Bathe in the Light

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira shrugged her shoulders and grinned at Stephanie. The choice seemed pretty clear to her, though they would end up cold and wet on the walk home which wouldn't be the most pleasant experience but they weren't about to freeze or anything. It was a mild spring afternoon and the water was comfortable.

"I'm a pretty good swimmer. Would have worn my swimsuit if I'd have known we'd be taking a dip." She didn't have one on, but it didn't stop her from wading into the water, turning to watch her companion as she did. The current wasn't exceptionally strong, nor was the water incredibly deep. Even around the middle it didn't look more than ten feet at best, so the redhead was more or less unconcerned with it.

"Come on in, sweetie." Laira let the current take her by leaning back into the water and letting the lazy current pull her along off her feet so she could float with its flow towards whatever it was causing the Force to bond to this particular body of water. "The waters great, but it could use some perfection." She let a soft purr flow into her voice and dripped her tone with sweetness for Stephanie's benefit. The padawan seemed to be warming up to her pretty well.

Laira let her eyes wander, though she didn't mind stealing a rather obvious look back at her companion. All around her were colorful trees with bright leaves sprouting after the winter, birds sang in the sky as they drifted on warm spring winds. Rodents sought out nuts and berries for food, and the few fish she had seen in the water were busy cleaning it from algae.

The water itself was crystal clear, it looked more like gentle flowing glass than most rivers she had ever swam in.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

With a shake of her head and soft *tut tut tut*, the Padawan rolled up her sleeves, hesitated for a moment, nearly forgetting her lightsaber, and tucked it in her robes. Then, she sat on the bank, braced herself and slipped into the water.

It was cold across the fabric on her flesh at first, but soon warmed and she acclimatized to it with the warmth of the earth below and the sun above. Her tall frame stood and the water stopped mid-way up her thighs. Keeping arms above the water, she began to wade through with gentle sloshing.

"Do you mind, we're not here for swimming lessons," she smirked, "and we have to find your hidden Force nexus, or whatever is pulling us in."

Almost literally, as she watched Laira float around on her back, totally enjoying the sensation of the natural pool.

Stephanie waded by the bank as it rose a little higher, allowing the stream to move into a funnel from the main pool up to the mountains and wherever it led, noting the shade cast across the rock from the points where the sun was blocked. She took a minute. She reached out as best she could to feel anything, but there was no sign of danger. No sign of immediate threat.

"When you've finished," she mirrored the look Laira gave over her shoulder as she turned, "shall we get a move on, Little Miss Perfect over there?"

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira let her legs dip underneath the water and scrap the bottom of the river until she was able to regain her footing, smirking back at Stephanie. "Please, only one of us is a model and it ain't me." she waved her hand at the brunette, grinning widely as she did, "I was referring to you anyways, but I'm not gonna turn down a compliment. If its from a Jedi it must be true." The redhead was positively beaming with satisfaction as she spoke, more than happy with her surroundings and companion.

She stood, cool wet cloth sticking to her flesh, her shirt not a little translucent to show off her undergarments and hair damp against her. If there was one detriment to letting the current carry her around it was that her hair wasn't perfect anymore. Most of it was still feathery and light however as she stood, which was to her liking. Couldn't go not looking her best for her new friend.

She fell in beside Stephanie, once again wrapping her arm around the woman's waist, letting her hand rest on the padawan's belt-line with a contended grin. Her senses didn't detect anything dangerous around them, but her senses were largely obscured by the overwhelming sense of peace the Force was radiating. The river itself was radiating all around the pair.

The two girls approached a place in the river flowed from a waterfall out of a cave just a meter or so above the river's surface. The cave looked large enough to stand and walk in, at least at the opening.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

"Oh I know you meant me," Stephanie said walking side by side with Laira, arm looped around the pilot’s shoulder, "because I was talking about you."

She didn’t look, for fear of feeling silly, but she grinned and swayed a little, forcing the red-head to hold on a little tighter unless she wanted to lose balance and sink into the water as they walked. Things felt good. Comfortable. The confidence was growing, and Stephanie felt like all she had to be was…herself.

Nothing more, nothing less. What came before was the past and it shaped her to be the person standing here now with a Resistance pilot seeking out a mystery on an unknown world whilst serving as a Jedi. The same person survived a mauling by a wicked Sith Lady and also a beating by Sith Lord – she was surviving by being her.

That was all she had to be.

The two walked the current but stopped as the bank rose high above and the stream funnelled through to where a waterfall blanketed a cave opening. It was their only way out as the water was running into the mountain, not out of, which was strange on its own. Climbing out on the high-bank wasn’t really an option nor necessary.

"Okay then."

Stephanie slid her arm away from Laira’s shoulder, waded forward and looked up at the waterfall. She braced herself, tensed, and waded through under the water as it pounded her head and shoulders for a second before she came out the other side to face the sandy orange lip of the cave, where they would have to pull themselves up and over.

"C’mon slow-coach," she shouted from behind the glassy-ripples of the waterfall separating them.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Hmm, don't tempt me with your honeyed words, Master Jedi." Laira smirked at Stephanie and squeezed her a little tighter around the waist, "I do not have any of that famed training in self-control, so if you tempt me I will call your bluff." Assuming the Jedi was bluffing, but Laira wasn't quite sure so she'd have to let Stephanie confirm or deny that.

The pair continued to the waterfall and the padawan ducked through the cascading water into the cave, and Laira released her. The redhead stopped just away from the waterfall and eyed it. She wasn't afraid, the princess just didn't want to walk through and ruin her hair, such an act would kill her look until she could shower and dry it. And on this world that might be a while. Wet clothes was one thing, ruined hair was another. "Hang on, one second. I don't have the face for the just got out of the bath look like you." She flashed a toothy smile while the redhead opened her bag and pulled her long feathery locks into a cap long enough to step through the water.

"I've got to stay pretty if I'm going to keep you around for our date." The redhead pilot certainly seemed to worry about the strangest things, her odd form of vanity and the cute banter perfect to stroke Laira's ego. Some might assumed she used it as a mask to hide some deep pain, but in reality Laira's life had been fairly easy going. Her training had been harsh, but it had prepared her for the wars she found herself in very well and though she had complained at the time, she had grown to look forward to it by her late teens. Well, two or three years ago.

Laira resumed her hold on Stephanie, each time she wrapped her arm around the Jedi the redhead's hand seemed to drift lower and lower from the small of her back to know below her belt line, giving her companion plenty of time to back her off. They continued into the cave until the light began to grow dim, and just as Laira was about to reluctantly release Stephanie, she noticed the faint glow from the walls. Some kind of luminescent rock gave off just enough light that she could see the way.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Stephanie chuckled and turned to the mouth of the cave, wringing the water from her short hair with a squeeze of her hands and shaking her sodden clothes. The humidity of the cave itself, a heat trap when the sun cast through at the right time, would help temporarily dry her off. She didn’t think about walking around after traversing up a stream so wet, but she didn’t think on the “what if” – she acted on the here and now.

Laira certainly thought more logically than the Jedi, but took a little longer to preserve her looks and clothes from a soaking. Eventually, she crested through and surprisingly had the cap take most of the water from above and escaping relatively dry from the waist up. The Padawan nodded in approval and waited for her to climb to the mouth.

"Shall we?"

The feeling of water trickling around her boots wasn’t nice – she could feel it squishing gently through her toes. Yet there was something else that was making her anxious, and it wasn’t the cave. It was her companion, or rather, the feelings her companion was stirring inside the Jedi.

She had felt the pilot’s comforting hand on her side most of the walk, and she had enjoyed feeling close. Stephanie wanted to reciprocate the action, but didn’t. Yet, she wanted to hold her a little tighter and be around her a little more. She wanted to talk to her more, and not be afraid she was going to say something silly or be laughed at for her lack of confidence.

Does she….like me?

Stephanie was bound by the Force. All relations stemmed from the Force; a bond between natural energies. Sex wasn’t the factor; male, female – nor was the race; Human, Twi’lek, Chiss, Rodian – it was the bond between them that was the empowering energy. Now, the Padawan wasn’t sure if she felt something that was good or bad.

Was this something that she had felt for…for… no. That wasn’t the same. It was clear she didn’t matter that much to the Confederacy apprentice [member="Srina Talon"] even when she had called her for help. But, then she was a friend, or not really a friend friend, but someone who would help when she could. She was far too busy to focus on a Jedi Padawan.

This was different….wasn’t it?

She’s confident – this literally happens to her everyday probably. Don’t over-react. Your experience is nothing compared to her galactic adventures.

Stephanie didn’t even notice where they had walked in her day-dream, and only focused on the light that wasn’t coming from any lamps or torches, but the mountain rock itself. She blinked a few times to sharpen her view

"Are these…what they called, the crystals Jedi….kyber crystals. Are these kyber crystals? Have you seen anything like this before?" She turned to Liara. "Are you looking for some old Jedi enclave?"

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Stephanie couldn't know how Laira would react to anything, they'd only barely known each other and only spent perhaps an hour with one another. However, Laira would probably giggle at whatever awkwardness there was not maliciously but because the redhead found it absolutely adorable so far. She'd never expected to meet a Jedi that was cute and a little awkward, and she actually preferred such behavior to bold machismo. Confidence and comfort came with understanding and time.

The duo walked through the dark cave, the soft light from the crystals dancing through the trickling water. Wetness filled her boots and her clothes were damp from the water, both women would likely need to sit around and dry off before starting the hike home after they found what they were looking for. "I don't know. I've never seen a Kyber Crystal, sweetcheeks." The most she'd seen is a Krayt Dragon pearl, and she'd simply never been exposed to the Jedi Crystals, if she had she might have a Lightsaber.

They continued walking until the light grew brighter and the tunnel ended, opening up into a large cavern. Around the edges were smooth dark colored stones and in the center the wellspring that the river outside originated from bubbled up from the watertable. From above however, was what they sought. Faint blue orbs descended from the air and into the wellspring where they dissolved into the water giving it a faint blue glow.

The Force radiated in the cavern, echoing through the girls with calm and power. The natural energy of the planet thrummed quietly through the river, accepting the calmness the Force provided and spreading it throughout the river basin all from this lone cave that for some reason was connected to the Force in a manner neither girl likely understood. Laira certainly didn't.

"Its beautiful." She said, her grey eyes shining with blue glow as the princess looked on in awe, drawing herself instinctively closer and taking a tighter grip on the Padawan.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Stephanie's mouth fell a little as they walked in and almost were absorbed into the mountain cave. Everything seemed to go quiet except from the bubbling water spring in the centre, coming straight from the source below the mountain, and the call of the Force. She felt it, strong and pure, and the glowing orbs desceneded slowly like bubbled rain.

"This is beyond me...this is a...a Force nexus? A place where the Force radiates from? Oh gosh, I don't know," her mind went blank from all her months of reading and studies.

She felt Laira's pull again, and this time she held her own arm around her waist and placed her hand atop Laria's on her belt line.

"Is this what you were looking for, what you meant about the Masters giving me some respect?" She took Laira forward to the glowing blue spring as the orbs descended. "I don't know what these orbs are, but this must simply be a natural fountain of, well, Force energy. Bound by the naturs it's thriving from and...well, I don't know...it's beautiful, look at it," she trailed off.

Now her head was rushing - what would happen to this place? Could it be used as a place of meditation? Would it serve the Resistance that Laira worked for? It was too beautiful to be lost. Stephanie cocked her head and reached froward slowly for one of the orbs that was falling, and turned her palm up to catch one.

The glowing orb disintegrated at her touch, billowing out softly and a small blue powder sprinkled out over the water below and her fingers.

"Natural rocks from the mountain, near crystallized. See how they glow?"

She smiled to herself as she turned to see her fingers glow before it slowly faded.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"A place where the Cosmic Force and Living Force become one and the same."​

​

They were words that were spoken of a far off place deep in the Galactic Core, however they were relevant to this place. It was certainly not the Planet of the Force or on that scale, but it seemed so, similar to the stories her father had told the princess of that place. Where light rose into the sky and spread throughout the cosmos, binding everything together.

"I think so honey," Laira muttered as Stephanie took a tighter grip on her and lead her deeper into the water. Pristine cool water lapped against her calves, bright blue orbs shone on the girls. This was not the place the Resistance wanted, at least not for a base. It was too much, too perfectly preserved to invite evil or war to follow the Resistance to this planet, but it was a good find nonetheless. The Jedi would be happy to hear about it in order to help preserve its tranquil position by subtle observation.

She watched as the Padawan reached for one of the floating orbs of energy, wrapping her other arm around the padawan and holding her tightly in case anything should happen, should the mystical presence in the cavern suddenly become dangerous. For all her adventures, for all the places she had been, Laira lacked a certain reverence for the Force. She understood it like a power and a weapon, respected it and believed it was all encompassing. But to her its more mystical properties were so utterly alien and viewed with a strong suspicion.

It was an odd feeling, the feeling to care about another person. Laira felt it, that's why she had left her home and joined the Resistance, but for some people she felt it much stronger. She enjoyed the Padawan's presence and wasn't about to lose her promised evening date to some mystical presence. "Be careful, honey." She whispered, watching with shining eyes unable to look away.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

She heard Laira, but didn't. She pulled away slightly, her eyes focused beyond the orbs to the crystals in the walls. They called to her and radiated a peace. She felt safe and strong.

A few footsteps across the cave floor and she was standing before them, sparkling with what looked to be ember and silver flowing inside. It was probably an illusion of the Force, but it was a pretty one none the less. The spring was between Laira and Stephanie, the blue orbs dissolving into the water.

"I will," she finally answered.

Then, she reached out and placed her hand fully on one of the brightest stones, and the sensation mentally blew her away. It blew away the cobwebs of doubt clinging to her mind, and the pain that the Sith had caused her seeemed to dissolve and her power felt like it was increasing.

Everything dissolved away until it was just the stone in her hand. Just her. Stephanie Swail. Solider of the Galactic Republic. Force Leader of the Third Falcon Unit.

Captain Stephanie Swail was a key in protecting and serving the people of Coruscant and the people of the galaxy as the dark times clouded everything.

She trained new recruits, helped the Republic in diplomatic missions and escorted Jedi to new worlds. It was during this time she became the person she wanted to be. Confident, proud and head-strong.

The Republic was thriving, and so was her career path. Hand-picked by Jedi Masters and Republic Senators to front a new secret army; an army that would fight where no normal soldier could. An army to lead Jedi into battle - a Jedi with super strength, speed and agility.

It felt good to be chosen; to be given the opportunity to become something great.

The operation didn't hurt, not did the process of serum administration - but it hurt when the Sith came. Corrupt agents for the Republic working for the Dark Lord who sabotaged it all. Murder. Theft. The operation fell, and Stephanie Swail nearly fell with it.

Captain Swail escaped with one fellow solider who had the same serum, but the rest fell. The operation fell. The Republic fell. Hope fell. Stephanie fell.

The Padawan gasped as the memories replayed out in her mind over a split-second. How strong she was, compared to how much of a failure she felt now. With so much inside that could be used for the greater good, it was buried beneath her own silly anxiety.

The Force flowed through her. It felt like she was a Master of the Force who could bend the energy to her will.

She wanted to let go of the stone, but the vortex of energy around her was too great to release. It made her feel strong, safe and alive! It felt like the Sith rune had burnt away, and she had no more aches and pains. It was a sensation like she was healing herself, but all the while she was simply stood, holding the stone away from Laira, her body convulsing gently every few seconds or so.

"It's...the Force...."

The Sith Lady Vendra was stood over her, and the blade she once carried as a gift from her Master was used to carve the rune into her rib-cage, and it smelt as bad as it did when the flesh was seared the first time.

Stephanie cried out and dropped the stone, as if it had burnt her. The cave focused once more, the soft spring bubbling behind with gentle orbs floating down. The Jedi held her hand to her chest and stared at the ground and the stone.

"This place," she whispered, "is all about balance. Nothing but the Force. No Jedi, no Sith. Just the Force..."

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

As calm and serene as the Cave was, Stephanie's aura was not so suddenly. Her presence fluctuated wildly and her emotions surged to extremes as she melded with the stone and certain memories bubbled up or became contorted.

Laira didn't know what was happening to the Padawan or how, all she knew was that it was painful in more ways than one. The grimace and shrieks of pain that emanated from Stephanie's mouth alerted the redhead clearly that all was not right with the girl and Laira began acting on instinct. She pulled back on the Padawan, trying to separate her from the glowing orbs.

One must surrender to the Force as a Jedi. As a Redheaded Princess Laira didn't surrender to anything: Force, Sith, or Jedi. "No, we are here too." They weren't just extensions of the Force, instruments of its will. They were drawn to it, guided by it, but the Force did not control them. At the end, everything they did was their own decision, their own will and responsibility.

Stephanie dropped the stone and cried out as if in pain and Laira hauled her backwards away from the drifting orbs back towards the cave. "Hey, its okay sweetie, its okay. I got you, Laira's got you." She said comfortingly, trying to help Stephanie regain her wits and senses after being exposed to the raw Cosmic presence and whatever it was the stone had done to her. "Let me see your hands," she demanded, taking them in her own and inspecting them for injuries.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Laira said something, but with it sounding like the words had been submerged in water, Stephanie just made out her vocal tone, but at least she could still hear. It took a few seconds for the sensation of being submerged in water to pass; her hearing melted back and her sight became less blury. An all out Force sensory overload.

There was no pain that she could feel, and it was almost as if nothing had happened when the red-head was checking her over for injuries and talking her back to sane ground.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," she breathed, slightly amused.

She caught herself staring past Laira at the orbs floating down, not as much was transfixed at their raw power, but that her head was swimming with wonder about what happened and how powerful the stones in this very cave were in connection to the Force. It worried her this place could be a treasured sanctuary or a dangerous stockpile for those looking to steal them.

"I'm alright, honest, thank you," Stephanie said, fingers squeezing Laira's hands. There was a mild burning sensation as she did, but nothing to worry about.

Slowly, she composed herself.

"That was...different. I saw glimpses of my past, as if it was happening right now, and it felt like all barriers had been knocked down. It was wonderful, actually, feeling so invigorated and free of worry and having that natural energy flowing through me. But, I feel I'm not of a sound mind to control that much power yet." Stephanie turned to Laira. "Why don't you touch one. See what it unlocks for you. It...it may help you see things a little...clearer?"

The Jedi offered a small shrug and smile.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

For a moment, Laira continued to worry and check over Stephanie to ensure she wasn't burned or injured anywhere and that after the ordeal the Padawan wasn't suffering from brain damage based off the quick check she was able to provide by looking into her eyes and feeling her presence with the Force.

That had been scary, the redhead suddenly terrified she would have to carry the woman back and that the locals in their rustic village wouldn't have been able to help her. What could have happened to her? What if Laira had gotten her killed?

It seemed mindless concern and worry since she was clearly recovering fairly well in a short period of time. "Okay, good. Had me worried there for a minute," The Princess admitted sheepishly, aware that she was empathetic to the suffering of others and that she liked this young woman as a possible close friend.

The redhead looked back at the orbs, her grey eyes shining blue from their light as they drifted from some invisible plane into the water like flower petals on the wind. "I dunno honey." Laira said, turning her attention back to padawan. "I think this pilot is happy leaving everything locked until I discover it on my own." The Force was something she didn't greatly understand, and even though she would like to understand the concepts of it and how it acted, she was not yet willing to surrender to it.

Her hand dipped into the shallow water and produced a small dark colored stone, almost black in the ambient light. "This is enough memento for me, but I don't think the Resistance will be building anything here." Better that they did not draw attention to a place of power and serenity on a backwater world.

"Come on," the redhead stood up smiling and offering her hand to the Padawan, "I'd say its time we go get ready for our date." Something about having the padawan wrapped around her finger and breaking through her barriers appealed to Laira a lot more than communing with the Force.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Her legs were a little shaky, and she was hungry. She wanted to eat. Nodding at Laira, Stephanie kept her hands on her hips and regulated her breathing, shaking her legs a little to wake up the muscles that felt as light as air.

”Ok, that’s good," she said, as if limbering up for a race, ”and it makes sense."

She copied Laira’s memento, taking a pebble from the spring herself. If nothing else it would remind her of the journey shared and the discovery, even if she wasn’t sure just WHERE in the galaxy she was. The pebble was warm and smooth, and she held it tight.

”I will take this for myself, and I will report what we have found today if nothing just to document a place like this exists and what NOT to do around such places on your own without a pilot to help you down."

It was a little difficult to walk, not that she was all over the place with each step, but she felt lighter and not very coherent. The sensation would return to normal, and the pair started back the way they came, which meant heading out through the waterfall and back down the stream into the lake again.

”Nothing major, I don’t think I’m the best company right now for what you want Laira! Sorry you had to see that, but thank you for helping me. I think I’m ready to get out of here and back to normality."

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"No, nothing major." Laira wanted to get to know the young padawan a little better and perhaps see how well she held out when Laira turned up the charms with innocent intentions. The redhead more enjoyed the attention and reactions of others, especially the bashfulness Stephanie had which she herself had displayed around a certain Zeltron dancer.

"Just dinner in pretty dresses at my camp and you showing me your poses and modeling strut, maybe flipping through some of your old work." She looped back around the Padawan comfortably, finally planting her hand on Stephanie's backside, while still helping to stabilize the woman as they made their way back out of the cave. If prompted she would relent, but if not she'd happily stick to her guns. Laira grinned widely at Stephanie as they walked together, "Maybe just a little more of your Jedi temptations directed at me."

Admittedly, the Padawan had gotten to the redhead a little bit as well, but with all of Laira's already existing romantic strife she wasn't getting her hopes up for another long shot, she was just having fun hoping it wasn't at either of their expense.

The light from the mouth cave until they were right before the waterfall. As they walked up to it, the princess put on a pout, clinging closely to Stephanie. "You think you can make a little barrier and keep the water off us? I like where I'm at."

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Half-listening, half-not, Stephanie walked the rest of the cave, leaving the natural spring, the floating orbs and the powerful glowing stones embedded in the rock. Their bodies moved slowly through and the light cast strange, alien-esque glows over the pair, and the Padawan didn’t react to anything. Her mind was too much a blur.

The crashing of the waterfall got louder, and then Laira broke through to her as natural light resumed and the initial draw of the Force in the cave subsided, at least in her mind.

”Oh, yes, yes of course," she said without a care in the world.

She didn’t think – she just acted, and it was marvellous.

With her right arm around the red-head, Stephanie held on and raised her left arm out and turned her palm upwards facing. She didn’t just shield them from the waterfall, she parted both it and the stream without thinking. It was an act that would keep them safe and dry, and for that reason it wasn’t something to think about doing or work out the strength needed – the Force seemed to bubble inside her blood and it swelled around her as she connected with the nature around them and the cave.

The eroded stream bed could be seen littered with pebbles as the water parted and continued to flow, albeit it behind a barrier of energy keeping it contained. Stephanie didn’t seem to react to what she did, she simply hopped down, helping Laira, and walking back the way they came without having to be submerged.

With each step away from the cave, the energy followed the pair. The waterfall returned to normal as did the stream, but it never cascaded over them in their bubble of energy towards the large lake where their items were still folded neatly on the mossy bank.

It was like Stephanie was there, but she wasn’t.

It was as if something had shifted inside her the second she touched the stones.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira was perfectly content with herself cozy alongside the padawan, as the water parted over the pair and they passed through the waterfall perfectly dry, her hair in its place and vanity intact. They needed to concern themselves with getting cleaned up and out of the elements before nightfall. Even in the calm spring, there was a risk to running around in wet clothes for hours after nightfall, plus Laira wanted to get back to her camp and get a little more comfortable.

Still quite happily wrapped around the Padawan, the redhead picked up the pace walking back towards the settlement in order to better see to the padawan who seemed a little distanced. In Stephanie's defense, she had just been through an ordeal and seen things from the Force, suffered an episode of Force Overload, which the redhead knew to be very painful and debilitating. It was possible the brunette woman was just trying to work out what had happened privately and piecing together the puzzle for herself. But Laira was selfish, she wanted the shy and bashful Padawan back.

Her T-95 was landed in a clearing not far from the little village, and her camp had a few amenities. Without a co-pilot, the redhead had been able to pack herself a decent base-camp with portable sonishower and even a holovision screen to pass time.

And a medical kit, which she wanted to run over Stephanie as soon as possible. Concern for the padawan emanated from the redheaded pilot as they walked. "Are you okay sweetie?" She asked sweetly, her pace at a decent speed walk as they headed towards the settlement instead of the leisurely stroll they had taken when searching for the cave. "You seem a little distracted, and not in a good way. Not with me at least, and so it can't be that good." She tried to lighten the mood and bring the padawan's focus back, hoping to draw it back to her.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Walking away from the lake, it breezed by as both girls had a little more of a hurried pace. Was it something they didn’t even expect and now wanted to be back away from such a place? Or was it a little fear in getting away from such a source of power?

Their clothes drying out well from the walk and the humid air, it was a comfortable walk, but one that Stephanie said little in even with the comforting hold from Laira. She could see her side glances and the comforting squeezes now and then. It was a strange mood….a strange moment….

Pathways cut from natural erosion soon turned back to manmade tracks leading through the arching woodlands through to the settlement they passed. The Padawan felt tired. Not in a physical way, but a mental way, as if on a huge comedown after tripping out on Force overload.

”What? Oh, no, I’m ok. I’m ok," she said to Laira, snapping herself out of it. ”I just, I don’t know – trying to think what happened. It’s a blur already, now we are walking back to the village but I feel like I’m still standing before those stones."

She looped her arm around Laira’s shoulder again.

”I’m fine. Honest. Just, a lot happened. I need to probably sleep on it and see how my head is tomorrow. I just feel…I don’t know, it’s really silly!" She laughed a little at how she couldn’t explain it.

It was a mixture of feeling like she had been detoxed – a burst of natural Force energy had cleansed her and made her want to do more than ever before. Not to the extent of bringing down Destroyers from the sky, but simply exploring her own natural ability and using it more.

”Dinner. Soon. No more Force nonsense, I promise. I’m starving," she grinned. ”You ok? I’ve not made you feel awkward or anything have I with all that?"

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Stephanie had actually made Laira feel quite the opposite of awkward. Despite all her struggles, Laira was empathetic and so seeing the padawan spaced out after her ordeal and the pain she had seemed to have felt brought out the big sister side of the redhead, wanting nothing more than to ensure Stephanie was physically and mentally undamaged from the ordeal.

Laira let out a sigh of relief, and squeezed Stephanie tightly, relaxing with the Padawan's arm over her shoulder. "No, no awkwardness here. Just a little worried about my little modelling Jedi, hun." She kissed the woman's cheek lightly and squeezed her rear-end. So far the Padawan hadn't seemed uncomfortable or asked her to back off, and so it was like a game for Laira. She liked to see if she could make the Jedi blush and had been absolutely loving the shy, bashful act, happy to see it returning at least a little.

"I'm still going to have a look at you with the med-scanner." She insisted with an accompanying hug, "You had me worried back there, so I'm gonna get my way here." Already with their rapid pace they were approaching the area outside the settlement her X-Wing was landed.

"And yes, clean up, get in nice dresses, and real food for dinner. Not some ration bars or food processor junk." Laira grinned, giving the Padawan yet another hug as they arrived at the X-Wing. A lean-to had been constructed from the wings along the nose of one side of the ship with a cot and several fuzzy blankets that didn't look slept on yet, a holoscreen hung from the X-Wing, and a space heater situated near the cot. A few other things like a datapad and a hard copy novel lay on the bed or on a box beside it. One pecular thing was that the X-Wing was a two-seater but there were no signs of another pilot or crewman. Only the steady tracks of an Astro-Mech ball roaming around the campsite, currently tucked away in its slot. Under the first pilot hatch her name, 'Lieutenant Darkhold' was painted with a number of kill-tallies arrayed in rows which wasn't an incredibly auspicious number. And the ACE wing markings in red stripes.

"Well, this is home for now." She gestured at the far corner which held a soniclean portable shower, a collapsible tube that could be raised around a person and hold rigid for them to take a dry shower. It got a person just as clean, but it wasn't the same as a good steambath as far as the redhead was concerned. "Make yourself at home, run yourself over with that medscanner. I'm going to get out of these dirty clothes and changed. You can go next."

The princess had a couple of reasons for wanting to shower first, primarily so Stephanie could check herself out with the medical scanner, but also so the redhead could control the dress and preparations for their dinner arrangements while the brunette Jedi was busy cleaning up. A mischeivous smile crept across her face, not malicious but certainly a serving her own self interests in this matter.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Going past the settlement, and back over the bridge where the meek Padawan had met a thoughtful explorer, Stephanie suddenly shivered evidently. Partly from the kiss on the cheek and the surge of appreciation she felt for Laira’s care, but also at the sight of the X-Wing resting in all its mighty glory.

She had seen the fighters at the Silver Rest, and even the A-Wings from Jade Squadron, but this one…this one seemed…different. Stephanie smiled and walked away from Laira to inspect the craft as she pulled out all her provisions and mini-camp supplies. Running a hand over the hull, she turned her head to inspect the wording – Lieutenant – and she raised her brow. That was impressive. She glanced to Laira. So much could be assumed from her carefree way, but a lieutenant?

If the Republic rank could be held today, then Captain Swail and Lieutenant Darkhold were more or less on the same pegging. Trained, disciplined and effective fighters and pilots. A shake of the head and another small smile in disbelief came as Stephanie walked around the mighty craft.

”Will do, thank you, Lieutenant," she called.

Rubbing her hands together, she ducked and walked under the s-foils to root through the provisions to find her medscanner. Fiddling with it to turn it on, the Padawan stood and held it in the left hand to scan right side, and then the right hand for the left side.

Nothing seemed to beep or sound an alarm.

Looking at the small display, there was skin damage, but that was expected. Nothing else it seemed. Sorted. She tucked the scanner away and stood, hands on hips, looking around at the camp.

She began to wonder just how lethal Laira was in the air. To be honest, Stephanie had assumed Laira was a simple solider who would get her hands dirty for her duty to this Resistance movement. The thought of her soaring through the air piloting an X-Wing was superb.

”No broken bones," she called out in the direction Laira had gone, ”I’m good!"

Stephanie glanced over again to the X-Wing. Lieutenant? Wow.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]