Sunburns & Hyperdrive Troubles

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

He nodded.

The Morp was a stun gun, a powerful one. Kurt had seen one in action once, used to take down a Hutt who had gotten rather unruly. The weapon was dangerous of course, deadly to smaller critters that couldn't quite handle the shock to the nervous system. It was a handy thing to have, especially since his own WESTAR didn't actually have a stun setting, just the one that...well was used to kill. A shrug rolled over his shoulders as he perished the thought.

"Alright lets go." Kurt pulled Kaile along for half a second, grasping her hand to tug her towards the Land Bridge.

The Courier wondered what they would find on that island. From what they had seen so far there was definitely life there, and they had explored probably only a hundreth of the place so far, maybe less than that. The place was massive, big enough to hold two volcanoes and a veritable ocean of jungle. There was no doubt in his mind that they would stumble upon other things while exploring, no doubt that some of those things would be dangerous.

His fingers came to a rest on his blaster.

It wasn't every day that he carried the thing, and that meant he was being cautious.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

Kaile took the time to secure her holster on her thigh. It was a well worn leather, allowing her to use it without it chafing her skin. Securing it in place, she took her stun blaster and checked the powrcell. Once she was satisfied, she also changed the stun setting.

A Morp stun blaster was basically a ‘select your K.O option.’ Anything higher than what it was meant to be yo knock out a critter - or bounty - could kill it.

Perhaps this was a more humane method of hunting larger game. With that thought, Kaile secured the blaster on her holster.

With a smile to Kurt, she once again tugged her hair tie off in order to secure it with a fresh ponytail. "Okay. "

This would be great! With that she ambled along beside him.

"So we just follow the river until we find its source?" She asked.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"I guess." Kurt said as they stepped over and onto the Bridge. "Maybe find a clearing somewhere. I doubt we can get all the way to the source."

The Courier was more than willing to bet that the River actually had it's origin somewhere within the mountains located on the island, likely within a cave system that they wouldn't have access to. He had been taught in the Navy that more often than not a rivers source was much smaller than one expected, and since there was no runoff from snow on the volcanos he could only guess that there was a large underground lake somewhere within the mountain.

Likely one that had formed thousands, if not millions of years ago that was frequently replenished by rain.

It made sense really, especially given that the area of the planet that they had landed in was rather tropical. "I wish we had some geographical drones. We used them in the navy, things were neat. Could make a map out of anything."

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

“I don’t have any on me,” Kaile said rather apologetically. “Drones that is. Back at the Bazaar I met the owner of GEAR.” she told him, sand crunching under her boots as they made their way back towards the island. The sun was slowly starting to arch higher in the sky. It was no longer muted roses, oranges, and indigos of the withering dawn.

“She was really nice!” she told him rather excitedly. The Lorrdian did enjoy reading the latest HoloTech journals, and G.E.A.R. was one of her favorites. “I helped her set up at the Bazaar and she even paid me a bit! Let me also order some items that I have to wait until they get delivered at Sullust. The topographical drones were part of that.”

Actually, she hadn’t even checked her mail. With everything she had simply forgotten. “I’ll have to go back to Sullust and see if they are there.”

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Kurt had no idea what a G.E.A.R was, but he slowly nodded along as though he did. The only company that he really knew about was Vanir Technologies, and that was really only because they were the ones who made his ship...well Vanir and Arceneau Trade Company. He knew that there was a variable pantheon of Corporations out there, but Kurt wasn't exactly in the know enough to list any of them off the top of his head, any but those two anyway.

"We'll put it on the list." A long list.

"I never got to see Sullust anyway." Though truthfully there wasn't much to see, at least from the little glimpse that he had managed to catch of the planet. "Maybe we can visit the Jedi Temple."

That was at least a curiosity.

The Jedi were something that Kurt had little to no experience with, and in truth had never wanted to, but as he got closer to Jamie, he found himself more and more interested. Though Jamie hadn't joined any particular Order she had mentioned the term Jedi more than once. Unlike Kaile she wasn't an independent agent, and thus to Kurt it was obvious that eventually Jamie would join some sort of Jedi Order, or so he thought anyway.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]
The water would lap around the banks, where more sealife would start to become more active. I’ll definitely have to check a few of those tidepools later, she thought to herself. Tidepools were basically micro habitas of life all their own. Shellfish like abalone, anemones, brown seaweed, chitons, crabs, green algae, hydroids, isopods, limpets, and mussels.

“We can do that,” Kaile told Kurt, turning back to look at him with a smile. However, there was an odd expression along with it. He had never really been interested in the Jedi at all. Was the sudden interest because of Jamie?

“Is it because of Jamie?” Voicing her thoughts aloud. Hooking her fingers through the straps of her bag over her shoulders, she squinted over to look at the pilot and his response.

This should be interesting.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Kurt shrugged. "I guess, yeah."

"I know next to nothing about the force." The Courier explained. "But it's a big part of her life...and yours too actually."

He had only learned that fact yesterday, but the more he thought about it the more he decided that he needed to try and learn, at least make the effort to understand a bit more. It wasn't something that he had really ever considered before, in fact the force had been utter nonsense to him up until a few months ago. It had taken viewing it with his own eyes, a tangible view of it, to truly convince him. Even then he wanted to render it down to some trick, some parlor magic that could be explained away.

"I should at least try to learn about it if you two are going to be bringing it into my life." That was not an accusation, more of a statement of determination. "Right?"

He figured it was only fair.

They had made an effort to understand him, he had to do the same.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

That made a small kernel of joy bloom in Kaile’s belly. It made the apples of her cheeks flush and for a moment, she turned a bit bashful. That he was interested, and not just because of Jamie, really meant something to her. Kaile knew that he cared about her, they were each other’s best friends after all, but it was nice to know and hear he was interested in bits of her life now. More so because now she could be completely and openly honest with him.

That felt nice. In fact, as she took a deep breath of salty air, her chest rising with the energy of a new day.

It felt great!

“Well, there’s plenty to talk about it, if you want to know more now, “ she offered a bit shyly. Granted, she had never been part of the Jedi Order herself. Instead, she had been exposed to other Force philosophies and trained across a spectrum of abilities. Only a few of them took, but the worldview and the history from each one made it all the more interesting for the Lorrdian.

“What do you want to know exactly? Do you have any specific questions?” best to ask directly and then go from there, she mused, as she turned and once again, commenced her slow walking back motion she usually did when talking to Kurt while going from point a to point b.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Not really." Kurt admitted readily. "I don't know anything so I have to learn everything."

That was the best way to put it.

"Jamie described a bit of what it's like when I was with her. She showed me a bit of it, lifted the lamp off of it's stand." The courier explained. "I taught her the trick that I used to concentrate, which apparently helped her quite a bit too."

He shrugged slightly. "I dunno. It's not something I have experience with, not something I know anything about. In the navy we had a few interactions with the Jedi, but it wasn't really anything ground breaking. I remember one time there was a Master during one of the battles. He did this...thing, I don't know what to call it, but it felt like we just became better when he was around. Faster, more reactive, like we were all perfectly in sync."

That was the best way he could explain it. Kurt of course didn't know that what he was explaining was called Battle Meditation, a technique Jedi used to boost battle performance.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

“Battle meditation.” Kaile immediately answered, her eyes going wide. “Did it feel like you could do anything? Everything? That regardless things were going to work out?” she would elaborate. That made sense. Battle Meditation made plenty of sense. In fact, there were a few Jedi at the temple who still utilized the power, helping them against the Final Order’s sith.

At his affirmation, Kaile gave a nod, “That’s Battle meditation. It is supposed to help those who the Jedi mentally touches into working better together, to be in sync.” her eyes grew wider, “That is a pretty powerful ability… there are a rare few who can maintain it. It takes a great amount of concentration.”

LIcking her lips, she turned on the ball of her foot again. Walking forward, she was happy to see that they were halfway across the bank now.

“The Force… at least to me.. is more of just a tool. An extension of myself. Much like a hydrospanner.” She began to tell him. “Ultimately I’m still Kaile… regardless with or without the Force.”

An additional thought, “I mean look at Bobo. He cuts me off from the Force and I’m still me.” she flashed a grin at him.

Oh right. Another information bomb!

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Is that what he does?" Kurt said quietly, a bit of wondering in his voice.

That was certainly an interesting detail that he hadn't seen coming.

He had always thought that the little lizard was an odd being, not like anything that he had ever seen before. Of course that didn't really mean all that much, the galaxy was so massive and filled with so many species that Kurt could hardly be expected to know even a tenth of a tenth of a tenth of them, but Bobo was something completely and utterly unique it seemed. The little green buddy was something that Kaile kept on her at nearly all times.

"Does he cut others off too?" Kurt asked, genuinely curious. "I mean if they're around him."

He assumed that it wasn't a permanent thing, otherwise Kaile wouldn't have been able to use the force at all yesterday.

Could someone even be cut off from the force permanently?

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

“Only if he’s on them,” she told him automatically, only to give a frown. No… no that wasn’t right. The Lorrdian in the past two weeks had discovered something. Bobo’s range was increasing.

“No.. no wait… his bubble is getting bigger,” at Kurt’s blank expression, Kaile elaborated. “Bobo is basically a Ysalamiri, which are critters who can naturally make a Force neutral bubble.. a Force user can’t use the force or have the force used on them while in it.”

Her nose scrunched up. “It makes everything a bit… fuzzy.” she gestured with her hands, explaining. “LIke if there is a lack of vibrancy. Taste, touch, sound… everything is a bit more muted. I can’t feel things the same way as I can with the Force.” brown eyes flickered to him.

“Like right now. I can feel everything.” she threw her hands wide open. “With the Force.. you can.. just.. sense life. It’s like an energy, just this rush that touches everything it can.”

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Creepy." Kurt said, genuinely reflecting his own thoughts. "What if someone doesn't want to be sensed?"

That was what came to his mind first. "Isn't it a bit like invading someone's privacy? Being able to just follow them with the force at all times?"

It seemed rather rude to him, the idea that someone could tell exactly where he was at all points in time. Of course he wouldn't really mind if it was someone like Jamie or Kaile, but if it was someone he didn't know? Yeah, he could definitely do without that.

The idea that a random Jedi, or worse, a Sith could just sense where he was? Kurt didn't like that one bit.

"Is there something I can do against it?" He asked her, this time barraging her with questions. "Stop someone from sensing me?"

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

“Well yeah you can.” Kaile told him. “It isn’t like someone can find you all the time though. Or anywhere really. Only someone with a Force bond can really be able to tell.. a bit more.” she would explain. “Like if they are hurt..or if they are feeling powerful emotions, one could feel it through that bond.”

Kaile glanced over to the pilot, “Normally that only happens with a master and their apprentice. Or if one has a very intimate bond… a family member or someone you love after spending so much time with one another. You just.. become nsync.” Her hands came together in front of her, interlocking.

“There are things you can do. Taozin amulets allow you to feel fuzzy in the Force. That’s more of an organic thing, as the creature itself uses that ability to be able to hunt.” Kaile would scrunch up her face to think of other things.

“There are rumors that there are technical ways of doing so… but I don’t know those. I do know, however, that you can still protect yourself and your mind. I had to go through training for that.”

Up ahead, they were nearing the island. A few call of seagulls came over their heads, a pair flying in the breeze.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Oh." Kurt said quietly. So there was nothing he could really do to block someone from sensing him, though apparently he could stop someone from entering his mind. Suddenly Kurt stopped, just a few meters short of the island. Had she said that someone could get into his mind?

Could Jamie do that?

Could Kaile?

"Protect my mind?" Kurt repeated. "Does it need protecting? Can someone reach in there and roll around a bit?"

That was a curiosity, though not just because of the bad implications to it, but the good too. He assumed that such a thing didn't always have to be taken into a negative connotation, that there wasn't necessarily always evil that went along with digging in someones mind. Of course, it could just have been that Kurt had an open...mind, himself, but the idea of it interested him. As silly as it all seemed. "Can you do that?"

Kurt questioned.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

He was worried. Kaile could tell by the sudden strain across his face. The tension over his brow. Could someone roll in there? Just by Kaile's expression he would realize that it was a distinct possibility.

"There are..." she began slowly, her stride slowing down as she played with her fingers in front of her. "There are ways for those who are trained to be able to go into a person's mind.. and read their thoughts. Glean information from them.. one way or another." she told him, her fingers interlocking with each other only to loosen again. This was a part she didn't like going into, but he had to know.

"Advanced interrogation techniques... the Sith normally use them." A pause, then she seemed a bit anxious. "But honestly.. mindtricks are the same as well, and everyone can pretty much do those if they are trained."

Chocolate brown eyes would lock onto Kurt's, "With the Force a Jedi, a Sith.. really any Force user can make you do things you normally wouldn't do. Could make you forget. Could make you believe something is real when it isn't. They can trick you into forgetting who you are... Or make you believe that they are your bestest friend in the 'Verse."

Maybe that was making this awkward, but she wanted to be honest with him.

"There are several things a force user can do with the Force, Kurt... it is infinite. I only know a fraction of it all... and there are far worse things that could be done."

Another pause.

"As for me... Yes. I can do mindtricks. Nothing too fancy, but I can do enough to help me do what I need to do so that no one gets hurt. I haven't used the Force much in the past five years though," she told him, giving him a faint smile. "Bobo, remember... I can't use the Force when he is with me. And if i step out of his bubble... well.." a wince and a grimace that told of pain.

"Well, I'm working on not dry heaving and passing out, so i guess that's something right?"

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

He nodded along, understanding somewhat.

It seemed to him that the force was entirely dependent on the person utilizing it. One person could twist the mind, the other couldn't. It was an interesting thought, and really rather played to the way that most sentient beings worked, everyone had their talents, everyone had their abilities, and everyone had something that they were good at. It would make sense if it was the same for the force, though the idea...no the capabilities that Kaile had listed were quite terrifying in it of themselves.

The idea that someone could twist the mind like that?

Yikes.

Kurt didn't like the idea of anyone reading his thoughts, nor did he like the idea of anyone changing his thoughts. His mind had always been a place of comfort to him, somewhere that he could retreat to and simply do as he pleased, the thought that a force user could twist that? It made him more uneasy than he cared to admit. Biting his lip for a moment he thought about Jamie, he thought about the way that he felt about her and the way that he made her feel when she was beside him. For a moment he pondered the thought, though the idea was quickly and entirely dispelled.

"Can you use too much of it?" Kurt asked. "Overwork yourself with using the force?"

Was that a way to counter it?

Make someone work too hard in using the force and simply force them to be too tired?

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

He was asking very thoughtful questions. That encouraged Kaile. The fact that he didn’t lash out or get angry at what she was able to do also was a relief.

As they came towards the beach of the uncharted island, Kaile took a deep breath. Her shoulders rose and straightened. Could a Force user get so tired out that they can’t use the Force?

“Yes and no.” it was complicated to say the least. “Some abilities require intense concentration. The sort that if you lose it, well, you can’t do what you wanted to do.” And then you were worn out. “The Force is an energy, and this whole thing,” she gestured to her body, “Is just the vessel wielding it. The Force is infinite -- I am not.”

A cheeky smile came to her then, a flash of dimples directed towards the pilot,”I am always right though!” she teased, trying to lighten the mood. Her head fell forward, with wisps of brown hair trailing along her temples.

“I can get tired to the point of collapsing. If I push myself too hard… I could technically kill myself. We aren’t meant for utilizing so much power at once. My body wouldn’t be able to take it.”

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

So that was that answer. It was a good one too, and meant that he had at least one way to tire out a force user if they ever went after him. The more they used the force, the more they could over do it, if they over did it they could potentially die. The idea wasn't all that complex, in fact it was downright simple, though he imagined running circles around someone using the force would be easier said than done, especially given what Kaile had told him earlier.

"Is there a way to tell?" Kurt asked as they stepped onto the beach and began to walk towards the river.

"If someone is a force user I mean." It would take them a few minutes to get there. "I know I can't usually...but is there a trick?"

That would've been helpful.

Right now all he had to go on in that regard was the knowledge that Sith had yellow eyes and they generally gave off an aura of fear and absolute anger. Kurt had never actually met a Sith, but he had been told that the feeling was fairly obvious.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

They began the walk down towards the inlet. It was getting warmer now, the sun rising on the west. Kaile mulled over his question. Was there a way to know?

"There are small machines. About the size of a datapad really, that can scan for Force sensitivity. " Kaile swung her arms back and forth, needing to move in order to continue to think of what else.

"Another Force user can too, you just have to focus. It isn't something passive. At least, from what I've been told. However, there are some sapients who are extremely powerful in the Force," a that her arms would gesture wide, as if to encompass the emphasis of their entire being. "They can't help but be this... this... lighthouse of power. People can sense it. Are drawn to it."

"Normally, if someone is very skilled, odds are they are somewhat touched by the Force. Blessed in a way I guess -- not everyone is like that." She shined a smile towards the pilot."There are people who have amazing skills that have nothing to do with the Force at all, like you!" she pointed out, giving him a slight poke with her finger to his shoulder.

"There are ways to cut people off from the Force... and that doesn't require a Bobo to do it." Omega Pyre had specialized in that. There were many weapons and technology used to fight Force users.

Some of them... well.. weren't that pretty.