Not Quite Pelagon [Echo]

[Lief]

Naboo​

​

Adiara yawned. He had been in space for quite some time now, following the Mirial incident, and had begun to feel a sense of cabin fever. As a result he'd brought his ship into orbit around the nearest planet - which happened to be Naboo - and descended down to the world below.

The first sight he saw was the oceans. He had once planned to visit Pelagon, a world made solely of water, but that hadn't gone quite to plan. Still, it made him smile all the same. He had long since gotten over Aerin, but his memories of their short time together remained fond.

Exiting the ship once it hit the spaceport, Adiara stepped out into the pier and glanced at the lakes below. Okay, so maybe they weren't quite oceans. Close enough.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Echo stood near the lakeshore in a little yellow bikini. She would look around using the force vision and see that there weren't that many people around. But none-the-less she was still self conscious about her having no eyes.

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

It was rather cold out. The breeze which rushed across the large body of water caused him to shiver. It was refreshing though, clearing his head better than any medicine could. Sucking in a breath of fresh air, Adi turned his gaze across the shore and spotted some youngsters swimming in the shallows. No doubt their lips would be blue by the time their mother's dragged them out. A shame.

There was also a couple of aquatic sailors out on the water, a few ships moored along a vast stretch of anchorage. Adi had never been one for boating, it turned his stomach all that rocking and swaying. Space was far more gentle.

Finally his eyes set upon the most peculiar sight of all. A woman, Miraluka from the dressing around her eyes and the Force Signature she gave off, was stood on the shore in naught but her swim suit. Well, it was far too cold for that. He looked away, while he could appreciate a fine looking body she was little more than a child by his standards. He was old enough to be her father!

And if he felt that way, surely others did too.

With a soft sigh the man shrugged out of his beloved jacket and made his way down to the beach. He kept his eyes averted until he came to her side, and then looped the jacket around her shoulders.

"You'll catch a death of cold" he said, as he did so, trying his best not to startle her. He recalled the last Miraluka he'd had the pleasure of meeting. The poor girl had been bullied by some young lads. Adi had soon scared them off. She had been so unaware of her surroundings, he hoped it wasn't the same for this girl. After all, Miraluka's had impeccable senses.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

As the man approached she sensed him as he began his descent. It was not her idea to be at the beach today she was dropped her by a spacer she was hitchhiking with at the time. She had been around the beach for 3 days. She was freezing but wouldn't admit it at the time. She instead just looked at the man.

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Since she didn't stop him, or protest, Adiara settled the jacket over her shoulders and gave a very slight tut. Whatever was she doing out here in such immodest attire? Luckily she wasn't startled by his presence, the last thing he needed was a blaster in his face. Though, truly, there was nowhere she could hide such a weapon.

"Let's get you indoors, young Lady; look, even your lips are beginning to turn blue! Qui-Gon's Beard!"

The medic in him could not permit her to remain this way. Ushering her from the waters edge, he tried to guide her up the stairs to the pier and toward a rather nice looking hotel.

"Where are your clothes?" he asked, as they entered the foyer. The staff gave him the rudest look ever, but he ignored them and neared the check-in counter. "Could you please see that this young girl gets a room and something to change into. No doubt she's already close to pneumonia!"

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I've got clothes." She says running into a room and changing into a long-sleeved blue shirt and blue jeans before returning

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Before he had finished speaking the girl exclaimed her clothing predicament and rushed from the foyer. Adiara gave the staff an apologetic grimace and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Force knew what they thought of this scene, a girl and a man old enough to be her Father walking into their establishment, the former borderline naked. They could think what they wanted, Adiara knew the truth of the matter.

"I'll pay for the room" he said, stepping forward and settling his card down on the counter.

Then he turned to leave. That in and of itself shocked the staff, who had no doubt been expecting him to stay in the room with her. How their attitudes changed when they realised that was not the case. On his way out he picked up his jacket, which had previously been around the girl's shoulders for warmth and modesty's sake. He reached into his pocket, pulling out his pouch of Gabaki, and sighed. So much unnecessary stress. It would've been easier to remain suspended in space, and let madness take him over.

Before he actually left the Hotel, the girl returned like a lost pup.

"Feeling better?" he inquired, turning his gaze toward her curiously. She looked much better now that she was dressed, though her lips remained blue. Settling the Gabaki back into his pocket, he instead pulled out a tea-bag like item, though it was most definitely not filled with tea but instead the leaves of an Ankarres tree. While the majority of his auction purchase had gone to the good people of Mirial, he had kept some aside for himself. Who knew when a little bit of healing power would be needed?

Turning back to the counter, he inquired after a pot of hot water - which they brought him without too much hesitation - alongside a mug. "Many thanks" he said, before placing the sachet into the mug and pouring some water over it. Best they stifle any adverse effects of being stood outside on a cold day in naught but a swimsuit before they surfaced.

With a slight 'hmm' he handed the mug over to the girl once it had stewed long enough, giving the contents a bit of a swirl.

"Drink this, it will make you feel better and put some colour back in your lips and cheeks."

After handing it to her he sighed and stared around the foyer. If only it was polite to smoke indoors. He would kill for some of his beloved Gabaki right now. Alas, alas, alas. It seemed a strangers wellbeing came before his own.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"Thank you." She says before drinking the water and smiling at the man "So what brings you to Naboo?"

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

He nodded to her thanks, before realising that she could not see him do so. Miraluka, he had learned, could sense a lot, they could even see in their own brilliant way, but they couldn't all make out subtleties.

"You're welcome" he said instead, shrugging back into his jacket now that it wasn't needed.

He had quite forgotten that his card was still sitting on the counter of the Hotel. With a slight grumble, aimed at himself for his own stupidity and poor memory, Adiara turned and ventured back the way he had come. "Thank you for your hospitality. I'll be sure to give you a great Yelp review."

With that he made to leave, with both girl and mug likely in tow. He'd paid for a room the girl wouldn't even use, they could spare one damn mug.

"I was in space for too long" he replied, with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "Unless you experience cabin fever, it's difficult to get across just how horrible a thing it is. I had to reconnect with some sort of world, lest I turned stir crazy."

To that he offered a smile, and gave the girl a pat on her shoulder. "So what in the world were you doing out in your swimsuit on such a cold day, my dear? And is there somewhere I can take you to? Your ship, your home? I can hardly just let you wandered back into the streets. My conscience would not allow it."

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I'm just a street rat." She says frowning a little "As for the swimsuit I'd rather not say."

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

They entered the Hotel and none of the staff tried to stop them concerning the mug. That was good, as Adiara absolutely hated conflict, even if it was a verbal disagreement.

He turned his gaze down to the girl with a very slight frown. "A street rat?" he inquired, it was a term he was familiar with though it tended to have a different meaning for everyone who used it. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that." He did not press concerning the swimsuit incident, though he also didn't shut the door on it completely. "I'm trained to be an open ear, should you wish to talk" was what he said instead.

With that he guided her through the streets. Where could he go with a girl who had nowhere to be? He most definitely could not just drop her off in some cantina or diner. But he also wasn't all that prepared to have to care for her himself.

Damn those morals.

"So there is nowhere at all I can take you? No family? Friends?"

He felt bad pressing in such a way; he knew how it was to have nobody to rely upon, it was how he had felt when he was dragged from Morellia to the Jedi Temple, and once he had left the Medi-Corps. Perhaps it would be safer if she came with him, he would not take advantage the way many others might, especially once they noted her blindness.

With a slight sigh the man ran a hand up through his hair.

"I have space for a passenger, if you don't mind a little bit of travel and hard work. I'll warn you now, though, running a ship isn't all fun and games."

There, he'd put it out there. Now it was up to her where her future lay.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I'd be interested. But yes I am a street rat. I have nothing but what you see here and no one but me myself and I." She says frowning and putting her head in her hands.

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Adiara raised a hand and settled it to her shoulder as she informed him of her woes. A shame, she was only a kid by his standards. At least at that point in his life the Medi-Corps had snatched him up. They weren't the best, but they had provided him with shelter, clothes, food... Even a profession which had remained with him since then.

"Well, from here things can only get better."

Another smile was offered, before he nudged her and set off again. "Let us not waste too much time on this world then; it's beautiful, but not exactly my chosen destination. Is there anywhere you wish you could visit?"

He did not, as of yet, have a run in mind. He hadn't picked up a shipment lately, so his cargo hold was sorely empty. And he most definitely did not have any other guests. He knew that he would be paying a visit to the Archives of Obroa-Skai, but he would not subject the girl to such frigid temperatures.

By this point they were nearing the spaceport. He didn't feel as refreshed as he might have liked, but oh well. He would survive.

"Is there anything you need before we set off? We could get you a few more sets of clothes? And some toiletries?"

He didn't want to push her in any direction, though; that was not his way of doing things.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"Sure"

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Sure.

Well then, Adiara supposed he would have to be getting a little bit of everything. He wasn't entirely certain what a young girl needed, he'd never had children or a stable partner, he'd always just sort of been a solo-rider. Looks like that had changed.

"Come along then" he said, leading her back through the streets and toward a Market Plaza. There were quite a few shops around, luxury looking clothes on offer, tasty food that he wouldn't really be able to stock up on. Damn perishables. Still, he supposed that they could grab a bite to eat before they left the world all together.

He didn't suppose that the color or style of the clothes mattered to a girl who could not see, but Adiara still did his best to choose ones that would paint her in a good light to any who might glance their way. He had a pretty good eye for fashion, though he'd never openly admit it.

What he was more bothered about, though, was how the fabric felt. He figured that her enhanced senses would pick up on every imperfection in the cloth; he didn't want her feeling irritated.

Choosing the softest fabric, and a rather elegant yet casual style, he eyeballed the size and ordered a few sets from the tailors. Thankfully the size was a common one, so it wouldn't take too long.

After being told to return in the morning, Adiara then turned and left with the girl at his side.

"We'll grab some more essentials later; for now, are you hungry?"

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"Yes I just have one question why did you help me I mean its not like I'm worth anything to anyone" She asks as she follows the man down the crowded streets of Naboo.

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Adi gave a nod of his head as she expressed her hunger and set off in the direction of a restaurant. He was sick of diner food, and figured that something a little more nutritious would be beneficial for the girl.

As they walked he pondered on her words. He could be blunt about it... Tell her that there were some horrible people out there who would take advantage of a young girl such as she lost and roaming the way she had been. But that might make her question his intentions, which truly were innocent.

Instead he let out a soft sigh, and shrugged his shoulders. "One minute of my day spent helping another could make or break someone else's life. I've spent enough time among all kinds of people to see when someone needs genuine assistance. I could not walk by and leave you there for Force knows what to happen. My conscience would not permit it."

It wasn't quite what he had wanted to say, but he wasn't the most articulate or poetic of people in the Galaxy.

"C'mon, let's get some food in you."

Striding into a decent looking establishment, Adiara held open the door for the young girl before the pair were led to a table.

"Is there anything specific you would like to eat? Also, how rude of me... I don't even know your name. I'm Adiara, and you are?"

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I'm Echo. That is very honest of you sir." She says admiring his great personality and work ethic. " As for the food it is up to you." The young Miraluka was walking beside him the only way she knew she was beside him was her sensing his presence.

[member="Adiara Drelas"]

 

[Lief]

Echo, at least he had a name to put to the face now.

The pair were led through the restaurant toward a table wherein Adiara pulled out the chair for young Echo and - once she was seated - proceeded to tuck it back in. Then he turned to his own seat.

"Could we have a glass of water while we decide, Sweetheart?" he asked the waitress, who shot him a smile and then walked off to fetch both a pitcher of water and some menus.

Once both of these things arrived, he poured the both of them a drink of cool water before glancing across the menu. He had no idea of the sort of person she was; did she like meat, or was she a vegetarian? Spice, or no spice?

"How does a Xizor salad sound, to begin with?" he asked, hedging his bets. Who didn't like a nice bit of Sizhranian lettuce, croutons and a nice salad dressing? "Do you have any dietary preferences?" he finally asked; he hated such questions, but he knew that it was one worth asking lest he end up with a dissatisfied guest.

[member="Echo Kora"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"No I eat anything I can find." She says as she begins to think of her life before she was a street rat and begins to weep a little

[member="Adiara Drelas"]