Going with the Current

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"I dragged you out of a hole of self-pity because my sister swings for the other team and you...," Taeli countered, but she stopped herself from saying what else popped to mind as her eyes narrowed at the dismissal. "I invited you along on this trip because we both know it's helping you. I'm sorry that Setzi decided to go the way she did, it was a gamble on my part and I'm sorry it chain reacted the way it did. But do you honestly think that they could have reached Voss and gotten through the entire Temple there to reach Chastity? No one forced your lot to confront them on Toola, you all decided to do that yourselves."

Taking a few steadying breaths, she visibly calmed down and her eyes softened again.

"And for your information, I can be quite tense, but tension does not exist in just the form you're thinking of ... but maybe my sort of tensions just sails right over your head," she said. It was a blatant hint at why she was flustered, but he could do with that as he would.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor didn’t react to her little moment, but just pushed his fingers together on his chest and gave one long nod.

"Of course. Corvus. Always there to remind me aren’t you. I haven’t forgotten where he so called love lies, but I’m beyond caring about her now. Why should I put my life on hold and torture myself when she lied to me and got on with hers."

He sat up and fumbled at his side for the com. "Pathetic," he muttered.

When he was done, he activated it and brought the com to his lips, giving a sarcastic smile to her as he activated the signal.

"[member="Jericho"] – my friend, this is Connor Harrison. I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you on Toola as hoped, things got a little dangerous down there," he emphasised at Taeli, "but I have need for your assistance. Can you contact me on this signal with anything you know about the whereabouts of the Fallanassi? I have searched for them on Pydyr but found nothing. Contact me when you can – thank you."

He signed off.

"Happy now?"

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

His tone and words were probably what prompted what she did next. She wasn't sure, but it just seemed like the last straw for her that broke the dam. Right after he finished talking and asked his pointed question, she strode right towards him and planted a large and hard kiss on his lips for several moments before pulling back and turning on her heel.

"That was for coming back alive and wiping that smug smile off your face," she said, not letting him see the large blush on her face as she had done that. He was just soooo .... GAH she couldn't help it.

"Like I said, different types of tense," she continued quietly. "I'll be in the cockpit."

With that, she left the main room and headed to the cockpit where she could be properly embarrassed by her action ... and thrilled by it ... without him judging her or anything. She just hoped it hadn't driven a wedge between them.

 

[Jericho]

The warrior had stayed on toola after the battle with the small but powerful group of sith. He was quietly practicing his ice shaping mixing various matrial arts with the shaping. The warrior took in a deep unleashing a breath followed by a powerful blast of ice. After doing so there was a beep on his communicator, a transmission from a [member="Connor Harrison"]. Normally he would be call to assist with a raid or some sort of battle. Was there another tassle with the sith? He clicked the button to answer the transmission.

His figured appear clear as day, reception was perfect. Odd. But no complaints. The mask figure stood firm quietly as he witness the master accompanied by another. He bowed his head to the two respectfully ignoring their banter. "Greetings. Are you in my assistance, Master?" He asked in his usual stern tone of voice.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Ready for a slap in the face or punch in the mouth, Connor stood as she came, ready to speak his defence, but the kiss came hard and fast and out of nowhere, with her vanishing with a few muted words as fast as she had come to him. He couldn't help smile, laughing a little to himself as the com chimed in his hand.

He ignored it for a moment, watching her go, and brought it up absently to see the figure of [member="Jericho"] giving a greeting. Connor wiped his lip gently as Taeli vanished like she often did in these moments, and allowed himself to focus on the prompt response from the Master.

"Jericho, thank you for getting back to me so quickly," he held the com and took a seat again,"and yes I, or rather Taeli Raaf needs your help. She is seeking the whereabouts of the Fallanassi. We are on Pydyr but found no trace of them except the name of one Master Ravos. From that I talked to Thereon Heavenshield and he said the Fallanassi have since left here but you may know where they went, or where they could be now? I ask only for the sake of Taeli who wishes to meet and study their Force ability - nothing hostile and nothing that isn't on their terms. If you have anything you could provide for us to go on, I - we - would be so grateful."

Connor hoped he'd got the point across and made sense.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Jericho]

"The Fallanassi?" The warrior questioned taking the time to remember, they were an order of something, the white current if that was correct. That was in the time when he was still a knight, a very long time ago. The warrior remembered that they were a very reclusive order that cherished their peace the last thing they wanted to be bothered. Jericho felt like it was not his business share their whereabouts so freely even one considered an ally and friend. But hearing that Master [member="Connor Harrison"] was on the planet the sanctum help them relocate to and now there was no sign? He let out a sigh and shook his head. "If they are not on Pydyr, I am afraid to tell you that I don't know where else they would be." He placed a hand on his chin to think. "As for Master Ravos I have not heard from him for a great many years." This made him think again for a moment how he knew more of his enemies than his allies, a painful thought. The other ones he knew of that assisted with the Relocation was Seydon and Rosa. He hasn't spoke to Seydon either and the last encounter with Rosa ended with him stabbed in the stomach with a saber. The warrior shook his head. "I apologize for the lack of assistance in this matter. But I will look in the matter and if I come across anything I will notify you. That is the best I can do for you, as a friend, for now. Jericho out." He said with a bow of his head.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Scratching his head at the back of his neck, and then tapping his fingers on his chin, Connor listened to [member="Jericho"] - a simple answer, and he couldn't ask for more.

"I'd appreciate that. Thank you, Jericho," he nodded in return, and folded over the com to kill the signal.

Sitting back with a sigh, he steepled his fingers and pushed them against his chin, thinking how to take that information. If not on the moon, then where would they be? Surely they wouldn't leave clues in a desolate village for anyone to find if they didn't expect SOMEONE to find them. Maybe it would have to lie with this Master Ravos.

Looking over to the passageway to the cockpit, Connor gave a small eye-roll and stood, walking through with little speed until he leaned in the cozy little hub of the ship, looking out to the stars with enough read-outs and controls to confuse anyone not aware of such a ship. Taeli, as she said, was there.

"Nothing from Jericho I'm afraid. Something tells me he may now more than he's letting on, but maybe I just expected more. If they're not here, he doesn't know where they would be. He'll be in touch if he thinks or finds anything."

His eyes looked to her, then the console, then out into space, then back to her, a little unresponsive.

"Want me to try find one of the other Masters then?"

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"No, I think we're going to go about this a different way," Taeli said, looking out the viewport into space and trying very hard to not look at him for risk of blushing again.

He hadn't said anything about her action, but he didn't seem angry or not want to be around her. Maybe what they had said on Dorin might happen after all.

"A movement like this wouldn't go unnoticed by certain parts of galactic society," she mused, still looking out into space. "Spacers would hear tales while they ply the hyperspace routes. I think we're going to head to Lianna. It's the highest populated system in the immediate area and it's a crossroads in the Tion Cluster. With any luck, we might hear a story or two in a cantina that might lead us on the right direction. I can guess they at least moved to somewhere near old Levantine space before the merge."

She would wait for him to bring up the kiss. It wasn't like it hadn't happen before, but that was before he was quite aware of how she felt.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Arms folded, he nodded as the plan took shape, eyes also looking out into the dark void.

"Ah. Lianna. Now I know that place a little, so I may be better help this time getting around. Sounds good to me."

He stepped in a little and placed his hand on her shoulder, giving her a gentle shake.

"We'll find something, don't worry."

Suddenly he felt very overwhelmed, like everything was happening at once and taking his breath away. The Jedi didn't know what to say, or do - bite her head off and remind her not to be an ass, or try and sort the lingering issue. He patted her shoulder and slinked back.

"I'll be back, in a sec... just going for a drink, yeah."

Turning to exhale deeply, blinking a few times, he walked a little quicker away from the cockpit and felt his chest rise and fall. He rubbed his hand over his face and headed back to the kitchen units to get some stored water. It was certainly a strange feeling, but again, it must have been part of the healing process and something he had to face.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"I'm not worried," she said. "I have faith that we will find something."

As he left the cockpit, she let out a sigh and set the coordinates for the jump to Lianna. Now it was sitting over them ... and just because she hadn't been able to stop herself. Kark it, she thought as the ship went into hyperspace ... moving away from Pydyr. Putting her face in her hands, she let out a long slow breath and just leaned back in the seat.

The feelings wouldn't stop, she knew that, but she just didn't want to scare away Connor or mess him up further. She knew things would only get tenser as their journey continued and it was certainly going to be interesting. Hopefully, he wasn't beating himself up while he went to get his drink.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor necked two glasses of water, the second spilling more down his chin than in his mouth. But it was cold and refreshing, and he then knew he'd not had a drink for over 12 hours. Wiping the droplets from his chin, he blew out a breath and nodded to himself. Placing the glass down on the side, he walked back through the passageway of metal, piping and consoles towards the cockpit.

The ship moved slightly, changing course from her coordinates for Lianna no doubt, so he held onto the wall as he came in, seeing her still sat, head in hands.

"Hey," he said softly as he crouched behind the pilot chair and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, "you want to to go somewhere and talk? I think we need to get over this right about now."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Um yeah, sure we should talk," she said, liking his hands on her shoulders but she got up and went, not to the main room, but down into her workshop and pulled a chair for him. She sat down on the workbench yourself, her feet swinging as they just barely didn't touch the floor. This conversation was probably going to be very interesting. Whether good interesting or bad interesting ... that remained to be seen.

"I'm sorry," she began. "I was just relieved you came back alive from everything and it's because I started it by telling her and I just ... I couldn't stop myself this time."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Giving the stars outside a final sweeping glance, Connor turned on his feels and followed Taeli Raaf to her workshop. It was a busier area of the ship, decorated in that organised mess with a number of weapons and gadgets on the side and blueprints and books and charts and tools. He took a seat in the chair she pulled for him and sat right in front of her dangling legs, letting her speak first.

With her apology, Connor smiled and shook his head.

"You did what you had to do, and there was no clause to prevent you. I'm touched you had that faith in me to use against the Sith. No harm done."

He left the words sink in and then placed his hands on her calves and held them on her.

"I don't know who I'm trying to convince about what I'm doing. I don't know how much time I'm trying to buy. I don't know why I feel everyone else should dictate how my life goes and why. I am in control. I make the decisions. I need to live my life and not exist in it as it flies by and every second throws another chance away."

His hands didn't move nor did his blue eyes from her, unsure what she understood or thought or felt at this sudden outpour.

"If we do this, we do it for the right reasons. And that is to be together. As one. A strong, unified force that has survived enough heartbreak and horror to show me that there is something worth fighting for in this galaxy. That something, I've discovered. It's you."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

As he spoke, she didn't say a word as she didn't want to interrupt him. He was pouring out his soul here and ... wait did he just say ... her mind froze as his words sank into her head. Did he just ... he did? ... wait what but ... he said before ... what ...

"Me?" she whispered, her purple eyes boring into his now as she searched them thoroughly. "I'm the reason ... me?"

Her brain wasn't caught up yet, and her expression clearly reflected that as it slowly shifted from shock and confusion to pure unbridled joy as it finally sank in completely. At that point, she slid off the bench and onto his lap ... her face just an inch away from his. Daring him now.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Instead of beaming like a child and rushing ahead, Connor was treading very carefully with each word said and each thought processed for what he was doing. He lifted his head a little, not responding to her initial, softly-spoken exclamation, because she knew the answer inside. When she moved, he didn’t stop her and he took her hand in both of his when she came close.

”You were there on Lorrd, and I failed to protect you. Then, you were there on the Smugglers Moon when we tried to kill each other," his thumbs stroked her flesh, ”and after that you were there again, and Panatha…Ziost. Even on the edge, your hands were there pulling mine back so I didn’t go over."

He gave a small sigh, a tiny shrug and a little smile.

”You. It was you, Taeli. It’s always been you. I’ve never thought it was clear now, but it is. It sounds terrible coming from me after all I’ve been through and my previous experiences and monstrosities, and yes I’m afraid to get hurt; to cause you hurt; to have pain present itself like it always does."

The emotion struck into his voice as he feared the worst, brought on by nothing but misery in everything and everyone close to him.

”If I lost you, I think I would fall. Forever."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"It's always been you too ... since we met," Taeli whispered, her purple eyes still looking into his eyes. "Even when you threw that table at me, you caught my attention like no one else ... on Lorrd, you were the most interesting man I ever spoke to ... it's always been you and ... I would fall a thousand times if something ever happened to you ..."

"We make each other stronger," she said. "All the pain and angst have only made us both stronger for it ... I'm going to kiss you again Connor ..."

And with that, her lips caught his again and would most certainly linger this time.

 

[Connor Harrison]

No sly dig, no witty remark; Connor just listened for once and didn’t try to fight her. She was so close; he could see her beauty both internally and externally. Violet eyes he lost himself in over and over again now losing in his. When she kissed, he automatically brought his hand to cup her neck and hold her gently; not fighting, not pulling away, not doubting.

It felt as if something had fallen into place and he didn’t want to let it go. He broke his lips fractionally away from hers, opening his eyes to see her again.

”I want to be with you. I see how it should be now...I’m sorry for ever hurting you."

While he wanted to kiss her again, he instead brushed his lips lightly on her jaw and moved to hold her and rest his head on her shoulder, this time, turned into her, not outward, arms crawled up her back to hold her as if letting go would pull away the stars from under him.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"You can make it up to me by just ... being there," she whispered, enjoying the feel of his lips on her neck and her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. "I want to be with you too ... I have for so long ..."

With that, she turned his head and captured his lips in a fiery kiss that let him know exactly how strong her feelings for him were. Breaking it off after a few moments, she started to pepper his jaw with kisses of her own.

 

[Connor Harrison]

A whirlwind of emotions swept up inside Connor; some he’d felt before, some he hadn’t. His eyes stayed closed as he held her, and in that split second he wanted to do everything and nothing at the same time with her. Just staying there would be fine.

Yet, she turned to him for their second kiss – their second real kiss – and it was full of passion which he returned. He inhaled a sharp breath through his nose as she stopped, and he pulled her up to stand with him, returning hungrily for their third kiss that cut them off from the rest of the galaxy. He pushed her to the small table and leant into her, a grin breaking him off at the raging emotion felt between them.

He fingered her small fingers with his and laced their hands together.

”You know that feeling when you think you’ve lived, but you then feel you probably haven’t when something good comes along? I understand that feeling now."

A gentle trace down her beautiful face with the back of his free hand, and now their fourth kiss – slow and delicate and full of promise.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

She was turning into a puddle of goo, but in a good way ... a way she hadn't felt in years. Being pushed back onto the workbench, she couldn't stop her inner child from doing cartwheels as their fourth kiss spoke an unheard promise.

"It feels ... whole ..." she said after they broke that kiss. She could feel her face was flushed now, her lips slightly bruised from the passion. Slowly, she slid off the workbench and with their interlocked fingers, she guided him out of the cramped space.

"I've wanted to say this for a very long time, and don't feel pressured to say it back yet but ... i love you," she whispered in his ear as they reached the hallways where quarters were.