Where the Desert Winds Blow

[Rianna Organa]

Tatooine hot, arid and empty. Rianna stood on the gangplank of the Dancing Thranta motioning to the group inside, "Come on out it's not a lot to look it. It's harsh and unforgiving but even in all of that it can be beautiful. For the time being you can stay here in relative safety while I find you a more permanent home."

Rianna had already contacted [member="Jorus Merrill"] about taking some of the refugees in she didn't doubt that he would take them and help them. She also had a load of supplies for their mutual friend you liked red plom flowers. Coming out this way gave her the opportunity to fill that order and find shelter.

She looked across the horizon the waves of heat rose up from the fawn colored sand moistures farms, and cantina's were the popular trades out this way. That and fighting.

Every time she came out here she ended up treating someone who looked like that had been put through a meat tenderizer. She expected that once she entered the space port that someone would find her.

She smiled looking at the group, 3 families with children of all ages. "Don't worry my contact will be here soon. Take a look around, watch out for some of the rabble. I will see what I can find out from the locals. Supplies are in the galley. I'll be back."

Rianna pulled up her hood to keep out the sand and began the slowly walk into Mos Eisley....villany, scum, and rabble and every once in a while someone who needed something didn't quite fit in, but didn't stay long.

[member="An Tiarna Dubh"]

Spoiler

Jorus just setting a reason for Rianna to be where she is. Something you can use later. No post needed just a heads up

 

[An Tiarna Dubh]

An Tiarna walked on as the sun mercilessly parched the naked earth, memory of water dulling as his sinewy body was grushed by galloping heat. The rhythmic wash of waves alien as contours of verdant dale to blades of ancient rock and ruptured land. Face grimacing yet proudly held high, eyes stubornly wanting gazed accross the barren land in boredom searching desperately for a good story to quench his thirst for adventure.... Yet under the swealtering sun life, which longs to root in arid soil was aborted mutely. Still the stubborn warrior pressed on in a futile battle against the unsympathetic sun weakening more with eaxh step. Then as if a spring in the cruel desert a rich scene fell on sensitve ear & eye; in the distance the movement & sound of life became more clear with every step. In the distance the shape of human constructs too rose up ahead. A smile grew on his hardened face & resolve quickened his pace. Another story.... The notion struck him like a mountain spring hitting the arid terrain....

 

[Rianna Organa]

[member="An Tiarna Dubh"]​

​

The sand bit into the exposed skin between her gloves and the cloak. Who in their right mind wore a cloak on a desert world local tended to wrap up to absorb moisture to fend off the arid heat. The skies were clear there was nothing to run interference to keep the twins Tatoo from baking them where they stood.

Rianna walked a familiar path towards the spaceport looking ahead she saw familiar landmarks, stores, and homes. Some looked empty forgotten by anyone her senses told her otherwise though. Up there watching were several pairs of eyes who they belonged to she couldn't tell so she smiled and nodded. That small gesture would let them know she knew they were there.

She stopped a food stall on the way in she left a note for [member="Jorus Merrill"] and his group to pick up the supplies and where she would leave them. Then she purchased a piece of eopie brisket. She placed an order to take some back if anything Rianna wanted to be sure to help where she could. This stall owner was putting their life in danger by acting as a pass through for messages. It kept the family out of it, the Coalition out of it, and out here where information was bought and sold for water she had to make sure she protected them all.

The smell of the rich meat made her stomach growl she couldn't remember when she last ate. Picking apart her brisket as she walked she looked around for other familiar faces ones she had treated on her last visit. She had to be careful rumors had reached her that the Empire was moving closer to claiming this world. Then she and her friends would have to find another place to exchange notes.

She wondered if she would have time to look for funnel flowers and desert plums.

Rianna lost in her thoughts had stopped walking she stood almost motionless in the middle of the path as pedestrians walked around her giving her a questioning eye.

 

[An Tiarna Dubh]

A man rose up out of the barren landscape. Sounds & sights became clearer with each step. His brow dropped as his eyes fell on a woman with a few children, if his eyes did not betray him. With a grunt he approached the woman stopping & standing before her spoke

"Dia dhuit. You seem a touch place here, if I may say."

With that he stood a rock of stone

 

[Rianna Organa]

Rianna turned to look at the man standing near she took in the details of his person she new immediately the language.

"I'm sensing the world around me, sometimes I must stand still to allow someone to find me. It would seem that you have." Now why? He had that gruff look about him, he had seen the harshness of this world it had left a few marks upon him. The three piece suit was unusual for the desert, which meant he was an off worlder too. He was big thickly muscled his very presence could be intimidating.

As Rianna began to speak a dug came up and spoke to her, "they're coming, hear the high pitch." Rianna nodded then looked to the skies then back to what was his name, "I'm Rianna." She couldn't be found here on Tattooine.

"I" she allowed her senses to guide her as she spoke she had to let go of her mistrust what if he was Death Watch sent to kill the force using mandalorians, sent to cure them. "I need to hide." Then she thought about the Thranta...what if..no...they wouldn't go there yet there was still time but she needed off the streets.

[member="An Tiarna Dubh"]

 

[An Tiarna Dubh]

The words scarcely falling from her lips responded brows dropping as he spoke words slow & cold

"& sometimes tis best to run with confidence. The words "I must hide" scream that, if I may add."

Brows now rising chin up awaited a response. A thought nonetheless hung in his mind: 'if fleeing was her ultimate goal time was of the essence....

To the right a mob of Tusken Raiders moved stealthily towards the group. One rose up before them but several meters away as if an apparition bellowing with gaderffii held menacingly above his head. The adage says that the hand is quicker than the eye; An Tiarn moved like lightening. The Old Man Man's right hand slipped gracefully under the left side of his blazer drawing an archaic pistol. In one smoothe motion arm stretched out & the gun recoiled, separating the Tuskens head from shoulders. As the body crumpled to the ground in a heap blood streaming from neck the other Tuskens disappeared.

 

[Rianna Organa]

[member="An Tiarna Dubh"]


"It does hint at being of some urgency." With that Rianna turned and towards the more crowded sector of the market. She turned to see if the giant had followed her. She could not help but question all that was happening with a resounded why?

She decides to join the galaxy in so many words and in one trip, the refugees were at risk, the empire showed up, the force brought her a mountain in the form of An Tiarna Dubh and then there was the whole keeping things secret. Had the Empire learned of what she had planned. She paused to listen for a moment stepping into the doorway no noises, so a gentle shove and the door opened.

For a moment some relief as she turned and motioned for him to follow. The house was old abandoned squatters had moved in and out. But it had that familiar feel to it that those that had lived there had left their mark on it. The sound of blaster fire caught her attention.

A sense of duty filled her what or who were they shooting at? and why?

She stood by the door ready to step back if he decided to join her. A sense of alert touched upon her what if he was one of them? What if she had just invited the enemy in? Feth. She waited.

 

[An Tiarna Dubh]

An Tiarna shrugged off the obvious & followed the woman eyes so intensely fixed on her every move it was a surprise that she did not spontaneously combust. She was quiet but the string of words that had passed her lips spoke volumes. The agitated nature of her body language was also very revealing. This woman was frightened. Panicky was the right word so he thought. At the doorway of the house that the woman had entered he froze for but a fleeting second eyes scanning each & every inch of the the entrance. Waving a giant hand he grunted

"Maith go leor!"

& with those words the monster man passed through the door into the house, taking the young lady by the arm & gently moving her to the side with one more quick look back before slamming the door shut & flipping the lock. Nodding up to the woman

"Would it be to much to ask your name?"

sStting down the bag in left hand he swung another from his back lying it beside the other. Lighting a cigarette shrugged his shoulders saying

"& why & from whom exactly are we running from?"

Teeth clench and eyes squint as if in pain pulled a bottle from one of the bags slugged a drink, licked his lips & lifted his chin in wait

 

[Rianna Organa]

He wasn't unceremonious about his actions but it did take Rianna off guard. She stood there watching him contemplating if her senses were right or wrong.

Slowly she dropped to the floor sitting there with one eye on the door and a gentle push to her senses to try and be alert for problems in the form of soldiers.

"My name, no not too much, I am called Rianna."

The other question would require a bit more explanation. "The why and from whom I am, well we are currently running from." She leaned back glancing about the room again as if she could see a memory standing there beckoning to be recognized for a moment more of life.

"The Galactic Empire would like to take over Tattooine their troops are currently landing here. They will search for anyone and everyone that would oppose them. Either take them prisoner for torture or outright kill them. I'm strongly opposed to both options."

Something about his manner if you took away the suit that is and put him in armor. Gruff, raw, and a predator yes that is the vibration she got off of him. He lifted his chin waiting for answers like a boxer would wait for the next punch. A fighter?

"There are some here that do not lie what I do, they will turn me in to grow in good graces." Course the GE would want her as a prisoner not because of who she was but because of who she was related to. Rianna would make a good pawn in a game with Alderaan. She couldn't allow that either.

"May I ask who you are?" She smiled relaxed as if nothing were going on except them having a pleasant conversation about the weather.

[member="An Tiarna Dubh"]

 

[An Tiarna Dubh]

The Old Man spoke plainly

"An Tiarna Dubh is the name...."

Hands rising as if warding off any of the typical recoiling reaction then after barking a laugh he continued

"Rianna" you say? Means queen in my language"

Face suddenly losing all expression

"& there are many who'd sell you out for a bare crumb on this cursed rock. But that's not happening on my watch...."

With an upward nod & a smile

"Have you a ship or need I extract one from somebody?"

 

[Rianna Organa]

[member="An Tiarna Dubh"]

"Queen really. Well then it is a good name" Queen she thought about it she would have been Queen of Alderaan if she had not spent most of her life in the Order. Think of all the thousands, no millions she might have been able to help. But she had stayed in the Order and Arianna became Queen. That felt like a lifetime ago. She missed her parents still. So long ago and yet the shadow of the past remained with her.

"An Tiarna Dubh have you been long out here on the dustbowl?" There was a scuffle outside she could hear the foot steps she put her hand to the wall waiting to see if someone came in, or tried the door.

A promise of protection she'd take it. "I have a ship." A very nice ship actually she thought.

"Do you have a place you would like to go from here?" She was waiting till the foot steps passed, course she could easily get them out of anything but she didn't use her skills in such a manner. She could after all think and react for herself.

 

[An Tiarna Dubh]

An Tiarna listened carefully, smiling at Rianna's interest in the meaning of her na#e as he understood it# Fitting he thought looing at her#
"Tis a grand na#e at that, and such I find transcends being propertied but more in conducting oneself in a stately honorable manner# Dark he might be in many a way but he greatly respected right and integrity# Traits that she appeared to possess and indeed live by#

Thinking of her question his brows dropped in thought and he answered slowly. "I was thrust from a time.... I do not know how long ago - into this here and now quite abruptly" Noticing her unease he sped up his words smiling at her mention of a ship.

"Right, then we have no time to waste; let us depart as soon as possible. and we can worry about a where to go after we have gone from here."

He stopped there awaiting her cue

 

[Rianna Organa]

Depart as soon as possible, she nodded. She could not hear the footsteps any longer. She looked over at [member="An Tiarna Dubh"] she was still uneasy. She did not mind helping and she did not mind receiving help. She helped hundreds sometimes thousands of strangers in a single day on Alpha Mae so why did this one make the little hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

She slowly stood up, "Well then let's try this and see if we can not end up prisoners." She closed her eyes once again balancing herself for a moment finding her place within the force and stretching out her senses to know what life was near by.

She set her hand to the door, "you sure you ready?" She kept hearing his words in her head, abruptly from there to here, it sounded almost as if a portal had opened and he had been thrust through.

But this was a conversation for later when safety was not an issue.

Rianna slowly pulled the door open looking about she nodded, and then slipped back into the alley.

 

[An Tiarna Dubh]

The Old Man did not look at Rianna but merely listened. Nor did he respond in any way, as all and any questions that need be could be asked and answered after they were safely removed from this situation. He simply followed her as she departed.

 

[Rianna Organa]

He really wasn't the verbal type was he short sentences that were to the point. Course she shouldn't expect long conversations from someone who was a stranger. Just because she could be a chatterbox did not mean everyone was.

A quick observation and she decided he might not be considered the strong silent type either.

Once outside Rianna headed in the opposite direction that she heard voices unsure of who they belonged to and following lessons learned she felt it was the safest way to go. She did not need to look back to know if he followed she could hear his footsteps on the well-worn paths.

She stopped short at the other end looking at a group of solders standing together they were in her path. It would be a simple gesture she needed only one to focus upon. She calmed her racing heart blew softly then without further thought she moved towards them.

Let's look over there a small wave of her hand, come on Rianna walked slowly her soft soled shoes making little to no sound as she moved. She could easily be a whisper on the wind.

For a moment the soldier she had focused on seemed to pause as if wondering why he would suddenly walk away, Rianna herself kept walking with a short glance over and a gentle nudge to keep him moving.

She and [member="An Tiarna Dubh"] moved without interference.

"My ship had to land outside the space port" volunteering something that he likely had already deduced would at the very least confirm any suspicion he had about the whereabouts of her ship, The Dancing Thranta

She began to regret not learning how to create a storm, a bit of wind and sand at this time would come in handy.

Where would she take him? Were the refugees safe? A few lingering questions ones that she would need answers to.

 

[An Tiarna Dubh]

The ancient warrior stopped suddenly, visibly shaking as a thin cloud began to surround him. It was if for a fleeting moment time stood still. All things stood motionless yet moved at a staggering speed. His body faded between a solid worldly state and that of ghostly gaseous form. In a violent effort he bellowed to the Jedi.

"Run Jedi infidel! Run!"

He began turning and turning fighting the inevitable; struggling to remain in this place where fate did not intend him to be situated. An Tiarna in his heart knew only too well that reality was but an abstract point of view, indeed many coexisted at the same time. But this was not his time or place. His eyes bulged grotesquely and blood began to flow from them as well as both of his flared nostrils, his sinewy muscles flexed as sweat pouring down them hit the ground below. The earth shook beneath his feet as he fought against the inevitable. The world around him Darkened with storm and lightening struck, first to his dexter side immediately followed up by another to the sinister, ground sent in all directions as the bolts hit leaving searing pits in their wake. This was followed up by tremendous cracks of thunder. Sentient beings of all manner fled for cover in every direction.

In what could be measured in seconds but seemed an eternity the Old man, Ard Ri, Óglaigh na Iarndóideanna, faded to black and was gone. storm clouds evaporated giving way to sun bearing cruelly down on the world he had stood in only seconds before now standing as always a still, barren, lifeless desert, not a trace of his existence left behind.