Private Those Lost In Time May Find Each Other

[Lace Verd]

It was dark, and cold. Her hands were tied together in front of her, along with her legs. Was she blind or was it just dark? She had no memory of who she was, where she was, or why she was there, but she had a feeling she should be scared. Scared of what? She didn't know. All she knew was that she should be scared, that she had to live, and she had to find "Isley" when she was free. Suddenly, she was grabbed roughly by her arm, and her heart pounded even faster than before. Whoever grabbed her, she knew she was afraid of them, but she couldn't see them. They dragged her, and somehow she had a feeling it'd be better to not make a noise. Suddenly, it was so very, very, bright.

And then she was falling.

She was falling, but at least she was away from... From... Someone.

Her eyes adjusted to the light, and she turned to look to where she was falling as she struggled to free her hands. She was falling into a lake. Acting fast, she moved so she would land in the water feet first. How did she know to do that? Why was she doing that? Her hands and feet were tied, and even with all the struggling she was doing, the bonds weren't loosening. She was going to die here, and no one would know. There was no town, no city, no settlement nearby that she could see, so what was the point of screaming?

She was going to die.

Then she saw someone, maybe? She couldn't tell if they were paying attention, or even another person, but she knew she had to scream. She didn't want to die. She had to find Isley.

"HEY!"

That was all she could get out before she hit the water with a splash. The water was cold, and her body tensed from shock. As she sunk, she felt the panic rising. What if that wasn't a person? Even if it was, would they save her? What if she wasted her last breath of air? Panic began to settle in, and she kicked her legs as hard as she could, trying to get to the surface.

She had to live.

Oleander Webb

 

[Oleander Webb]

TAG: Lace Verd

Between the recent coronation, training with others of the Knights Obsidian, and other general matters of business, Oleander was quickly becoming rather well acquainted with the inner workings of Naboo. The streets would see (or perhaps more accurately, wouldn't see) him patrolling at various times, both as an informal guardian of the world and as a predator who used its cities as hunting grounds.

The irony of both guardian and one to be guarded against wasn't lost on him, either. But his duty to the knights would not be hindered entirely by dietary needs. Just as his source of nutrition wouldn't be dictated by his current occupation. So he stayed, he watched, he hunted. So long as he could balance both personal and professional, he would remain a vigilant guard and an even more effective killer for those who employed him.

But even the most vigilant had their lazy days. Just as even the most prolific of shadow-walkers found themselves seeking a moment in the sun. And with neither friends nor notable hobbies to pass the time, Oleander was resigned to walking city streets and forest paths more than the typical individual. Be it by luck or by will of the Force, he happened to be on the move around the same time Lace would take an unwilling dip. Her short call for help had caught his ears not a moment too soon as the Anzat had drawn near the body of water. His brow that had been furrowed at the strange sight of an individual falling into the lake below further creased as the plea registered in his ears, moving him to action.

"Chit," came the muttered curse under his breath as he reached out toward the submerged individual, aiming to will their body closer to the lake's edge as he rushed to meet them. Yet without a direct line of sight or a pre-established connection, there was difficulty in that feat. Indeed, it seemed if he was truly keen on a rescue mission, he'd have to get more than just his feet wet.

Fully submerging into the cool waters, he very much regretted not bringing a light jacket with him on his stroll. Nevertheless, the discomfort of chilled water would not stop him from setting forth to collect the fallen individual, a powerful stroke of his arms propelling the way towards them. His aquatic form was far from perfect - one seldom expected to be operating underwater enough to commit to the craft, but it was enough from him to reach the sinking being. His lungs protested at the notion of swimming further down to collect them, however, to which he responded with an outstretched hand, aiming to call their person to him as his other hand and feet moved toward the surface.

 

[Lace Verd]

Her panic was replaced with relief when she saw someone dive into the water, and swim towards her. She locked eyes with them, and kicked her legs as she reached out her own hands towards the one outstretched to reach her. Something about the pull towards her savior felt vaguely familiar, like she had experienced it before, but she couldn't quite place why. There was... a feeling that she could do that too?

The combination of her kicking, and the power her savior was using to pull her upwards brought her hand and theirs within reach, and she gripped onto their hand for dear life. When they breached the surface, Lace took the largest breath of air she could, and held onto her savior's shoulder. Letting her breathing regulate back to normal, she rested her head on her hands as she spoke.

"Thank you... Thank you... So much... I thought I was going to die."

Oleander Webb

 

[Oleander Webb]

TAG: Lace Verd

A wave of relief and a burning in his lungs washed over the Anzat as he felt the individual's hand grasp his. Both of his arms moved forward, one to continue the ascent to the surface, the other to pull the individual closer for a more secure grip. The last of his breath gave out just before they breached the surface, sending him spiraling into a short fit of coughing as he sought to expel the lake water from his lungs.

"Don't mention it," he offered in short reply, beginning the short swim to shore when he was certain neither of them would sink back under once movement resumed. The one-armed stroke was lopsided, lacking any sort of profound grace in favor of keeping his other arm as a firm anchor should the grip now on his shoulder weaken. His hair once pushed out of his face now clung to his forehead, particularly long segments poking his eyes til he pushed them away with a quick swipe.

Once he was fairly confident she wouldn't immediately sink if he let go again, he pulled himself from the lake, reaching back to help her out shortly after. "That was some dip you took there," he noted, giving her a quick once over for injuries. "You got a name?"

 

[Lace Verd]

While she wanted to help her savior swim, she genuinely had no energy to do so, unless she wanted to start drowning again. She was alive, and if she was alive, she could find Isley, whoever that was. He, was someone important, probably. Wait. Was Isley a he? She didn't have time to dwell on that thought though as they reached the shore.

She kept herself pushed up as her savior got out of the water, and offered his hand again to help her up. Rather than taking it and standing up though, she pulled herself further up the shoreline, out of the water, and essentially collapsed on her side, breathing heavily. It took her a moment to register his commentary, but when she did, her face scrunched up in confusion. She had a name, but what was it?

"I... I have a name but... I can't remember it... I think... It was short, and something simple, maybe?"

Rolling onto her back, she stared up at the sky, and thought about it. Did it start with "L" maybe? Yes! Yes, it started with "L" for certain, but was was the rest?

"L... A? La.... Lace? Lace! My name is Lace!"

For what felt like the first time in a very, very, long time, Lace smiled.

"Could I learn your name, now?"

Oleander Webb

 

[Oleander Webb]

TAG: Lace Verd

A brow rose, lines on his forehead creasing as she stumbled through her words, eventually landing on a name. Was she on something or was memory - or lack thereof truly in play? Judging from the restraints still wrapped around her legs, well, that didn't exactly rule either option out, only made them more plausible.

A hand slid to his belt, pulling a vibroblade from its sheath. A quick flick of his wrist was meant to cut the restraints that still limited her movement before returning the blade to its place of rest. As she posed her own question, he paused. Of all ways to phrase the question, that certainly was one. Learning a name as opposed to knowing it, it was an odd way to put it, as were the connotations that came with it.

"They call me Oleander," he responded, taking another glance at her person. Malnourished, scarred, some of them fresh. "Who did that to you," he asked, nodding at one of the fresh ones. Chances were, there would be reports to be made, investigations to be had. If things went deep enough, it could mean even more complications.

Or he could just deal with it himself. Cut out the middlemen.

Either way worked.

 

[Lace Verd]

Lace stared wide-eyed at the blade Oleander Webb pulled out, cut her restraints, and sheathed it again in quick movements. She flexed her hands, and rubbed her wrists from where the restraints fell away, and gingerly ran her fingertips along the damaged skin, frowning slightly when she noticed there were more than a few abrasions. Small as they were, the high movement area of her wrists and ankles could pose issue.

"Oleander... That's a nice name... Thank you for saving me, Oleander."

Smiling up at him, Lace allowed herself to relax just a bit. Though, as soon as he asked who had hurt her, her body tensed up. She felt the hairs on the back of neck stand up on end as a sense of dread, and terror, washed over her entire body.

"I... I don't... I don't remember... I just... I just know that they terrify me... But I can't remember anything from before falling... Well, besides my name and Isley's?"

 

[Oleander Webb]

TAG: Lace Verd

A slight chuckle caught in his throat, the ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. 'Nice' and his name were two things that'd never crossed paths before. For good reason, too. Nice wasn't a trait that did much for his chosen profession. Nevertheless, he certainly didn't mind the change of description.

"Not a problem, though I don't recommend taking such a dip in the future, if it can be avoided."

His head tilted to the side, curiosity blooming in the back of his head. As much as he wanted to know more about whoever had tied her up, pressing for details likely wouldn't work in anyone's favor, just as his other methods for information gathering. Well, those other methods would help him, certainly, but that'd defeat the purpose of saving anyone in the first place.

The name Lace brought up, however, it sent his hands drifting to his belt, going to retrieve a datapad before the wet leathers reminded him he'd jumped into a lake, gear and all. A sense of dread washed over him, along with the sudden concern that maybe the datapad (and other equipment he kept on his person) would no longer function after submersion. That wasn't an expense he was looking forward to covering if that were the case (though perhaps he could get the costs reimbursed given the circumstances).

Yet the name was familiar but also distant, like from a stolen memory or two rather than his own. If he could think back on them...Isley was...oh. Well, nothing was certain at least, not with only a first name to go off of. Still, it only added to the list of things that'd require a report for this particular instance.

"Perhaps you should come with me," he started, keeping a hand extended in case she agreed and needed help up. "My employers can get you cleaned up, tend to any injuries at the very least, maybe help track down those who did this to you as well as this Isley fellow. That name's, well, not sure how common a name it is but it's certainly familiar."

 

[Lace Verd]

Lace laughed at Oleander Webb 's joke with genuine joy. She was glad that he was the one to find and save her, and hoped to find him again after meeting Isley. What could she thank him with? Humming in thought, she almost missed Oleander speaking to her once again, and when he mentioned his employers, hope began to flicker in her eyes.

She wasn't alone anymore.

"That'd be nice, I do feel awfully sore... And nearly drowning didn't really help either... Are they far from here? I might need some help walking, and I'd hate to burden you further..."

 

[Oleander Webb]

TAG: Lace Verd

He gave a quick nod. It was understandable that she wasn't in the best state to walk. Headquarters itself, well, it wasn't particularly close. The whole purpose of these walks was to get away from the familiarity of a base of operations, to keep familiarity from turning to monotony. But also he wasn't one in favor of carrying an individual on the paths back. It'd draw too many eyes (not to mention his own strengths were not very strength-based).

"Let me see if I can get an escort." He turned his back on her then, moving away a couple paces, still keeping her in the peripheral but moving out of earshot. He was pleasantly surprised to find his comlink still functional after the quick dip. It was a simple matter, contacting headquarters, identifying himself and arranging for a vehicle to be sent their way. Unfortunately, doing so would lock him in to filing a report almost immediately upon reaching headquarters. But still, it was better than the slow commute that would've been trying to aid Lace walking the way herself.

 

[Lace Verd]

"All right. I'll just... Sit here, while we wait."

Lace nodded to Oleander Webb as he turned away and walked off. Leaving her alone. On the ground. Bored. With a quiet sigh, Lace laid down fully on the grass, and stared up at the sky as she was left to wait. Watching the clouds drift by, she began to try to see any shapes in them. Just simple things, like circles or other generic shape. As time went on, she started to get more creative.

That one looked more like a fish tail, for example... And somehow, it reminded her of... Someone. Was it a friend? A family member? Why would a fish tail remind her of someone in the first place? Oh, that one looked like a bird! Kind of like an eagle, maybe? Another twinge of familiarity. Who was she being reminded of, and why could she not remember them?

What had happened to her?

 

[Oleander Webb]

TAG: Lace Verd

It was a matter of waiting now, something Oleander was both accustomed to and not all at the same time. Waiting with a purpose, something he did all the time, was very different from waiting without one. Any sort of cool exterior or illusion of mystique that swirled about him faded away when it was simply him and another, waiting. He set about taking a quick inventory of his gear, better to check now that everything was together than discover later that something was lost to the lake. That, and he doubted further questioning would do either him or Lace any good.

The minutes ticked on and eventually, a small transport arrived, piloted by a junior member of the Knights Obsidian. Oleander gave them a quick nod of recognition before turning his back on them once more, approaching Lace. "Our ride is here," he said, casting a quick glance to the sky as if he'd catch what she was looking at. A cloud was a cloud, at least in his eyes. Whatever nuance there was to be found in cloud gazing was lost on him. But no matter, if she enjoyed it, good for her. "Can you stand?" He asked, a hand at the ready to help her up.

 

[Lace Verd]

It took only a few minutes for Oleander Webb to come back into her field of vision, and the look on his face as he followed her eyes to the sky told her everything. She laughed softly as she took his hand, and slowly pulled herself up. She certainly could stand, but definitely not on her own quite yet. Leaning onto Oleander's arm as they walked, Lace felt like she could relax. She was going to be safe.

"You don't know how to sit and relax, do you? I saw that look on your face, you know."

Lace smirked teasingly at Oleander as he helped her into the transport, and got comfortable on the seat. Leaning back against it, she felt her mind begin to wander when the transport began to move. Who was Isley to her? Why was that the only name she could remember, besides her own? Who even was she? Humming in thought, she turned her gaze to Oleander.

"Do you think your employers could find any information on me, too?"

 

[Oleander Webb]

TAG: Lace Verd

At Lace's observation, Oleander averted his gaze. "It's not part of my job," he offered in explanation as he helped her into the transport before closing the door and making his way to the other side. His trade, his purpose, had always come first, even in his first century. Relaxing wasn't a notion he'd been familiar with, not until others drew it to his attention and even then, it was lost before he could begin to know the meaning behind the concept.

He gave another nod to the individual piloting the transport as he slid into his own seat. The ride would be a short one, provided they didn't get stopped along the way. Any other circumstance, he would've opted to walk back on his own, let others take care of an individual in question once they were out of his custody. But this time, nah, he'd see it through. There were enough factors involved that held his interest to merit sticking around. Enough unknowns he wanted to see become known.

"Likely. And if they can't, they'll likely know who might. Do you have a last name you remember? Or did that Isley fellow?"

 

[Lace Verd]

Lace had a feeling Oleander Webb was a workaholic, if his response to her was that relaxing wasn't part of his job. Some buried part of her sympathized, but she didn't understand why. She couldn't remember what she did for a living, so why? Was she also a workaholic before losing her memories?

"I... I don't... Just Isley, I'm afraid... Sorry, I know this isn't very helpful to anything... I wish I could help you more."

Leaning back against the seat with a sigh , Lace racked her brain for memories. Words. Images. Anything that could help her remember something about either herself or Isley, but there was nothing. Only that she knew he was important to her, and she had to find him. Soon.

"All I know is he's important to me... And... That we haven't seen each other in a long, long time..."

"Come back soon, Lace. Should be a simple recon, in and out."

"Of course. I'll be back before you know it!"

Lace's face twisted in confusion as she heard a man's voice. Her heart told her it was Isley's, and she pressed the heel of her palm against her eye, her breathing becoming a bit labored as she remembered such a simple thing. Looking over at Oleander as the transport came to a stop, Lace frowned.

"He's waiting for me to come back... From wherever I've been."

 

[Oleander Webb]

TAG: Lace Verd

He have a short nod. Memory loss wasn't an entirely uncommon occurrence in situations such as this (or at least the situation he assumed this was). "You're fine," he offered, an attempt at a reassuring smile being more of a tight lip with the corners just barely tilting up. Comforting individuals wasn't often a part of his job, something he left to medical professionals or other knights when he could.

Yet as her breathing and posture changed, his brow furrowed, a hand rising to rest on her shoulder, hesitating at first before making contact. "Then we'll find him soon enough," he offered. Once the transport reached a halt, he climbed out, casting one last glance to Lace as a silent acknowledgment he wasn't just leaving her behind as he did so.

A couple of knights were waiting for them, one of which Oleander had a quick whispered exchange with before turning back to help Lace out of the vehicle if she needed the help. "I need to file a couple things. These two will help you."

 

[Lace Verd]

Lace smiled tiredly at Oleander Webb when he put his hand on her shoulder, and comforted her. She could tell from his initial hesitation he certainly wasn't used to comforting people, but she appreciated his effort for her. She was glad that he was the one that saved her, rather than someone who would have let her die, or use her for some nefarious scheme. Maybe she could get Isley to give him some kind of reward?

"Thank you, Oleander. I appreciate how kind and helpful you've been to me."

Even if Isley couldn't repay Oleander for her, Lace would find a way to do so anyway. Eventually. It definitely would not be today, but definitely some day Oleander would get the reward he deserved! Maybe a vacation? Lost in her thoughts, Lace snapped back to reality when she heard Oleander step out of the transport. Smiling at him as he turned away, Lace scooted across the seat to the door. She was just about to swing her legs over when Oleander offered her help, and she gladly took it.

The two new Knights made her nervous though, for some reason.

"Ah... I see... All right then..."

Smiling through her nervousness, she'd follow wherever she was lead to.

 

[Oleander Webb]

TAG: Lace Verd

"Think nothing of it. Just doing my job." Well, he was doing someone's job anyway. Quite the opposite of his, actually, though many a civilian would be none the wiser. Life and death were two sides of the same coin. I t was fitting that death himself save a life or two at some point.

His lips tugged upward in a tight-mouthed attempt of a smile in return, the Anzat departing from her company and leaving her in the hands or trusted members of the knights. Each one was uniquely capable, maybe even more so than he was in the current matters at hand. So whole Lace might've been nervous, Oleander thought nothing of it.

Reports, however, he thought very much on. It was with a begrudging groan that he offered up his datapad for the report's unload. Ah, paperwork, one of his favored of enemies.

 

[Lace Verd]

Lace felt the concerned stares of the knights Oleander Webb left her with as she watched him walk into the building. She knew they wouldn't hurt her, and she'd be safe inside the building, but she felt frozen to the spot, just outside the building. Taking a deep breath, Lace tried to shove her anxiety deep down, before she finally walked inside, holding her arms close to her chest.

She hated the look of pity on the Knights faces as she walked in.

Walking through the vestibule, the female Knight directed her to sit on a bench to wait and get comfy. The woman's voice was soft, and almost calming, as she told Lace that she'd be left alone for a few minutes while the two Knights went to get her some clothes and bandages. Lace gave a quick nod, and off the knights went, leaving her all alone in a hallway, just off the vestibule.

She could hear people walking around, and saw them going past the little hallway she was put in. Whenever someone walked by, she curled in further into herself. The looks of concern and pity were too much. Curled practically into a ball, Lace jumped slightly on the bench when a different female knight from before came up.

"Hey there, are you okay? Has anyone checked on you?"

"Ah... No... I just... Got told to wait here."

The woman tsked in annoyance, but clearly not at Lace. The Knight was quite pretty, if you asked Lace. Long, wavy, white hair contrasted dark skin and green eyes.

"By the Force... I'll go get you a towel, at least."

The Knight gave Lace a smile, before walking off in a rush. Pretty as she was, that small interaction caused Lace's anxiety to begin growing. How long had it been since she got left here? People were beginning to circle back to check on her, it felt like. Eyes full of concern or pity felt like spears, digging into her skin. She could feel her heart race, hearing her own pulse in her head. With each beating thump against her chest, her anxiety worsened, and adrenaline began to flow through her veins.

She had to get out.

So she did.

Getting up from the bench, Lace waited until no one was walking by, and sprinted out the building... A little faster than she should have, in her physical state, but who was paying attention?