Chance Encounters

[Kyyrk]

It was a quiet night on Kashyyyk. The gentle sounds of early evening washed over Xho-Vik as he stepped into the bar. Exhausted, he trudged up to the bar, and slumped down onto a bar stool. Now came the tricky part. He realized, for possibly the billionth time that day, that traveling to a planet of people that are incapable of speaking Basic, and then purposefully hiding from the few people that could, presented a small problem. But, Xho-Vik knew ways around this.

"I'll take a Rishi Ale. However much 10 credits can get me."

The bartender Wookiee offered a soft growl, and turned to begin filling a mug. Xho-Vik, in turn, pulled a credit chit out of his pocket and set it on the bar. Only about 15 left. He was going to have to find a job of some kind, and soon. Maybe he could find some cargo haulage jobs. The Mug was set down in front of him, and he immediately picked it up, taking a gulp of the dark liquid. He set the mug back down on the bar, bringing a hand to his chest. He reached into his tunic, and pulled out the Amulet that hung around his neck. He ran his thumb over the face of it, quietly mulling things over.

But, such things would have to wait. He quickly shoved his amulet back into his tunic as the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Someone was coming...

[member="Abigail Meredydd"]

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

Abigail had seen him coming the moment he entered the bar. She couldn't exactly explain it, but judging by the looks of others in the bar, it wasn't just her: the man was standing out like a sore thumb here.

The very reason that Abigail had come to this bar was because it had a.. reputation of sorts. The bartenders here were quite easy going, which sometimes invited the wrong-type of people, which in turn had caused Abigail to be here on this day.

The woman casually walked over to the bar before she slipped into a stool next to the man. Without looking at him. She whispered a question to him, obvious it was meant for his ears and not for others.

"Riddle me this, what stands out more than light amidst darkness? You do. And of all days, friend, this is the worst one to be out of place."

It wasn't a threat, but more a warning. There were people here today, dangerous people, the kind of people you definitely don't want to tell that no-one knows you here.

[member="Xho-Rik AshBorn"]

 

[Kyyrk]

Xho-Vik swallowed nervously, but quickly regained his composure. Rough crowds, he could handle. Hell, his friends used to joke that he'd been born in a bar fight. But this one had shown an interest in him. That usually meant trouble. Particularly if one was trying to avoid Jedi. He took another gulp of his mug, and leaned forward over it, letting his hair fall forwards to cover his blindfold.

Xho-Vik shifted in his seat slightly, vibro-sword clanking in its holster across his back. He could run if need be. Straight shot to the door, enough drink left in his mug to splash in the girl's face as a distraction. Push comes to shove, and it usually did in these kinds of places, he could also up-end a table to piss off the patrons. More people trying to get him, but it might slow the girl down.


It was at this moment that something strange happened. A thought occurred to him that he was sure was not his own. 'If you run now, you will run for all your days.'

Xho-Vik cleared his throat, tilting his head to the side, but just enough to indicate he was speaking to the girl next to him. He muttered, "My kind always stand out. Pale skin, you know. Makes us real easy to see in low light."

He took another gulp of his drink, then asked at a more audible level, "Buy you a drink, Miss...?"

[member="Abigail Meredydd"]

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

Abigail chuckled under her breath. "Well, I suppose by buying me a drink they will assume you to be with me, perhaps that will keep them off your tail. Why not", she chuckled.

While this wasn't exactly what she had meant, she was definitely not saying no to this man buying her a drink. That had two good sides!
Number one, the man would not appear to be such an easy target anymore, and two, free drink!

"And it's Meredydd", she replied, now more openly turning towards the man, showing the rest of the bar that they were having a conversation. It was a stupid act, but one that would work nonetheless. Everyone knew people were easy targets on their own, so in a way, Abigail was protecting this person by talking to him.

"And you are?"

[member="Xho-Rik AshBorn"]

 

[Kyyrk]

[member="Abigail Meredydd"]

"Vik, I guess. That's what they always called me."

He set down another chit on the bar to pay for the girl's drink. He wondered why being associated with her might keep the others off his back. Certainly lent itself to the theory that she was one of the Jedi.

He was quiet for a moment. Another thought passed through his head. 'Show her'

He sighed quietly, and turned to look straight at her, leaving his blindfold clearly visible to her. "You've been watching me practically since I landed on Kashyyyk. Might I ask why?"

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

"What," Abigail asked with the most serious expression she could fake," you don't like having girl interested in you? Maybe you had preferred me to be male?"

Then she could've hold it anymore and dropped her joke, giving the man a light-hearted chuckle as she briefly laid her hand on his arm. "I'm just joking", she stated as she took a sip from her drink. "Thank you, by the way"

Although she was slightly impressed by the man's remark, it wasn't something Abigail hadn't expected.

"Now hold on there, that's hardly the case and very exaggerated. I've not been following you since you arrived here, I've been following -no- keeping my eye on you since you've wandered in this... part of this lovely planet, so to say."

She then nodded towards a few rough looking people inside the bar before she continued, her voice now so silent only he could hear it. "Haven't you wondered why most of the folks here look... tough? The kind you don't want to mess with? Well, that's because they are."

She gave the man another serious look, but this time she was really serious. "I'm not here to stalk you or say what you can and cannot do, but by just wandering these parts, you put yourself in quite some danger. I'd simply hate to see you get kidnapped or killed or whatever."

[member="Xho-Rik AshBorn"]

 

[Kyyrk]

Xho-Vik took another gulp of his drink, draining the mug entirely at this point. Now he well and truly wasn't sure how he felt about this girl. Her complete lack of reaction to his blindfold meant that she either knew what he was already, or didn't care. His head tilted at an odd angle, almost like a confused dog, as he reached out to observe the beings Meredydd had indicated.

Thugs, sure enough, but no one that particularly scared him. After all, growing up in the underbelly of Nar Shadda, he'd been on a first name basis with folks of their caliber. But, even though the sword wasn't for show, he was always more fond of the diplomatic solution when he could find it. Plus, he was out of money at this point. What few credits he had, he needed for fuel in case he couldn't find a job here.

"Does beg the question, though: Why are you here? Knowing the dangers this place presents, would you not be better off tucked away in your temple, letting the galaxy run its course?"

[member="Abigail Meredydd"]

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

Abigail quickly picked up on the switch of emotion the man had made, albeit a small, almost unnoticeable one.

" Did I say something wrong?", she asked. "There's something.... which bothered you. Or maybe surprised you. But what?", she asked. It was only then that Abigail realised the man had made quite the show about showing his blindfold.

"Ah, of course. We will come to the little small talk later, dear Vik. There are more pressing matters than your blindfold, I am afraid."

While Abigail was just about to explain these 'pressing matters', the man said something else, something reminiscent of an insult.

Abigail scoffed as she rolled her eyes in response. "I wonder why you think that way, that this is 'too dangerous' for me. But you know what," she said as she turned around on her stool," perhaps you're right. I mean, there's no reason for me to stick my neck out for you anyway right? You're so strong... You can overcome aaanything. You don't even need my information about the few people here spanning together to take you as their slave-", as she spoke, she quickly placed her hand in front of her mouth as if saying something she wasn't supposed to, jokingly. "Woops, did I just say that?"

She slipped off of her stool before she leaned closer to the man, whispering in his ear. "As long as you're seen with me, they won't take the risk, but... good luck figuring out who is going to stab you in the back, love"

With those teasing words she leaned back away from the man. She wasn't planning on actually leaving the man alone, but she'd definitely walk out of the bar, interested whether the man would stop her or not.

[member="Xho-Rik AshBorn"]

 

[Kyyrk]

Xho-Vik watched the girl leave without comment. He sighed quietly, and stood up, surveying the room around him. He rolled his neck, and adjusted his sword, mentally preparing himself for a fight. He strode towards the door calmly, almost daring someone to stop him.

His mind wandered back to the girl. She wasn't a jedi, or at least not one of the more devoted ones. So why help him? Could be a mercenary expecting payment for keeping him safe. There again, she could just let the slavers have him and loot his pockets afterwards.

Either way, Xho-Vik wasn't taking chances. He reached up, and unclasped the amulet from around his neck, wrapping the chain around his upper left arm. At this point, he didn't care who saw it. All he knew was he didn't want it around his neck during a bar fight.

[member="Abigail Meredydd"]

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

Abigail leaned against the wall beside the door leading to the bar, waiting for the man to follow her outside. Although she had to admit that she was slightly annoyed by his ignorance, she still had to help him not be enslaved by these people.

She would give him another chance though, but if he really kept being this annoying and demeaning towards her, she might just leave him to his fate. They'd see.

Feeling the air around her growing restless, Abigail quickly opened the door again, only to find Vik standing just in front of it, and some guys in the back half-off their chairs already.

"I thought you were never coming", she said, loudly, before she violently pulled him outside and slammed the door shut.

"This is no time for a fight...", she mumbled as she let go of him.

"No thanks, by the way", she sarcastically told him, still a bit annoyed by the way he had acted towards her, while she went out of her way to help him.

[member="Xho-Rik AshBorn"]

 

[Kyyrk]

Xho-Vik dusted off his tunic as the girl unhanded him, Amulet clattering on his armored gauntlet. "We probably should keep moving. Only two of em inside, but they'll have backup somewhere, and I would wager a getaway vehicle."

He tightened the amulet around his arm, head turning to look at the girl though his senses were elsewhere, scanning the surrounding area. He took a step back towards the spaceport, and hopefully civilized territory. "So if you're not a Jedi, what are you, and why help me?"

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

"Well," Abigail cheerfully replied as she walked alongside the man," I never said I wasn't a Jedi. I am a Jedi in training."

She curiously looked at the man and his amulet, wondering what it was for. "I was just here, on a mission, if you will, and I could help but notice you wandering around."

She turned her head back forwards, trying to hide her slightly red cheeks. "You looked like an OK guy, and I just couldn't let you walk into these parts alone."

Wanting to change subject, she quickly continued. "What's that amulet all about?"

[member="Xho-Rik AshBorn"]

 

[Kyyrk]

"That's what I came here to find out. Thought the home of the Jedi Order might have some answers. Couldn't take it directly to them, though."

He looked down at it and sighed quietly. "There's something....dark about it. They'd try to take it, and I can't let them. IT won't let them. So, I decided to try and find a way to get rid of it on my own."

Xho-Vik turned his gaze to the girl beside him. "I.....I think there's something inside it. I started having visions when I first found it. Nightmares, really. I hear a voice in my head that I know is not my own...."

Xho-Vik paused, brow furrowed together. Now that he thought about it, he could almost swear he felt a heart beat from the amulet on occasion. There was no way such a thing was organic. And yet, Xho-Vik could not shake the feeling that it, or something inside it, was alive.

"Do you know anyone that might help me?"

[member="Abigail Meredydd"]

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

Abigail curiousity listened to the man as he finally seemed to open up to her a little bit.

"An amulet, you say?", she repeated thoughtfully.

"Come with me for a moment", she mumbled as she gently took a hold of his arm to lead the way. "More privacy is needed when discussing these things.

They wandered around for a while until they found a spot which was adequately private in Abigail's eyes. She now redirected her gaze at the man as she sat down on a branch.

"So, tell me more. Everything you know could be vital information to what it is and what is serves. Think about questions like: Where did you find it? Why can't you just throw it away?"

She then leaned towards the man, giving him a serious look. "Nightmares, you say. What kind? What happens in those nightmares?"

[member="Xho-Rik AshBorn"]

 

[Kyyrk]

Xho-Vik took a deep breath, almost as if bracing himself. "I found it when I was a child. Mother and I had found a floating mansion. Kinda common on Nar Shadda. This one was covered head to toe in stealth systems. When we looked inside, everything was abandoned. Nothing had been touched for years. Centuries. We found it on some kind of shrine. It was a simple affair, not much in the way of decoration that mother and I could perceive. Just this amulet and...well, we didn't know what it was at the time, so we didn't take it. Knowing what I know now, we probably should have. A small metal cylinder nearly a foot in length, that was inlaid with intricate designs and an ancient script neither of us could understand, and yet we could both see it clearer than anything. I....can't describe what it made me feel. There....were so many emotions radiating from it. Dread....Despair....and yet, underlying it all, a determination I have never sensed in a being..."

Xho-Vik fell silent for a moment, before turning his head to face directly at Meredydd. "The first time we tried to sell it, mother was killed over how much it was worth. I took it, and ran. Used it to barter my way onto a ship bound for Rishi. Captain wore it around his neck the whole voyage. Next thing I remember, I came too in the wreckage of the ship, amulet laying on my chest. Any further attempts to sell it resulted in the buyer either dying within the week, or returning the amulet to me, practically screaming they didn't want the demon thing."

Xho-Vik took another deep breath. "The...Nightmares started shortly after I reached Rishi. Every night, always the same. First, I see a temple, standing alone on a desolate and icy moon. The sky above is dark, distorted by a black hole. Something inside the temple calls to me, and I must answer. As soon as I cross the threshold, I see a jungle, always dark, always storming. There is a city in the distance, but I'm standing in the middle of....a fortress of some kind. I'm looking up at the sky, watching as a ship crashes down upon me. It's...huge. A Star Destroyer, but like none I've ever seen before."

Xho-Vik brought a hand to his forehead, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he pauses. He shudders slightly. "When the Star Destroyer hits, I jolt awake, but never to the real world. I wake up on some hellscape, fire and lava surrounding me. All around me are bodies. It feels....feels as if the air itself is made of fear. I struggle to my feet and see, standing across from me, a dark figure. He...IT...is consumed by rage...anger...loss...he sinks to his knees, piercing red eyes staring from beneath his hood at me. And then he says....something. 'Su'us iv nuyak su'us.' Then I wake up. For real, this time."

[member="Abigail Meredydd"]

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

Curious but also quite confused, Abigail placed her hand on the man's shoulder as she gave him a comforting smile.

"I'll see if I can help you with that", she mumbled as thoughts raced through her head. The dream sounded strange, but dreams were often that way. The thing which bothered her was that a dream, remembered in such detail, Which returns frequently is unlikely to you be a coincidence. While she didn't know what it was, she did know that it could be a lot of things. A warning, foreboding, a message, a threat...

Then her smile dropped as she spoke again. "I'm sorry about your loss. It must've been hard for you."

Removing her hand from his shoulder, she stared in the distance as she recalled everything the man had said. It was all very strange, and Abigail had to admit she had no clue what this was or what could be done about it.

After snapping out of her thoughts because she had accidentally placed her hand on top of the man's as they sat on the branch, she turned her head towards him once more.

"This thing he said.. do you know what it means?"

[member="Xho-Rik AshBorn"]

 

[Kyyrk]

Xho-Vik visibly tensed up as the girl laid a hand on him, but he made no effort to move the hand. He didn't seem...scared, more nervous and not used to someone touching him. It was....oddly calming, he found. He opened his mouth to speak, but was at a loss for words. "I....I don't know. Its not a language I'm familiar with. Not even sure if it IS a language. Hell, I don't even know if any of it is real. Temples, star destroyers, Oric--"

He trailed off, brow immediately furrowing as he looked to Meredydd. "Oricon. How the hell did I know that name?"

He reached up to rub the bridge of his nose, a soft whine emitting from the amulet that time had proven only he could hear. He looked up at the quiet night sky, then back to Meredydd, opening his mouth to say something but immediately leapt to his feet, drawing the sword that sat across his back. Behind her, clear as day, stood a figure. Tall and dark, clad in armor from an age long past. The glowing red orbs stared out from under its hood at the pair. Xho-Vik felt his confidence falter. This creature was like nothing he'd ever seen before. In that...he could see it. Not just a vague shape, but all its intricate detail. Whatever demon had haunted his dreams, it now stood before the both of them for all the world to see...

[member="Abigail Meredydd"]

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

"Oricon?", Abigail asked. "That's... That's a moon, right?"

She followed the man with her eyes as he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. Apparently the name had just come to him, and the chance the amulet had a role in it was definitely present.

Abigail raised a brow as she saw the man jumped up and drew his sword. Not knowing why at first, she was slightly confused as to the man's intend. However, through the Force, she quickly saw the... creature looming behind her.

This horrible sight made Abigail turn around and stand up herself, all in one smooth motion.

As Abigail looked at the creature, which in turn was staring right at Vik, she felt a certain sense of dread trying to take control of her. Luckily she picked up on this soon enough, and sought help through the Force, effectively keeping the dread away.

"Friend of yours?", Abigail whispered as she stood next to the man. She was unarmed at the moment, but it would take her less than a second to get one from beneath her outfit if the situation called for it.

[member="Xho-Rik AshBorn"]

 

[Kyyrk]

Xho-Vik stood watching the creature, almost paralyzed. Sword held aloft, ready for it to make a move. But it never came. The man simply stood there for a moment, staring at Xho-Vik, then looking to Abigail as she jumped to her feet. Though the mask displayed no emotion, Xho-Vik could feel the hesitation, giving way to confusion, seeping from the being.

It looked down, almost as if to inspect himself, raising his hands to look at them, fingers spread and flexing experimentally. The being almost stared as if it had never seen arms before. Then a low rumble was heard, almost sounding like a distant peal of thunder. The being...was laughing. Though it...felt cold. Mirthless. As if the being was trying to express joy, but didn't know what the emotion truly felt like. It looked back to Xho-Vik, arms still held before him. He brought one fist across his chest in a salute, and bowed stiffly from the waist. A single word was hissed through the re-breather: "AshBorn."

Xho-Vik felt his arms grow heavy, and the sword dropped to his side. He turned to Abigail as the vision of the man faded, and brought his arm up to place the sword back in its sheath. He opened his mouth, but the voice sounded...different. As if Xho-Vik and the ghost spoke with one voice. "Centuries have come, and centuries have gone. The answers you seek are no longer upon my tongue. Seek the days of eons past in the endless sea, scarred and scorched. Son of my Son. The Force shall guide you."

As the last words faded, Xho-Vik reached over, and ripped the amulet from his arm, casting it away from him and taking a couple steps back. He really couldn't hide it any more. He was properly scared right now. More scared than that bar full of slavers, or the entirety of the Nar Shadda underworld had ever made him. He looked at Abigail and asked, "W--what's happening?"

[member="Abigail Meredydd"]

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

Abigail observed the situation silently, only raising a brow as the creature spoke a word, presumably having to do something with the man.

As the creature faded, Vik suddenly started to blurt out strange words, a guidance of sorts.

"Are you okay?", she asked as the man threw away his amulet in what she could only understand to be fear.

"I-I think it wanted to communicate with you. Did you hear what it- what you said?", she asked softly, trying to calm him a bit. Abigail stepped closer to him as his gaze seemed to switch between the amulet and her. Not certain how well he would take this, she gently took a hold of his arm as she reassured him once again. Perhaps it was unnecessary, but Abigail didn't know this man.

"It's okay. It's gone."

[member="Xho-Rik AshBorn"]