In Restless Dreams I Walked Alone [Echo]

[Lief]

He had been away for so long. The exact amount of time he could not say, but it was long enough that those he had known had moved on without him. All except Sinnat, of course, but that old fool would make the Rugger his deathbed if he had any say in it. The Miaplacidus had served him well throughout his solitary adventure through the stars. He had stopped for no man or woman, living on bulk rations and as much fuel as was already loaded into the ship.

Time had become meaningless, more so than it already was in the eyes of the former medic. Mirial felt like it had happened millennia ago, though at times he could swear he had left there but a day or two ago. It was inconsequential, as was the Galaxy at large. It was just Adiara, a droid who knew better than to disturb his Master, and the vast quantities of space which many never got to see.

Living on-world was overrated, as was travelling by hyperspace lanes. The real joy could be found along the more dangerous and unpredictable routes that only the most intrepid of explorers dared step foot in. Here, in the back of beyond, he was free. Free to be himself. Free to be whomever he wanted to be.

But all good things must come to an end at some point. Ships needed to be refueled, as did pantries. So it was that he had to forsake his beloved tranquility in order to return to civilisation. At least for a little while.

When he came within range of general comm signals he decided to send out two solitary messages. The first was directed at Sinnat, informing him to keep his favourite seat warm. The other was to a girl he had once promised to protect. She had left to do her own thing, far be it for him to stop her, but there was always a little bit of nagging doubt as to how she was doing.

The message was simple:
"Echo? It's Adiara."
But all the same, he hoped it would get a response. He felt a Fatherly connection to the young girl without a home. But for all he knew she no longer cared or remembered who he was.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Echo would very quickly get the message. As she did she smiled and sent one back "Hey long time no see!" she had grown used to seeing this guy as a fatherly character to her and she missed him "WHere are you?"

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Adiara was stood in the refresher, staring in a mirror at the state he had become. Long, unkempt hair... A stubbly beard. He barely recognized himself, but who was he trying to impress? Out here that stuff didn't matter. He ran a wet hand up through his hair to keep the fringe from his eyes before hearing a beep from his ships comms.

So soon?

He had only recently sent his messages out. No one else had cause to contact him, so it was either Sinnat or Echo.

It was just a few steps from the refresher to the cockpit, and once inside he took a seat in the Captain's chair and flicked the comms on to hear the message. It was Echo, he knew it from the very first word. Her voice wasn't easy to forget, after all.

Well, she didn't sound mad at him. If anything she seemed glad to hear from him... That was a first.

"I'm making course for Nar Shaddaa. Are you able to get there, or should I come pick you up?"

He figured that, so long as she wasn't busy, a catch up was in order.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Echo would smile already working on her hair and makeup trying to impress. When her comm began to beep she would smile "I think I can get there just tell me where to meet you." She said finishing her hair in a halo braid and continuing her makeup

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Well, now he was already in the Captain's chair there was no use in delaying the inevitable. He began to set a course to the nearest Hyperlane, and from there it should only be a small jump to Nar Shaddaa... Provided he'd got his present location correct. Who knew, he'd been off the map for a while now.

Once the ship's course had been set he turned his attention back to the comms.

"There's a place called the Romping Rugger, not too far from the main spaceport. Tell them Adiara sent you."

No doubt Sinnat would hook her up with a free drink and something to eat while she waited. He was good like that.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Echo would finish her makeup and then begin her journey to Nar Shadaa when she made it she made her way there "Adiara sent me"

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Thankfully Adiara wasn't so far from his target destination, which considering how long he'd been travelling through the Void was rather surprising. As a result he came upon the world of Nar Shaddaa with time to spare. It would have been best if he trimmed his hair and beard, but honestly he'd grown quite accustomed to its current length. Running his fingers through the stubbly beard, he couldn't help but wonder how long it would take to become something great.

Alas, he had other things to worry about.

Heading into his chambers once the ship had docked in its usual spot on Nar Shaddaa, Adiara found a change of clothes and switched into his old style of white shirt and grey trousers. The weather on Nar Shaddaa was as it always was, very artificial due to the vast quantity of interior-exterior spaces. There were very few real outside spaces.

Rolling up his sleeves and undoing the first few buttons of his shirt, he once again stared in the mirror and fussed his messy hair. Who was he trying to impress? No doubt Sinnat would get a laugh out of it... But he didn't care.

He approached the Rugger just after noon, meaning that it wasn't particularly busy or dirty. Good, he didn't really like the idea of Echo being there after night fell. The Rugger became rather sleazy at that time, not to mention sticky.

Approaching the bar, Adiara glanced around in search of both Sinnat and Echo. He found the Gossam first, who bounded across the room toward him chuckling quietly. Reaching up the peculiar little landlord tugged at Adi's hair before shaking his head.

"Going for a new look, eh, Adiara?"

The spacer simply smiled and gave his friend a pat on the shoulder.

"You should try a little change yourself sometimes, Ari. Has someone arrived asking after me?"

To this the Gossam gave a nod of his head and gestured to a table which was out of the way.

"Thank you for finding her some place quiet. I'll have a plate of panna cake, and some stimcaf, if you don't mind. Fancy a game of Novacrown later?"

By this point Adi was already sauntering over to where Echo was sat. He checked to see if she had been given anything to eat or drink, and if not then he would of course ask her what she wanted.

"Hello there, Echo. Long time no see."

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

She had not been given any and as he walked up she smiled and hugged him. She would smile and say "It has been a really long time how are you?"

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

No food laid out. No drink.

Sinnat was slacking. That or he didn't trust strangers coming into his bar with just Adiara's name. Either way that would have to be remedied. Before he could turn back toward the bar, however, the young girl jumped up from her seat and embraced him. A very slight smile worked its way onto her lips as she gave a soft pat to her back.

"It's good to see you well, Little One," he said, gently stepping back and turning his smile down to her. "I'm a little space lagged, but that will fade with a good meal and some caf'. Are you hungry? Would you like something to drink?"

Ari wasn't too far behind, no doubt listening in with curiosity trying to figure out who she was. Young enough to be his daughter, the fatherly pat of her shoulder, there was no doubt that this was an innocent exchange. Satisfied the gossam wandered back to his seat and gestured one of the Twi'lek over to Adiara's table.

"Oh, heeey Adi..." The blue skinned woman cooed, leaning an elbow on the table to look between the Smuggler and his companion.

"It's Adiara" he corrected, raising a very slight brow. All the staff here knew that, what was her game? Since his brunch had already been ordered he looked to Echo with a gentle nod. "Order whatever you wish, dear. Then we can chat."

The Twi'lek pouted just a little, stood to her full height and looked to Echo with a sickly sweet smile. "What can I get you, chick?"

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Echo would order some eggs and bacon and smile "And its Echo by the way"

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

He found the seat across from the one Echo had already chosen, one which gave him a vantage over the entirety of the Cantina. Just as he liked it. Leaning back he stretched one arm over the back of the booth and closed his eyes with a soft sigh of contentment. If there was anywhere in the Galaxy he deemed home - aside from Mia, of course - it was right here in the Rugger.

Listening as Echo made her order, he was amused to hear a slight huff from the Twi'lek aimed in his direction before the woman no doubt sauntered off to fulfill the order. It had been a long time since one of the waitresses had acted that way toward him. Then again this one was newer than the others, brought in just before his venture off into space. Maybe she didn't know any better, poor love.

"How have you been keeping, Echo?" he inquired, finally opening his eyes now the sultry woman was gone. His gaze spotted a holomag to one side, and he could not help but shift it infront of his sights with one outstretched finger. Just what had been happening in the Galaxy since his departure?

Truth be told he didn't care. A load of rubbish these so called newspapers were anyway. He swatted it aside with nary a glance and looked back across to the young woman who had so helplessly fallen into his care. She seemed better these days.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I have been doing alright just got engaged and stuff." She would say studying the mans face across from her who had taken her in, in her time of need.

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Her response had his brow perk in interest. Engaged? But surely she was too young for such a thing... The paternal side of him rose up in indignation and he just about managed to squish it back down before he could so much as scoff to the notion. Instead he inhaled a very slight breath, and offered a smile. She was not his child, after all, and ultimately he had no say over the routes she took in life. Though that did not mean he wouldn't be there to help her should she falter along her chosen path.

"Engaged? To whom, might I ask?"

His eyes fell to her hands, seeking a glimpse of the ring which no doubt would rest upon one of her slender fingers. He had been away for some time, things changed quickly down amidst the chaos of ordinary life. To many there was little sense in waiting around after you found the one you deemed the one... Still, he did hope she wasn't being taken for a fool by some sleeze bag.

Sinnat arrived in that moment though, breaking him from his thoughts as he settled the plate down before him alongside a piping hot mug of caf'. He left the food for now, preferring to wait until his companion likewise had something to eat, but the caf'... He could never resist Sinnat's caf'. So he lifted the mug to his lips and took a long gulp which warmed him right down to his toes.

Ah yes, definitely home indeed.

The gossam, however, never knew when to leave well enough alone. Disrupting Adiara's more blissful moments had become an artform to him. So it was that when the funny little man muttered something into the Spacer's ear a long drawn out sigh left him. "Always right down to business, aren't we, Ari... Very well, I will come and find you before I leave."

An apologetic glance was thrown in Echo's direction as he took another sip of his drink.

"Forgive that intrusion, Little One, you'd think after so many years of running this place he would know when to interrupt and when not to... Alas, that is Sinnat for you."

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"A man by the Name of Nate, he is a bounty hunter." She said smiling, her makeup was done and she liked it that way. Her food would soon arrive and she would begin to eat lady-like. Her ring had a huge diamond in the center surrounded by sapphires that were then surrounded by more diamonds. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Mental note made. Find out all he could about this Nate... Though the Galaxy was writhe with Bounty Hunters, most of which were met with horrific ends... Truly, for this young girl's sake, he hoped that would not be the case for... Nate... Perhaps he would be wise and quit while he was ahead. After all, the mere sight of that ring spoke of his wealth.

If indeed the gemstones are real. Though there is no cause to believe they are not.

A change had definitely come over the young girl though. The way she held herself, the way she spoke, even the way she ate, allowed him some small satisfaction in the knowledge that she was growing as an individual. Learning. Appearance was not everything, not least to a man like Adiara, but the way that the Galaxy viewed you could help... Even if they were incorrect. The way you held yourself, the way you spoke, and interacted with others, could influence all manner of beings.

"I trust you know what it is to be safe around such men" he offered, finally tucking in to the panna cakes he had ordered. Plenty of carbosyrup. Delicious, with a capital D. "I expect him to be nothing but honorable around you." And if he does otherwise we might see how this long term pacifist holds up in an altercation. Not a thought he very much enjoyed, but one he would endure to ensure her safety.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"Yes I do." She would say smiling at him. She remembered the first time they had met and the time she had spent with him on his ship. She had cooked for him but that had short lived "What would you think about having dinner sometime?"

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Part of him wondered if Echo had fully understood what he had meant by his first statement. The very thought of her getting tied up in some Bounty Hunter's job made him frown just a touch... Would she become a target by those who disapproved of this Nate's profession? Those he brought in? Adiara pursed his lips and shook his head just a touch.

Maybe it would be prudent of him to pass along some of what he had learned during his time in the Medi-Corps. It wasn't all healers work, after all, they had to know how to defend themselves. Even if Adi truly despised getting his hands dirty with violence. He had seen enough broken bodies to last a lifetime, if not two!

"Perhaps you would do me the honor of joining me for a few weeks travel, Echo? See a few of my personal favourite sights" Learn how to handle a blaster... "And we can have dinner every night if that is what you would like."

He set aside his now empty plate, having practically inhaled his brunch, and sat back feeling well and truly stuffed. Living off rations was all well and good, but it left him with so great an appetite and so little room to satiate it!

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"Yes I would be I have nothing to do besides and I would love to." SHe said smiling her single dimpled bright white blinding smile finishing her food

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

"Good, then that's decided. I have a couple of things to tend to first, my dear, and then I shall be all yours."

He picked up his caf' and took a good long drink, smacking his lips when he was done. It felt good being back in the Rugger again, especially during the day. It was quiet, calm, the music was low yet lilting, the light bright enough to see - unlike when it turned nighttime...

"This place is like a second home to me, you know? In fact it's the only building in the whole of the Galaxy I truly feel at ease within."

Exhaling slowly, he slumped back just a touch and closed his eyes.

"I'll have to leave shortly, dear, but in a couple of days I will come and pick you up. Do you know where you will be? If you have nowhere in mind, I can give you a keycard to my room here. It hasn't been used in some time though, as a warning..."

In fact nobody but Ari - and now Echo - even knew that he owned a room above the Cantina. The only place I regard as home aside from Mia...

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I would like that I will wait here while you do whatever it is that you need to do." She said smiling She would finish her food and wait just enjoying the moment

[member="Adiara Drelas"]