Something Wild

[Jairdain]

In the lull between the call of battle, work and her other duties, Jairdain decided to pay a visit to the most famous planet she knew of. Coruscant the center of the galaxy and talked about by pretty much everybody. A historical repository and modern city planet wrapped up into one bug package.

She travelled the along in one of the taxis piloted by a droid and requested a tour of the most famous locations along normal routes. Sadly being blind, the sight of the planet was lost on her. Not through the Force though and the life here was far different than any place she had been to before. Not alive in the same way a planet with plant life, but still living. As she gazed through what she could 'see' a building stood out.

Not a simple construction by any means, it was alive itself. As the droid rambled on about whatever they were passing, she interrupted it to ask about what she saw. The answer was odd, but the droid followed her instructions and let her off at its base. Another would be found when she wanted to leave the building.

Not seeing was a detriment at times and Jairdain walked close to the building to feel for a way in. One presented itself and she walked in through the opening that was provided.

When she entered, it sealed again behind her and the air closed in around her. The heady aroma of healthy life filled it and brought a smile to the woman's face.

[member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Hylocereus]

Upon entering the Green Tower, now officially coruscant Vertical Farming Habitat One, you were greeted by a rather nice old twi’lek named Lank. He probably had another name, a more formal and tw’lek sounding one but he had never known it. Lank had been homeless for many years but now worked and resided at the Green Tower ushering newcomings inside. “If you’re looking for some food we welcome all types here. The shelter is on higher levels and there is apartments for people willing to work here.” The gruff twi’lek said. “If you want more information you can ask Chickpea. He just got off tending the gardens and is helping to pass out soup.”

The twi’lek pointed in a direction before staring at the woman's eyes. He lifted up a hand and waved it in front of her face a few times. “Oh uh,” he said gruffly stumbling for his words. “Sorry miss. If you’d like I could walk you to him? We also have a clinic both near the top and in the lower levels of the tower. We see to the many injured or maimed in the various rebellions and invasions.”

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

The welcoming feeling coming from the plant building was almost awe inspiring. Not once had Jairdain felt anything like this in her life. Closest she had come to before was with the Silver Jedi when she joined them. A person greeted her and mentioned some of the things offered and then he noticed she was blind.

"Oh I am not injured, I was born this way."

It corrected one thing he had wrong about her and when he asked about taking her to see somebody in the gardens, she shook her head.

"I wouldn't want to take you away from what you are doing here which is giving directions. If you want though, you can tell me how to get there and if I get lost, I'll come back."

She was still working on​ learning to use the Force to grow plants and could possibly learn other methods here. It was a thought that crossed her mind, but she didn't really know why it did.

[member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Hylocereus]

"No ma'am," Lank said taking [member="Jairdain"]'s arm. "I couldn't let you go in alone. Chickpea wouldn't be too happy. Don't worry about my job, BigMo can take over."

A large Herglic sauntered over to take the spot at greeting people a large smile on his porous face. He was massive! Huge! and the friendliest homeless Herglic on all of Coruscant. "Welcome," he said his inhumanly huge jaw contorting to his best impression of a smile.

Jank led Jair on. "Poor BigMo. He's big you see... erm or don't. That's why we call him BigMo. Differentiate him from Little Mo." it was all matter of fact as he led her down the corridors and through the farming terrace. Once inside hydroponics and grow lights dominated much of the scene. "You see," He stopped, "Erm I mean. Herglics are large. They eat more than us normal sized sentient. So because they eat more they spend more on food just to survive. That means a herglic making the same amount of credits as someone like me is poorer by proportion. Thats what chickpea said. So hard times hit Mo's family. BigMo that is."

They approached an elevator and he pressed a few buttons nervously aware that the woman was with him. "chickpea is just up here," he said as the lift stopped and the door opened to a large cafeteria like area. There was tables and food being serves to thousands of people. An arboretum graced the halls water free flowing sending out waves of ozone smell and flowers of a most fragrant nature.

"Eh Chickpea!" Jank called.

Hylo sighed as he heard his little nickname being called but walked over to the man, "Jank? Have you gotten your meal yet?"

"No I'm waiting for the late crowd. Manning the door as it were. I met this lady I think she needs your help." he leaned forward and in a non to hushed whisper said, "She's blind you see. Came to the shelter looking for help."

"Ah!" Hylo replied stepping forward and picking up the womans hand. I'm Hylocereus, but my friends call my Hylo...." he waited for a moment and then added, "And some here call me chickpea....." His voice was not amused. "If you need help you've come to the right place. My little tower has shelters, clinics, soup kitchens, and even apartments for the workers. They were all refugees or homeless people mostly. But I give them jobs." he Gulped hard looking at the woman suddenly thankful that she couldn't see him. Truth was he didn't cut an impressive figure. "So its nice to meet you. Our soup of the day is..." he looked up over where it was being served and sighed browbeaten "Chickpea's famous chickpea soup....."


[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

It seemed as if Jank didn't quite know how to react to her being blind. He was one of the few to actually appear to react in any way. While she joked about it now and then, it was not something she drew attention of about herself. She almost smiled as he babbled on and explained his job and that of BigMo along with the different one called Little Mo. He also called him some race she had never heard of before, but did not question him. The galaxy was full of new to her things and Jairdain just took it in stride.

"I understand and given the chance, I'm sure I will understand the differences in them. Each person has a unique sense about them."

While he led her to where Chickpea was and introduced them saying she was there to get help. That wasn't totally the truth, but maybe not entirely inaccurate either. Curiosity had called her here for whatever purpose or maybe it was the Force. Either way, she now stood with Jank hanging onto one of her arms and Hylo holding her other hand.

He introduced himself and it was clear he did not appreciate the nickname given to him by Jank. Not having provided her name yet, she finished listening to what Hylo said before speaking.

"I'm Jairdain Ismet. Some people just call me Jair or Jera though."

At that point her stomach growled and gave to show she hadn't had something to eat since she arrived on Coruscant.
​
[member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Hylocereus]

"Its a pleasure to meet you Jair," Hylo said nodding to the woman before realizing that she couldn't see. "Jank make sure to get something to eat before you get back to work."

"You got it chickpea," Jank said with a laugh walking off.

Hylo led Jair to a table and sat down as someone served them... uhg... chickpea soup. "So what brings you to my shelter?" Hylo asked. He couldn't of course talk to everyone who came into the massive tower looking for help but when he could he tried his best. Everyone had a story and everyone deserved respect and attention. That's what... well no his mother hadn't taught him that. She taught him that meat was worthless and men were worse. With age the last bit started to make more sense. "If you need help, I can try to accommodate you."

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

"Nice to meet you as well, Hylo."

While Jairdain had been away from her home for near eight years, her voice carried an accent he probably wouldn't be able to place. To her knowledge she was the last of her people. ​He guided her to a table and sat down with her while soup was brought over for them.

He asked what brought her here and Jairdain sort of gave a little shrug before speaking.

"Curiosity more than anything I guess. To find life like this on a city world was a surprise and so I came following that."

It was a simple answer and the truth to his question.

[member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Hylocereus]

[member="Jairdain"] didn't need help! "Oh okay." Hylo said. "I didn't think you looked like a refugee, but you can never tell. The other day I got a businessman in a full suit, a real expensive one too. He came in and had nothing. His accounts were wiped, feth his bank was destroyed." Hylo played with the soup in front of him. "A lot of pain and misery to go around."

A little uncomfortable Hylo looked over at the woman with a frown. "I don't want to be too foward. But how is it you're able to get around and everything? I mean being blind." No don't offend her. "Not that blind people can't live normal lives, I just don't see a cane or a seeing eye lark or anything."

 

[Jairdain]

Some of what he said made Jairdain smile slightly. Hylo was quite friendly to her and told her a bit about another situation of when a person showed up at his shelter. His comment about the pain and misery to go around brought a nod from her.

"You know while I say it is curiosity that called me here...maybe it was something else. I don't know what, of course. What if there is something you can help with? I mean just because I don't need shelter or a place to stay or anything along those lines, there is maybe a reason I am here for help."

When he asked his question and just how uncomfortable it made him, it made her laugh. Not at him, but in true humor. Her eyes never could hide what she felt and there was no anger or offence in them.

"I can use the Force and see through the emotions of others basically. It's quite colorful actually, but I am not sure I could tell you what it is like."
​
[member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Hylocereus]

When the woman laughed Hylo felt a bit of relief. He was never sure how people would act when he asked things, especially humans. Their customs and behaviors were often as alien to Hylo as he was sure he was to them. Still Mara was a human, well partly, so that meant humans were alright. Hylo nodded as she continued to talk. He knew about such things as destiny and predetermination through the botanical noosphere and might have even believed in them. The thing that intrigued him he most however was the woman stating she could use the force.

"Like a Jedi?" he asked pondering. She didn't seem like a sith, although the dark hair and clothing.... Hylo gulped. "Or..." he looked around and whispered at the woman "S-I-T-H." He spelled the word slowly in a hushed whisper.

Truth was the answer didn't bother him beyond the fact that one was more likely to cause him trouble than the other. Reaching out a hand he revealed a seed... then blushed green knowing the woman couldn't see it and feeling suddenly foolish. Recovering he used the force to grow a small flower in his hand. "Me too."

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

Since her vision was basically through the emotions of others, Jairdain could read Hylo pretty easily. Unless he went out of his way to hide what he was really feeling, her words brought him a bit of ease until she mentioned the Force and her ability to use it. He tensed up again slightly when he mentioned the sith, but she still nodded.

"Yes, like the Jedi or Sith. Have no fear, I'm not Sith."

She had been for a very ​short time, but had broken herself free from the brainwashing done by Krest. Those scars were still there, her mind having been shattered. Jairdain was pretty much an open book with her past and not keeping it secret. Not sure if Hylo could pick up on things, if he asked something, she would answer openly.

When he said he could use the Force as well, she smiled. With him not saying sith, she doubted he was one. Yet he didn't come across like a Jedi either. Maybe he walked a similar fine like that she did. A balance between light and dark.

[member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Hylocereus]

"I mean not all Sith are bad I suppose," Hylo back tracked a bit uncomfortably. His own mother was a Sith and often did really nasty things but she wasn't really mean to... well she was mean to him but all things considered it could have been worse. "I've never been much for titles personally. I just grow plants." Nodding firmly he looked around. "So besides curiosity what brings you to Coruscant? Just going where the force takes you?"

He'd heard that expression before. It seemed applicable. Smiling he looked around and saw several people who were probably in the same boat as this woman. Heck in a lot of ways he was probably in the same situation. Just moving about. Staying here on Coruscant was really the longest he'd stayed anywhere. "Or just seeing the sights?"

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

Giving him a large grim between a bite of soup before answering his last question, she found some humor with him.

"Seeing the sights is a little difficult actually. I had heard so much about Coruscant though and decided to visit because well, I'm new here. It was curiosity that drew me to this building. To find such life on a city planet was surprising to say the least."

Hylo said he just grew plants and it caught her interest.

"I also agree on not being one much for title. How do you grow your plants here? I have a home on Iridonia and it's nor very welcoming to try and keep plants alive."

[member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Hylocereus]

[member="Jairdain"]

"We use a mix of hydroponics and natural methods. Of course I can make them grow with the force but I want to be able to you know... leave." A frown came over his face. "We need to make it self sufficient. Proper nutrients help of course, and we recycle as much as we can using excess leafs and stems and turn them into compost." Looking around he made sure no one was listening and leaned in, "sometimes I like to roll in it."

Clearing his throat he then added. "We've bred the plants, tastier and heartier. They should be able to withstand anything coruscant has on offer. That's the key, for your home on iridonia that is, proper plants that can survive the conditions. There are many plants that are very sturdy and can survive in very harsh conditions. And of course you can do things to the land to make it more habitable for your garden." Hylo took a deep breath, "Oh and you can use your garden to make the area more habitable for your garden! Tree's provide shade and help keep moisture in the area. What types of plants do you grow? Oh I could help you. I like making gardens...."

 

[Jairdain]

"I have just simple land to work with and have the problem that when I leave, I come back to well, dead plants and have to start over. It's good to know that I can reuse the dead ones to help with the next generation. What I can grow and keep alive aren't healthy normally."

When he mentioned liking to roll around in the compost, Jairdain couldn't help but smile. Since she had been banished from her home and forced to grow up, she hadn't had much fun. Remembering what it was like to roll around in the leaves when the seasons changed, she remembered the fun she had.
​
"Besides trees, what can I do to the land?"

Asking what kind of plants she at least attempted to grow, she grew thoughtful for a moment to think of what they were called. Not being able to tell him the color of them, she held up her hands between sips of soup to show the size.

"Mostly they are in the ground since anything above gets blasted away by storms usually."

Not rainstorms, but sand and wind. Even if she lived mostly on a savannah, there was still a desert nearby.

[member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Hylocereus]

Frowning Hylo looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "I'd need to go there, see the land, roll in the dirt to understand the nutrient content and all that." Humans didn't roll in dirt. The frown started to vanish, because Hylo was a plant. "There are hardy plants, and cactus's some of which have very pretty flowers. Do you want food stuff or do you want pretty? There is a lot of desert plants that are pretty. I could even make a garden on tatooine."

Pausing he considered for a moment. "I can get some seeds for you, show you how to nurse them. Maybe some bushes to break the wind. There are pretty flowering bushes too, and some of the fruit bushes flower so you can feed yourself and have a pretty garden." Yes. Perfect. Way to make a good impression. "So should we go see this garden?"

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

Totally enjoying the opportunity to talk freely without having to worry about wars or her own problems in her life, Jairdain was relaxing more than she had in quite a long while. The conversation was very interesting to her and even when Hylo mentioned the need to roll in the dirt, she did not question it or look at him oddly. There was no judgement in her.

When he asked if she wanted food plants or pretty plants, she pointed to her eyes before answering him.

"Food plants, pretty ones are not something I can see. However, how I do see if through emotions. Everything has them, even plants. Even on a molecular level these bowls have them. While not like as a complete set of something living, they are still there."

Realizing she was babbling a little, Jairdain closed her mouth and ate the last of her soup before setting the empty bowl down.
​
"I would like that. My home is on Iridonia though."

[member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Hylocereus]

"Yeah," Hylo said his nose wrinkling as the excitement left him. He really liked growing plants. "Besides I don't do so good in deserts. i wilt. Not enough water. I mean I need water to live!" He sighed and sat back down slurping at his soup. "But I can still get you some seeds, and we can go into the lower levels where I can show you proper plant care and soil techniques."

And then it poped, a light-bulb turning on over his.... damnit that wasn't a light-bulb it was a flower. "you know the force, I can teach you to coax the potential from the floronic noosphere!" he snapped his finger and leaned in close to whisper, "plant surge.... That's what meat... erm pardon me that is mothers term, humans call it."

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

"Who doesn't need to water to live?"

Jairdain could not tell Hylo wasn't human and he hadn't told her he was a plant. So while he words were odd, they were still accurate. ​He said he could get her some seeds and teach her proper ways to care for plants and soil.

"There are ways to care for soil too? I didn't know that."

There was an open honesty in ​her voice that indicated she wasn't trying to fool him. When he said plant surge, she nodded.

"Would it keep plant alive while I'm away?"

[member="Hylocereus"]

 

[Hylocereus]

"It can," he said wrinkling his nose some more. "You see, plants require things for sustainability. Good soil, a steady supply of water and nutrients, and just the right amount of sunlight. A lot of people plant them not knowing what it needed. If you plant the right type of flower or fruit or whatever and you set up the environment properly it can flourish with limited or even no maintenance!" Hylo was excited now as he took the womans hand and practically pulled her up out of her seat. "Come on lets go to the lab!"

'The Lab' of course wasn't a lab how most people imagined it but rather an area of the building that was dirt and soil and a large til. Around it of course was a practical forest of plants complete with overhead grow lights. Hylo punched a few buttons and the troth began to unload soil into a pad. Frowning he looked down at the soil. "I need more precise coordinates from your homeworld to try and replicate the conditions more properly in the bed." He said with a nod. Of course the woman couldn't see, but she could see.

[member="Jairdain"]