to see the keeper like that. She didn't ask for him to get hurt. Her eyes grew wide and she almost panicked. What? How coul- did he do it for me?

"Who are you?"

Suddenly, she had to know the identity of the hooded figure she stood next to. [member="Vengeance"] was like the man who had saved her earlier...only different. This man seemed younger, wilder, more impulsive and yet, she felt unexpectedly safe. He didn't seem interested in hurting her. Her naive self couldn't tear herself apart from what felt like an adventure.

"W-what do you mean we have to take things? Why did you hurt him?"

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance glanced at her.

"You can call me Marcus if you want. There will be time for proper introductions later."

He looked around the store it was only when she kept asking questions that he sort of growled. Moving over to her he reached out to grab her by the throat. He wouldn't squeeze be still keep a firm grip.

"Listen and listen good little one." "The Galaxy is a rough place with a lot of bad people in them just like me." "Some are even worse than me." "Do you really think the little..........."

He paused only long enough for his voice to change to mimic her pleading earlier.

"..........Please................"

He voice changed back to his own.

"...................routine is going to help you?"

He moved closer to her leaving barely an inch or two between them.

"There are people in this world that will see a sweet innocent helpless little girl like you, slap a slave collar around your neck, and spend your entire life doing unspeakable things to you." "Is that what you want..............to be some nerf herders entertainment during long hyperspace trips?"

He let go of her with a slight push.

"Toughen up little girl........you have the potential to be much more than somebodies play toy."

He looked around before turning back to her.

"Now obviously you wanted in here for something so hurry up and get whatever it was so we can go." "Been to jail twice and I have no intentions of making it a third." "It is only a matter of time before one of those good citizens that were happy to leave you out in the cold alerts the authorities."

Vengeance intentionally didn't answer the question [member="Viera Valorious"] asked about hurting the shop owner......that would be a discussion for another time.

 

[Viera Valorious]

Viera cried out as the man, who addressed himself as Marcus, wrapped his hands around her throat and pulled her close. She had to look almost straight up for her own eyes to meet his. He asked if she wanted to serve a Nerf herder.

"No!"

She wasn't meant to be a slave. She knew that much. She'd die before she allowed herself to be owned by another. Marcus pushed her back and she was freed of the man's breath. Marcus was a jerk.

"My name's Viera..." Not little girl. She rubbed her throat and obeyed Marcus, moving about the store. In a few seconds she came back from the racks and the changing room, her tattered garb from before replaced with pants, shoes, and a matching t-shirt. "I am not someone's play toy."

Approaching the counter and eyeing the battered owner, she offered to pay with the chip around her neck. She wasn't a thief but the man was too scared to take her money.

"I'm sorry." Viera whispered softly to him, before pivoting to [member="Vengeance"] . "Where to?" She questioned, waiting for the stranger to lead the way. She tried to appear tough, but her guise probably wasn't going to fool anyone. The cloaked stranger still hasn't answered her earlier questions, and she wasn't sure he'd answer her new one either.

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance snorted.

"I didn't ask you what your name is girl nor do I care."

He looked over at her and shook his head. Walking over he grabbed a jacket off one of the racks and tossed it at her.

"Did you forget it is cold and not to mention raining."

He looked at the shop owner giving the man a cold look.

"It started to rain.you went outside to pull some stuff inside before it got damaged." "The floor was wet and you tripped got it?" "The next time you decide to be a prick remember this moment and remember my face."

Vengeance turned and walked out of the store looking around quickly before ducking into an alley.

"My ship.... you are not safe here." "You just beat and robbed a man.........within the next the half an hour they will have the whole city locked down looking for you."

Vengeance picked up the pace sticking to the shadows. He didn't speak anymore. In truth he had beaten the man not her but he knew something she didn't. Nobody saw what he looked like. He was a tall black shadow and would be hard to find. However they all knew what she looked like and her choice in clothing did nothing to hide on conceal her identity. Part of him wondered why he was even bothering but the other part knew exactly why he was.


[member="Viera Valorious"]

 

[Viera Valorious]

What had she done? Somehow, Marcus had gotten her in more trouble than she was in before. Seemingly without a choice, Viera put on the jacket and followed him out the door, flustered at his accusation.

"But I didn't...you did!" "I'm small! He would of crushed me had I even tried!"

The lack of responses she got was beyond frustrating and she was getting scared again. Where would he take her once they boarded his starship? He was now in total control of her life and she didn't trust him. As she sensed them drawing nearer to what must be their destination, Viera stopped in the street. Her voice quivered as she spoke, but it was determined nonetheless.

"I-I can't follow you, not without knowing who you are first. You could be a slaver, or a bounty hunter for all I know, or w-worse." "You attacked that man..."

Force powers. An evil predilection. Violence. She had heard the stories. "You're a S-Sith, aren't you?"

Her fingers curled tightly at the sides of her body. Her heartbeat rose; her breaths grew deeper and faster. She took a step back. He's going to kill me.

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance stopped and turned looking at her for a minute before he laughed at her. In a split second he was in front of her practically towering over her small 5' 2'' frame. He reached up dropping his hood his pale skin and yellow eyes in full few.

"My name is Vengeance child and yes I am a Sith." "There are worse people in this Galaxy than me and not all of them are Sith."

He paused letting her fear sink in for a moment before he continued.

"If I wanted to harm you Viera all I had to do was leave you squatting and crying in the mud where I found you." "Instead I didn't......instead I pulled you out of the mud and got you fresh clothes." "As far as the man in the shop yes I am the one who beat him but you stole from him." "However I am just a mass of black in the night....nobody saw what I look like." "You however they know every detail of and since you would be easier to find than a demon in the night you will be the only one they are looking for."

He paused and slowly reached out to cup her cheek in his hand if she didn't pull back.

"You have a gift with the force that you apparently don't yet realize yourself." "It makes you special and give you a potential to be more than just a scared little girl in the mud waiting to die." "You have two choices.....come with me and I will teach you how to survive........how to use the Force." "It will not be easy and you will know a pain you have never known before." "In the end however you will be stronger for it."

He pointed back the way they came.

"Or you can go back there..........go back to getting kicked out of stores left to die in the rain." "Maybe you avoid a fate worse than death and maybe you don't." "Either way make your decision and make it fast." "The ship is two blocks straight ahead......you have until the ramp closes to be on it." "If you do come with me know this......you are free to leave at any time." "All you have to do is say the word and I will drop you on the closest planet that supports life to where ever we are at that time."

He turned away from [member="Viera Valorious"] moving again towards the ship. Either she would follow or she wouldn't. Much like everyone her destiny was in her own hands.

 

[Viera Valorious]

Viera stepped back again, but not quick enough. Vengeance, she quivered as he stood over her but she stood her ground all the same. Only when he reached for her cheek, did she pull away. He had left her with both a choice and a bombshell of information. I'm force sensitive?

Alone in the street once more, Viera was frozen in place as her thoughts tried to make sense of what was happening. There was nothing left for her on Nubia, yet, the man was a Sith. To follow him would be trusting her life to murderer. He said I have potential.

Those were words that she never thought would ever be said about her again until now. It begged the question... Potential for what? Like an insatiable thirst, her curiosity knew no bounds as she had to learn the answer to her question. She didn't want to become a Sith like him, but she didn't believe that would be necessary to learn from him.

Viera made up her mind. She'd be his student if that's what he wanted, but first, she had to catch up. Running as if her life depended on it, she came to Vengeance's craft and ran up the ramp before it shut. She took a seat and looked around for [member="Vengeance"]

"I'm ready. I want to learn."

She wasn't sure what training would entail, and if the training was as painful as he said, she didn't want to know.

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance was standing by the ramp when [member="Viera Valorious"] went flying past him. It was almost enough to make him chuckle. When she spoke he stepped forward out of the shadow and looked at her.

"Whether or not you are ready remains to be seen." "As does your desire to learn." "I imagine at the moment you are feeling a mix of curiosity, apprehension, and a little fear." "Which basically means you don't know how to feel."

He walked right up to where she was sitting and crouched down in front of her. He looked her in the eyes before closing them for a moment. When he opened them back up his eyes were their natural color and his pale skin less pale. It was more to put her at ease since that sense of dread the dark side produced would be largely gone.

"Do you know what the Force is child?" "Do you know what it means to be Force sensitive?"

 

[Viera Valorious]

The force. The force. The force. While her knowledge on the subject was rather small, she read books all her life. She knew what it was.

"Is it...?" Her father always insisted she spoke outright instead of in questions. It makes you appear more confident. Her father was hardly a father, even before he was arrested on fraud, but she found herself listening to his voice in her head nonetheless. "It is, the energy of all living things. It binds everyone and everything all together. Being force sensitive means I can control it with enough focus." Can I?

The whole idea of her being force-sensitive, of her trapping herself in a space ship with a Sith, of her running away from her home planet for it was now hostile to her- it was all surreal. Vengeance had practically described her thoughts word for word and that scared her. Can he read minds too?

"Why are you helping me? Sith are supposed to be bad, aren't they? Saving me doesn't seem very evil."

He had resumed a more or less normal looking appearance and while it eased some of her fear, it peeked her curiosity. She had observed countless business meetings when her family name still meant wealth and power. Everyone has an angle. Whether it was simply to help someone or it was take everything from someone else, everybody wanted something. What about him? Perhaps he was rogue, perhaps he had a soft spot for children. Whatever it was, Viera pledged not to let him turn her away from her morals. She wanted to do good in the world and that's what she'd do if she truly was gifted. The girl, however, still had her doubts.

"How do you know I'm force sensitive? I've never been able to do anything with it before."

She didn't dare try now. For if she wasn't, if she couldn't...What would stop him from throwing me away? The thought of going back to the streets kept her on the verge of tears even after the ramp closed.

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance smiled to [member="Viera Valorious"] listening to her try and explain it.

"Bad, evil, right and wrong........these are subjective concepts child." "Sure people mainly Jedi say all Sith are Evil." "While I am not exactly a Saint not everything I have done or will do is with so called evil intent." "On the flip side I have met so called Jedi who's actions are down right demonic compared to the things I have done."

He paused.

"I am helping you because you need the help." "Nobody should have to live in those conditions."

He chuckled.

"All Force Sensitives can tell when other people are Force Sensitive." "Odds are you have used it before but it was so subtle that you did not even realize you were doing it." "It takes training and concentration to be able to use it intentionally."

He smiled.

"The Force is inherently neutral neither good nor evil." "It is how it is used that is good or evil." "For example with training you can use the Force to heal wounds." "This would be considered a good or light side application." "Or you can use the Force to create wounds." 'This would of course be considered an evil or dark side application."

 

[Viera Valorious]

Viera was glad to hear that the light and dark side were based not on the teacher but on the way his teachings are used. She sat up in her chair attentively as he spoke, she was about as ready as she'd ever be, even if she was still a bit on edge.

"Thanks for picking me up."

She smiled at him. It was a weak smile but a smile nonetheless. He did save her even if the choice seemed forced upon her. Showing a small bit of appreciation was the least she could do.

"So, when do we start? I'd like to learn."

Viera was confident in her athletic ability as well as her intelligence, with any luck the force might come to her as naturally. She stood back up, ready to begin her first lesson should he be ready to teach it. The bounty hunters who she had ran into earlier still weighed heavily on her chest. She thought about mentioning them, but thought against it. I'm safe from them for now.

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance smiled as she stood up. Standing up himself he looked down at her taking time to see how she would react to practically nothing separating the two of them.

"You have already started child." Self awareness is the first step." "Now I teach you how to tap into the force consciously instead of it only happening during times of extreme stress."

He smiled softly to her giving her a nod.

"It takes years to perfect it but you don't need me to do so." "Once I show you what to do you can begin doing it yourself.......and practice makes perfect."

[member="Viera Valorious"]

 

[Viera Valorious]

"Ok...so what do I do?"

Viera backed up a step so the back of her legs touched the front of the seat she had just been sitting on. While she trusted the man enough to teach her, she enjoyed having a personal bubble to keep him a fair distance away. Just in case... She was ready to learn nonetheless, but being ready didn't translate into knowledge without proper mentoring.

"Like, I have no idea how to do any of this."

She was waiting for a demonstration and explicit instructions, though it now seemed her new teacher enjoyed to talk in circles. That frustrated her a bit and certainly didn't make her feel calmer. Maybe I'm just being impatient? She stared attentively, waiting for [member="Vengeance"] to instruct. If he was going to show her something, she didn't want to miss it.

 

[Kenrath]

He smiled as she took the step back.

"Clear your mind little one." "Close off everything around you and push it out of your mind."

He moved away from her more to the center of the room. He motioned her over to him before taking a seat in the floor.

"Officially it is called meditation." "It helps strengthen your connection to the Force."

He smiled.

"I want you to take a seat here, get as comfortable as you can, and close your eyes."

[member="Viera Valorious"]

 

[Viera Valorious]

"Ok"

She sat across from him on the floor, legs criss crossed, and closed her eyes. She was mediating, or at least that's what she was trying to do. I need to clear my mind. It was easier said than done.

Visions of blaster bolts tearing through her father's penthouse replayed in her mind. She thought of the streets and the man that had tried to grab her. She thought of where she is now. She thought of the nanny who raised her and how happy she was before.

I can't.

She almost had to bite her tongue to avoid saying such blasphemy. There was no such thing as can't; her father raised her to know that. She opened her eyes for a brief second to check what [member="Vengeance"] was doing before closing them again. Quit thinking!

Don't think, focus... Slowly she emptied her thoughts as she concentrated on the darkness that was behind her closed eyelids. Sitting there, empty mind in tow, she didn't speak for she couldn't risk breaking her concentration. She was ready for him to give her the next step.

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance could feel the effects of the visions racing through her mind. He smiled with a chuckle.

"Easy now [member="Viera Valorious"] clear your mind..........forget all your worries and cares."

He paused.

"The Force is like quiet whisper." "It calls out to you." "It tells you when you are in danger, it tells you when you are near another Force User, it cna even tell you if they are Jedi, Sith, or something in between."

 

[Viera Valorious]

Easier said than done.

Viera did as asked. She concentrated solely on the darkness under her closed eyelids until she thought nothing of even that. It was almost calming, but at the same time, incredibly frustrating. When will he actually teach me something?

Viera opened her eyes and stared at [member="Vengeance"] with a passion. This was feeling like a waste of time, if not for the warmth she experienced being off the streets. "Now what?"