Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

[Connor Harrison]

Cratertown
Jakku, Outer Rim​

From a disorientating trip to a backwards planet riddled with festive spirit, to helping out a travelling circus under attack by pirates, the journey across the Outer Rim hadn’t been boring for Connor. He’d made peace with Corvus, just, and was now on his way to make peace with another – Kyra.

From “just heading off” over 2 months ago to help the Silver Sanctum lead to a number of life changing events that had pushed Connor to the edge of ending it all before pulling him straight back again like a violent bungee jump into the mouth of a sarlaac.

Now, here he was, returning in a borrowed fighter while his new ship collected dust on Voss, to make amends and see if she was even still here.

Flying out towards the downed Star Destroyer Inflictor, he pushed on to Cratertown and circled a few times. He saw Kyra’s opulent dwelling on the outskirts and came down on the other side with a few minutes’ walk up towards her dwelling. Leaving his coat inside the ship, he left the lightsaber hilt on his belt and rolled up his sleeves on his black jumper and made his way out of the craft, down the dunes and across over to the slight incline that led to her home.

The town behind him, a perfect view over the region, the heat was tolerable and the air was dry.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

Two months had passed.

What had started as a quick project of throwing all her junk into her ship in preparation for whatever lay ahead had turned into a full retrofit of the Bucket. Her workshop was now fully functional, taking up a chunk of her cargo space - yet still holding its fair share of cargo, this was Kyra after all! - and all of her important items were onboard. She was making the most of life on Jakku, because whether Connor returned or not she knew that sooner or later it would be time to venture off into the Galaxy once more.

As a result of all this hardwork, Kyra's home was... Clean. There was no junk lining tables, chairs or the floor, although oil still stained some of the tiles on the interior and exterior, it looked as if a normal every day person lived here, someone who took pride in their home. Truthfully Kyra couldn't care less. Sat there in her living room, Kyra sighed and pondered over everything. She had a few requests in from the locals for unique items to be made, many of them bringing her pieces from former possessions. One or two even brought her a slither of the Star Destroyer which loomed in the distance, but she had no intentions of utilizing it. They wouldn't realise by the time she was done, and then she could return the pieces to the dunes. Star Point wasn't to be touched, not in her eyes at least. And she refused to work with anything salvaged from it.

Trash the Tie-Fighters instead, there were plenty of those beneath the sand.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

The hair tickled his brow, and he gently rubbed his facial hair as he stood before her dwelling. As a ship came over, Connor turned and watched it fly out to the far reaches of the Niima Outpost, a place he expected Kyra to call a second home with the various junk yards, merchants and trade posts.

Putting off the inevitable, he breathed steadily, raised his hand and knocked loudly on the wooden door. It had been too long, and he knew it. He felt guilty. He’d been to places far darker and far dangerous than he expected, and her confidence in him had probably been shattered again, but he was here. A little late, but he was here.

His attention was caught by a small droid tinkering to the right of where he stood. A security droid perhaps? Who knew. He just had to wait, and hope she forgave him.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

"I'm not sure... It's not even as if I need the credits, I just want to make sure she's well looked after."

Kyra stared at the holofeed, the man on the other end half way across space and haggling with her at every turn. It wasn't as if she wanted to get rid of her home, the place she had lived for almost ten years, simply that she knew she had to move on, and keeping roots here would only create suffering in her future.

"No, I know you can afford it, that's not what this is about... Ugh... Will you please listen?"

The man was lucky that Kyra wasn't there in person, it was like talking to a durasteel wall!

"Look... I'll send you the plans, alright? But I can't make any promises it'll still be here if you take your sweet time deciding... Right, yeah... I'll speak to you again later... Bye."

The feed was cut, much to her relief, and Kyra turned and slumped into one of the few pieces of furniture left within the house. How it was now, with so much less junk, could be seen as any rich kid's dream home, or at least a luxury holiday home. Minus the oil stains, of course. It wouldn't cost them that much to have the floor changed.

She was just about to reach for her now cold mug of caf when a knock resonated through the room. It was odd to have visitors at this time of day, most of Cratertown were working right now, speaking of which Kyra herself was supposed to be fixing up a blaster pistol.

Still she supposed she ought to answer so she rose up from her seat and strode toward the door. "The blaster's not quite finished, give me a few more hou---oh..." Kyra was not expecting the sight she was met with as the door opened with a whoosh. Truth be told she wasn't entirely certain how she felt, her chest tightened yet otherwise she felt rather... Numb.

"Connor..."

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Looking at the droid, he wasn’t ready for the door to open rather soon after hitting it, and it drew his attention back to the occupier; the girl who never seemed to change. Her reply was as expected – looking and sounding and radiating confusion and slight annoyance.

”Sorry I’m late. But, I did make it back.”

He smiled, a little coyly.

”You ok?”

He gave a nervous stretch, as if time slowed and he didn’t know what to say.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

The droid resumed its little rounds in the yard, not viewing Connor as any sort of threat. It was, in truth, on the look out for Sith. Even now, even after Eamon had confirmed that the Witch was not after her, Kyra was paranoid about the return of Kyros.

For a few moments she remained dumbfounded, simply staring at the man who had been gone for what felt like aeons. Finally she blinked, and stepped back from the door. "You never specified a time frame" she said, doing her best to brush it all off. "How are things?" The smile made her heart flutter, but she turned away before her cheeks could begin to burn and strode further into her home. "Excuse the vacant feel..."

He asked how she was, well Kyra hadn't really thought about it. She had been trudging on, meeting and speaking with potential - frustrating - buyers. She had barely had time to sit down since the day she decided she would fix up her ship and clear out the house on the edge of Cratertown. So she simply shrugged, and moved to make some Caf'. "Drink?" she offered, finally braving a turn toward him and a meek smile.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

With a gentle flick of the eyes, Connor broke a bigger smile and followed her in. Something felt different, and he could pick up the atmosphere. One of uncertainty and worry.

”Yes, please.”

The place was different than it had been months ago, and it looked like she was ready to ship out.

”Well it’s nice to see you’ve tidied up a little bit,” he looked up at her. ”What’ve you been up to whilst I’ve been away?”

He walked around the outskirts of the room, nosing at what he saw laid out and also at the landscape window looking out over the planet below.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

With a nod she poured two steaming cups of Caf', while it was nice and warm it was not quite as scorching as it had been before Eamon fixed it up. She never claimed to be an expert of Caf' machines, after all. Bringing them over to the breakfast bar, the only real remaining surface in the condo, Kyra mimicked Connor's smile and offered a mug over to him.

"Oh you know, the usual; I've actually had a fair bit more work since I began clearing up the place, only so much I could fit onto my ship, I figured the rest would be better suited to being fixed up. Trying to sell this place, too. I just hope I can find a buyer who won't mind the occasional oil stain." She stuck out her tongue to the last bit. Kyra had never been the world's neatest person.

"How are you?" she asked. It looked as if a change had come over him, like he was no longer quite so conflicted as he had been before leaving. Perhaps he was on better footing with his Jedi friends again. Who knew.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

With a gracious bow of the head, Connor took the warm drink and enjoyed each sip. He hadn’t had Caf for a long time, and this was nice – the right strength for him. He smacked his lips as he drank and listened to her.

”Mm,” he swallowed, ”I’m good thank you. Better. I think. It’s been a…an interesting few months that’s for sure.”

His eyes flashed briefly and he took another sip. Whereas he could wallow in what had happened, this time he was simply accepting of it and proud it had made him the person he was now.

”I’ve alerted the Silvers to my arrival soon, so this is my first stop. I’ve a lot to catch up on, and a lot of bridges to build. I feel good. Thank you. I had a lot of demons before, and was being touched upon by shadows that were dragging me down.”

He gave a slight wave of the hand, dismissing it and trying not to weigh the tone down with his trauma. It would only upset her.

”Miss Sol, are you still looking to see if the Sanctum can offer you a place to fit? Or are you happy here tinkering for peddlers and greasers?

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

Kyra was sad to hear of his demons, but grateful he had been able to scare them away before they ruined his life and all he stood by. It was something very few people could do, much less those who were affected by the sways of the Force. Ashla and Bogan were at constant odds within Jedi and Sith, who could not accept both sides. She could not imagine the struggle so many must have felt to remain on their designated path, it was no surprise that some fell to the opposing side.

"I'm glad that you're better Connor - you look a lot better. More confident in yourself. Less loathing. The Sanctum are lucky to have such a strong ally returning to them."

Swirling the contents of the mug within her hands, Kyra glanced down into her Caf' and sighed, before taking a short sip. It was still quite hot, but pleasant enough.

And then came the million credit question. Where was she to go from here?

"I was never going to remain on Jakku, even if you hadn't returned today" she said, avoiding the initial part of his question. She needed a few moments to really think about it. "Ever since you returned to my life, since the day we scaled Star Point, I've felt an awakening; I cannot stay here, regardless of what the future throws at me. Life hasn't quite been the same."

Another sigh. Kyra settled down her mug and turned back towards the kitchen, looking around for her sonic servodriver; it was nice to have something to distract her when she had to talk about such personal subjects.

"I'd like to come with you" she finally confessed, "though I daresay your Jedi Friends will find no Force Capabilities within me. Still, every place can use a tinkerer. I bet even the Jedi have tech-troubles every now and then."

Turning back to him she offered a smile. Kyra was still very sure that she would never be able to consciously use the Force. And she didn't really want some stranger trying to force it out of her. Perhaps with time... No, she couldn't think about that. There was no use getting anybody's hopes up. Kyra was quite happy being extraordinarily ordinary.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor nodded and took another few sips, letting the drink warm him. He could see that she was still on edge about certain things, avoiding issues and brushing off emotions. She never changed. And she never stopped. Always looking for something or moving something of fiddling with something, even when talking. It was the biggest nervous twitch he’d seen.

”Well as much as there is history here, it’s wasted on you and Jakku will only serve you so long. I think we both knew that and I think you’ve out-grown it already. You can of course come back to Voss with me. Just you wait until you walk among the greens, browns and blues rather than burnt oranges and yellows.”

He smiled mischievously and took a bigger mouthful of drink. Placing the cup down, blowing out a sharp breath, he rested his elbows on the table.

”You’re right, you know. There has been an awakening. I’ve felt it.”

Connor tilted his head slightly, reading her.

”Remember the junk-yard on Denon? You showed me you were gifted with the Force even then. You couldn’t control it, that was certain, but you had it. You HAVE it. It’s probably been dormant ever since, but I dare say my being around you has touched upon your aura and reminded you of things you may have forgotten about.”

He laid his hands out.

”If you find a home on Voss with the Sanctum, you can take your time to understand your ability. As for your natural talent with mechanics and tools and all that, we have a constant need for people like you. Our defence systems, ships, training grounds – you name it, it will always needs modifying, improving and fixing. If you feel up to it, you can see what the other side of the galaxy is like.”

He smiled.

”Be brave. Take control of your life.”

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

Aha! There it was, upon one of the shelves she had been planning to take down for a few months now. Something else always got in the way. Okay, so maybe she had no real excuse for her procrastination. All the same she reached out and grabbed the sonic servodriver, before turning with it brandished in her grasp. She must've looked quite stupid, and immediately she settled it down to her side and allowed her thumb to play around with it. Far less noticeable than striding around the room.

He spoke of the world he was offering to take her to, and Kyra could not help but smile. "Do you know how long its been since I saw greenery? And I mean real greenery?" There was a faraway look in her eyes for a moment, before the junker sighed and moved across the room, toward the door. Her barefeet slapped the tiles as she walked, before she stooped down to pick up her boots. They had seen better days, but they were the finest most longlasting pair she had ever owned. She needed to do business with AEL more often.

"You felt it?" she asked, turning with the boots just inches from the ground - forcing her to remain stooped over. Kyra then raised a brow. "So it's not just me, then?" That was a relief. Striding across the room, boots in hand, Kyra slumped into the white metal couch in the center of the living room and turned her eyes up toward Connor.

"I remember that day. It was a fluke, must've been a trick of the eye, or maybe you caused it." She couldn't be a Force User, that would make her such a kriffin hypocrite! Kyra frowned, and looked away, staring out over Cratertown from the large transparisteel windows which adorned her front wall. "I mean, I certainly didn't do it..."

Back to the matter at hand, Voss. She was grateful for the distraction.

"You've won me over, Connor. I never thought I'd be saying this, but I'll come join your merry band of Jedi. Who knows, I may find my calling in life... You guys must have access to some neat tech, huh?" Her eyes lit up at the possibilities. Oh the things she could see!

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor watched her, again, busying herself to distract her mind from what was being spoken of. She was infuriatingly stubborn, or just wonderfully naïve, to everything around her and she was good at closing herself off. Drinking the final mouthful of Caf, a strong sweet mixture collected at the bottom of his cup, he turned to watch her move to the large window. After giving her a moment, he stood and joined standing beside her.

The two who had known each other for a long time, yet spent little time together over the years. In fact, Connor could count on one hand the times these two had spent together for a good period of time. First, being a jerk on Denon and touching on her Shatterpoint. Second, riding the Outer Rim together. Third, backing her up in the company of a Sith. Fourth, exploring Jakku.

It was little in the greater scheme of things.

”You did do it. Remember? It was so embarrassing – I was flexing my ability and trapped you in a cockpit, or something. And you went mental. The Force swelled up and you found the weak points in the junk around you and fused them with your Force energy and boom. Shatterpoint. That wasn’t me who did that on Denon.”

The view was so plain, but so peaceful and pretty.

”You’ll like Voss. Lots of us there you’ll get on with and probably get into adventures with. Lots of beings who love ships as much as you, those who love nature and can help you understand the Force not being just a power, but more a gift. Lots of opportunities for you.”

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

Kyra leaned down and pulled the boots over her feet. She wriggled her toes on the inside, before cringing and pulling the boot back off. She'd forgotten one key component... Socks! Looking up she ran a hand down her face in embarrassment before peering across to Connor with a goofy half smile to hide it. He was stood by the windows now, making her feel sort of bad for choosing to sit.

Pulling some socks out of a drawer in the sidetable - because who doesn't keep their underwear in the living room? - Kyra shoved them over her feet, then each boot, before stomping over to where he was stood. She didn't mean to be so noisy. It just sort of happened.

The view had her breathing catch even now. She appreciated it more due to the fresh set of eyes at her side, too, wondering what he must have felt glancing down over Cratertown and the surrounding dust-desert.

He couldn't leave well enough alone, though. Kyra fidgeted in place, before chewing her lip. Out in the front lawn she could see her kusak pup bounding around. Kyne wasn't taking to the changes very well at all, he had loved the junk filled rooms. Now he was lost amidst the sea of white. She looked away from the hound toward the only friend she had ever known.

Could it really be true? "Was that really me..?"

There was a bit of doubt in her tone now, not of his words but of her own perceptions of the past. Ten years was a long time.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor let her fumble around as she always did; he wasn’t going to respond. Part of him knew she would have to find an inner confidence and self-belief if she wanted to survive outside of Jakku. The defence walls of the Outer Rim world were nice and fine for those not wanting to be found, but if she wanted to touch upon another world – another life – she would need to assert herself.

”Well it certainly wasn’t me, I don’t explode things regularly when people are inside them.”

He laughed quietly, and turned to her

”You can bring the hound and droid if you want to, y’know.”

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

"Well I definitely don't!" she said, in fact it was more likely for Connor to be exploding things, the Force User he was, than Kyra. She wasn't a soldiering type, she never had grenades to hand, or the whims of the Force at her fingertips. Still he seemed a little too certain that she was the one to blame; so she said nothing more on the matter, and mulled it over in her head. Otherwise this was going to end up a very cyclical conversation.

"I'd like to bring Kyne, the droid though... That's more of a house-protector. I have some other droids already on my ship though, Screw and the Medi-Crew." She stuck out her tongue when she unintentionally rhymed, and glanced down at her hands with a frown. "I am alright bringing the 'Bucket, right? I mean, it'll mean traveling separately since you have your own ship, but still. The Coalition is only on the other side of the Galaxy." During the last few words she grinned at him, "I'm joking, I honestly have no idea where they are. They weren't around before I came here to Jakku."

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

”No. No ship. In fact, your hound needs to stay here.”

Connor turned away and spoke in an almost wizard-like voice.

”Everything you have been must be left behind to become the someone you will be when you leave Jakku.”

He kept a stern face, letting the silence hang and seeing Kyra in his peripheral vision recoil, before his lips curled into a smile before his voice cracked back to normal.

”Bring the hound, the ship – anything you need,” he grinned at her, ”because there will be room for them all with us, and you can work on the ship as you need and I’m sure he will flourish within the Sanctum as our un-official mascot.”

He placed a reassuring hand on the side of her arm.

”You’ve got a lot to give the galaxy I think. As soon as you’re ready, we can take the step forward.”

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

Kyra didn't look to impressed, one of her eyebrows even perked a little in disbelief. Then she did a classic sarcastic laugh and rolled her eyes. "I was just making sure, no need to roast me" she said, sticking out her tongue to show good humour.

"I've actually been working a lot on the 'Bucket lately, it's considerably different to what it was."

Which would help out Kyra like nothing else, to have all of her necessities in one place. It would put less of a strain on wherever they ended up, and would mean not needing to buy another home or apartment. She did like being in her ship, after all.

"There's not much left for me to do here, a couple of things to pack up and a few items to pass down to Cratertown." One such item was the speeder which had been sat rusting in her yard last time Connor had been here. Now it was looking as good as new, fully functioning, and ready to go to its new owner.

Kyra liked nothing more than to see their faces light up whenever she brought them something they believed long gone.

She supposed this meant she would have to finalize the purchase of her home soon. Kyra could only hope that whoever ended up with it would respect the planet and its inhabitants as much as she did.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor looked over the room.

”Can’t you keep it for yourself, maybe rent it out or simply have the droid keep it as is? I mean, Voss would be a place to live and study and work, but you shouldn’t sell your home. It’s nice. Besides, you may want to come back here one day and operate out of it – we won’t chain you to the Temple if you don’t want us to.”

He slowly walked past her and mooched around again, looking at the various bits and bobs Kyra had out that was a picture of who she was.

”I’m in no rush so I’ll stay with you until you’re set if you want. Unless there’s some inter-galactic incident I need to pop away to sort.”

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

She frowned a little, before shaking her head. "I don't think returning to Jakku to stay will be no the agenda. There's no point in going forward only to hold onto the past in hopes of returning. I made that mistake once before, trust me it doesn't work out." It was far safer to keep going onward and up, let the past lay where it was. This was to be a new chapter in her story.

"It should only take a couple of days at most" she said, chewing her lip, "the guest room's still in one piece, you're welcome to it. I don't have much in though, so we'll have to eat out."

She walked over to the door and opened it, whistling for Kyne who immediately bounded inside. He was, as ever, extremely happy to see her, and Kyra allowed herself a moment of peace - a goofy grin plastered on her face. "Maybe we could check out that bar, again, there's usually something going on down in Cratertown."

[member="Connor Harrison"]