Private Walking Away

[Xian Xiao]

The teen had a small dream of someday becoming a Galaxy famous cook. Everybody needed to start small though and here she was working in a restaurant local to Castell. For the time being, it was all Xian could see for herself. Someday, maybe she could move up the food chain and would be more than just a simple server.

Looking out across the small dining room, she saw the customers as well as the empty tables.

"Hey, boss? Do we allow droids in here?"

Turning around to look at the large woman in charge, she motioned to the incoming couple. A man and his droid. The answer was a shrug and the lady turned back to her cooking. Letting out a sigh...

"I'll take that as a yes."

Moving to not entirely intercept them but greet them at the door, he would see Xian with her red hair pulled back, smiling at him. Welcoming the two, she motioned for them to follow her.

"Welcome to the Spruce Pit. Do you want anything to drink?"

Making sure they were as comfortable as they could be, she walked away to get any drink they wanted.

Soren Dar

 

[Soren Dar]

The trail of the smuggler was a dead end. They had spent the last two weeks searching and asking through suspicious foremen and stupid dock workers, as well as some of the most dirty cantinas you could imagine. Not even Sorens charme was bringing them anywhere, so they stopped. Mentally exhausted they ended their search and without particular heading, they ended up in a small restaurant.

For once SU-R0C was quiet as they entered, he wanted to rest his artificial joints as well. Soren removed the white hood from his shaven head and looked around, the single, sapphire blue eye glancing around the interior before focusing on the waitress approaching. A young fire-red haired girl.

"Thanks young lady. I take some lemonade and my clanking companion will need something more oily. Where could we sit?"

The voice of the man was very gentle and friendly, even though distorted through the mask which covered half his face. The eye and face visible would be seemingly smiling.

Dar and the droid would move wherever the girl would lead them and make themselves comfortable. The Jedi would remove his upper coat, revealing the continuation of black cybernetics as his entire left arm and shoulder.

"What a failure. Oh. You are supposed to be a good tracker! Oh. Yes. But you seem blind." The droid finally expressed with annoyed voice.

"Don't be so sulky. The Force led us to this beautiful place of peace and drinks not to let me hear your parental voice. Especially since you did not find anything either. Clanking master of stealth. Tsss."

As the girl would come back with drinks, Soren would nod again.
"Thank you. Do you have anything special to offer as a meal?"

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Returning with the lemonade and probably the grossest smelling drink she had ever encountered. The teen set them down on the table and took out a well-worn datapad. When Soren asked if there was anything she would suggest, she brought her finger to her chin for a moment in thought.

"I really like the sauteed mushrooms on pork tenderloin. What does your droid eat?"

Having not heard any of the conversations that happened between Soren and his droid, she only heard murmurings coming from their table.

Waiting to hear the answer from him, once she got an official order, she would send it to the back and maybe return to chat with them. There was something about the man that drew her interest. Whatever it was, Xian was unable to pinpoint exactly what it was.

Soren Dar

 

[Soren Dar]

"He doesn't eat. But I will take the mushrooms and tenderloin. It sounds good." Soren said with a faint smile appearing on his only bare cheek.

His view remained on her for a moment as she would put the order to the kitchen.

"We have to file a report."

"You mean you do. Oh."

"You are going to help, no complaints."

Soren would look back at the young woman as she appeared again. He would lean back in his seat and leave a hand on the table and one on the backrest.

"What is your name? I am Soren, this is SU-R0C."

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Nodding when Soren informed her that his droid didn't eat, she actually felt a little stupid for even asking the question. However, his smile soothed most of the nerves she was feeling about the situation. Checking up on the other patrons in the diner after putting in his order, she returned to him after a few minutes.

"Your food will be done shortly. The mushrooms take the longest."

Saying this with a touch of humor, she heard him ask what her name was. Tipping her head in the direction of the kitchen, she kept her eyes on Soren.

"Ma there calls me Vex but my name is Xian. Nice to meet you, Soren and SU-R0C. What brought you here? You're not local. I can tell by how you act."

He certainly did not come across as a regular citizen of Castell. There was always the chance Xian was mistaken but she didn't think so.

Soren Dar

 

[Soren Dar]

With a slow and deep nod he acknowledges the info about the food and keeps his eyes on her, one of course hidden behind a mask of dark steel and blue lense. The gaze of the man shifts from her to the kitchen and the large woman who seemed to be in charge in the restaurant.

"Vex?" He raises his eyebrow. "It is my pleasure, Xian. Is she your mum?"

"Pleasure . . . Oh." A slight metallic clank could be heard, with the droid looking down slowly before looking up and back at Soren. "Why you kick me? Oh."

Soren would roll his eye once and focus back on her. "You are right, we are not from Castell. We had business here and decided to take a break before travelling on."

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Letting out a small snort full of humor, the teen shook her head.

"No, I'm an orphan but she took me under her wing and has given me a job working here. It might not be much but better than nothing and certainly better than being ignored in my previous life."

Glancing at SU-R0C as he started to also agree it was nice to meet her, he shut up when Soren kicked him. Mentally shrugging she turned her attention back to the Jedi. Of course, she had no idea he was one and the thought never crossed her mind. Xian had turned her back on that life and walked away from it.

"May I know where you are headed next? If not, that's okay. I do love hearing the tales of different planets though."

Looking at her datapad, she figured his food would be done in just a couple of minutes but waited to hear his answer.

Soren Dar

 

[Soren Dar]

"When did you come to her? It was very kind of her to do so. Small deeds of good are rare these days and I am happy to see them every time."

He sounded very serious, but did not loose any of his friendliness, it seemed genuine and honest.

"We will search for another job, not sure where yet. Please do tell, where do you come from?"

Meanwhile the droid remains silent and keeps himself busy with the awful 'drink'. The red droid looks satisfied? Difficult to tell how a satisfied droid looks, but he is semi-leaned back and does not talk. The latter is a big indicator for Soren that SU-R0C is not upset or annoyed.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

"I came back here a couple of years ago. When I was a child, my parents died and some lady rescued me. She took me to an orphanage on Coruscant. Ma is a good woman. Speaking of, I think your food is done. I'll be back in a moment."

Leaving his other question unanswered for the time it took her to get his food, it would give her an extra minute to think of an answer. Xian did not intend to lie to him but she wasn't comfortable enough to tell him her life story.

Before grabbing his plate and some silverware for him to eat, she also checked on the other tables to see if they needed anything else. Accepting a few payments, the other patrons left and Soren was the only one left for the girl to take care of. Bringing him his food, she had figured out an answer for him.

"I was born here but was taken to Coruscant. After I hitched a ride off that world, I was dropped on Kashyyyk and then taken to Atrisia..."

So much for not telling him her life story. Growling at herself for being such an open book, she shut her mouth and stopped there.

"What kind of job?"

Trying to change the subject back to him, she hoped he didn't notice her trailing off and not finishing what she had been saying.

Soren Dar

 

[Soren Dar]

While Vex is gone, Soren looks at his metallic companion with a thoughtful look.

"She is a curious person."

The droid remained silent and Soren looked back once she was returning with his food which actually looks delicious.

"Thanks a lot. Coruscant? Mhm. Big place."

He would take his fork and knife as she had to go take care of other guests and would ... eat somehow. No, he actually removes a part of the mask, revealing scorched and scarred flesh around his mouth. Soren would be right in the middle of it when Xia returns. With a look around and a gesture to an unused chair, Soren invites Xia to sit.

"Coruscant, Kashyyyk and Atrisia. You have been to quite interesting planets. I bet you met a lot of diverse people and made a great variety of experiences. We are usually supporting investigations into crime around places, so we are getting around quite a lot."

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

"I mostly lived on the streets there even though I had a home at the orphanage. That's where I learned how to cook too."

Along with a few other skills she kept quiet about. Often even mentioning the Force caused people to run away, so she did not talk about her abilities with anybody, let alone this man.

"Coruscant was nice. Quite busy all the time. Kashyyyk was too quiet and had so much nature. I didn't stay there for long. Ended up spending a lot of time with a woman on Atrisia though. Have you been there?"

While some might have reacted in a negative manner to him revealing part of his face, Xian did not. In fact, she did not treat him any differently than she had before. The only thing she did to indicate she noticed was glance at the exposed skin for a second before meeting his eyes again. Well, one eye but still looked at him directly.

Taking the seat, she would position herself so she could also watch the door. Just in case another patron decided they were going to eat.

"Not as many as you're thinking."

Shrugging her shoulders a little, she leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs.

"Were you investigating something here?"

Soren Dar

 

[Soren Dar]

Soren eats very calmly and seems to enjoy every bit. Unclear if to manners or because he actually found it delicious.

"The streets? I know Coruscant, it is harsh. I am glad you took something from it and work on it now. How did you get from Coruscant to Kashyyyk and then to Atrisia? I do not want to pry though, no offence meant."

As he keep eating, he also responds to her question.

"We did, yes. There was a special spice being sold and we wanted to track its origin."

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

"Ha! Ma doesn't allow me to actually cook anything yet. Just serve what she does. That's okay though. Someday, maybe."

Then again, Xian wasn't planning on staying here for the rest of her life. It was just getting started but she had no idea what she wanted to do with it.

"I'm here to save up some credits and then I'll make a name for myself...somehow."

Maybe she was being an idealist or dreaming but she felt comfortable enough in this familiar setting to tell Soren. Shaking her head when he mentioned her taking offense, they were just chatting and she didn't feel any.

"Mister Soren, I might be young and hot-headed at times, but I'm on the clock. Unless you or SU-R0C start yelling, making a mess, and throwing things around, you won't offend me.

"I ran away soon after the Sith Empire sacked the Jedi Temple there and snuck onboard somebody's ship. He dropped me off on Kashyyyk and left me there.

"Did you catch them? The spice runners or whatever you call them?"

Soren Dar

 

[Soren Dar]

"Do you feel it? Cooking? Like is it your passion?"

He slowly finishes the last bits of his meal, chewing the meat and mushrooms with a serious satisfaction. The girl is making him curious, very. She was near two Jedi Temples at least and now even mentioned it. The Force teaches there is no such coincidence.

"No, we sadly did not catch them. They have concealed their steps very well."

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

"When I was on the streets of Coruscant, I cooked and fed the other children. So that is just something I've done since I was young."

Technically she was still young but she didn't think of a counter to that and closed her mouth again. Considering how to answer him, she watched as Soren ate the last of his food. Giving him a large smile, this made her happy, and moved to take his plate away.

"Would you like more to drink?"

Walking away, her shoulders slumped just slightly but there was a bit of a spring in her step. Placing the plate where Ma wanted them if he had said yes to the drink, she would get him more and return with it. If he did not, then she would still take the chair back.

"That's unfortunate. If I was some sort of investigator, I'd offer to help."

Shaking her head for a moment, she didn't quite know how to answer his first question.

"No, I don't have a passion, I just know I don't want to spend the rest of my life as a server here. Not on Castell. I might have been born here, but this is not my home. Why do you ask?"

Soren Dar

 

[Soren Dar]

"No, I am good, thank you again."

Soren would actually pick up the glass and drink more of the remaining lemonade. A sip more, calm and seemingly well calculated. His demeanor was very precise but not stiff or uptight, he just seemed extremely natural and calm in his open approach. Without the mask his voice was clearer and less distorted, but it was still obvious that some work was done on his throat as well.

"You cooked for the other children? Was there not enough food in the orphanage? Did you enjoy it? Cooking for and feeding your companions?"

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Since she was already putting his plate away, the only motion she gave that she heard his answer was a small wave of her hand. Returning quickly, she took her seat again and resumed the same position with her legs crossed. The rest of her body indicated she was open to listening to Soren.

If Xian were being honest, she liked how he looked without the mask but he probably needed to breathe properly. She did not ask though and figured if he wanted her to know, he might say something.

"Is there ever enough food for a pack of growing and always hungry children?"

Saying this with a lot of humor, she kept the smile on her face. If he looked at her eyes though, he would see she was in thought and that smile did not quite reach them totally.

"Most of the time yes. Then they started treating me differently."

Squirming in her chair slightly, she still wasn't entirely sure just how much she could or should tell him about her past. So far, she hadn't felt he was going to hurt her and he had treated her well. Deciding to stop there, she did not continue her story.

Soren Dar

 

[Soren Dar]

Soren heard her counter question and just nodded silently. He understood the problem, he saw it and it was a tragedy wherever it was happening. His working always had aimed to improve the lives of the lesser fortunate, of those who could not aid themselves. There was no duty without compassion, no sense in work without helping someone.

On the other side of the table, SU-R0C was just silent and staring out of the window. He was actually on stand-by, basically an energy saving mode which would only allow most basic functions. Dar had activated it while she was gone to bring the plate away. He was a good droid, but could be a little rough.

"Why am I asking about a passion - it is what drives us. If we like doing something, it is usually for a reason. Following your heart is the most elementary and pure drive you can have and which can bring you peace. Which can bring you progress and serenity. I always knew that my path would be to help people, to work with them. I enjoy it and it keeps me going. Hungry children in an orphanage on Coruscant make me investigation a spice dealer here on Castell."

He seemed passionate, but he did not fade into emotion, he remained neutral and clear, serene.

"If your guts tell you that your passion is cooking, pursue it. If you have other talents and like to explore them, by all means, do it. Life is full of possibilities and opportunities, everything is connected."

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Looking down at her hands for a moment, she listened to what Soren was saying. Turning her head to look back at the kitchen for Ma, when she didn't see her, she looked back to him.

"I like many things, Mister Soren. But I don't have this passion you speak of for anything. I want to help people but there's also no money in that. I can't help without credits."

Feeling like she both wanted to lean in closer and pull away from him, the conversation was interesting and she was curious as to how the spice dealers tied the two planets together.

Raising a hand to her chest, she held it so her palm pressed against her bone there. Her eyes grew almost glazed over as it was clear, she was in deep thought and considering everything he had just said. Her voice was a whisper as she started speaking.

"I want to help people but don't have the means. There are special skills I have that can help but they can also be destructive. At one time, I could have had a future somewhere but they ignored me. So I left and returned here. Now you have met me and it feels like you're drawing me into something very much larger than you or I. How close am I?"

Her eyes regained their focus as she finished speaking and met his look with her own.

Soren Dar

 

[Soren Dar]

The human observed her with a smile as she processed what he just put into her mind. The Force is everywhere, there is no randomness, no chance. Everything is as it is and goes as it goes. So does this meeting and conversation.

"You said that you helped the other children by cooking for them. Now you mentioned twice that you would like to help people. Credits or means are not necessary to get out into the neighborhood and gift some food to a stranger, homeless or not."

He turned further towards her and gestured with his hand to include the restaurant, Castell and the Galaxy.

"There is nothing larger. There is nothing smaller. Everything is a part of the whole."

He moved his index and middle finger to point at her, slowly moving from her head, to her heart.

"There is no someone. If you are not ignorant, then you are knowledgeable. If you have the wish, you have the drive. Only following the path is what comes down to your decision, to use what you got. To improve on it. To embrace it. And to grow. You can have a beautiful, peaceful and satisfied life as waitress. People so. But you decided to sit here with a stranger and his droid."

He would be smiling at her and slightly tilt his head.

"Why?"

Xian Xiao