You Cannot Outrun a Ghost

[Sitara Qin]

Dim lights and cheap atmosphere…and lots of screaming.

What you’d typically expect from a bar on Algor. It was strange coming home, it was stranger realizing her father wasn’t yet. He was on a trip, according to the pretty twi’lek servant working at his mansion. She had rolled her eyes then; he did always have a thing for the voluptuous types. It was the first time she stepped onto the planet in a while. Perhaps she missed the polluted streets and purple skies. Maybe she missed the food, maybe she missed using.

But she really didn’t miss the bars.

Algor’s nightlife was exciting. it was a planet filled with smugglers, pirates, and lawyers after all. It was typical that it generated someone like her. Her father wanted to be a Jedi, join the Republic; but coming from a background like this with his self-control, he had gotten into the smuggling industry instead—if, that was what you wanted to call it.

So she decided to reminisce. The bar that she was in was small, so it was pretty stuffy. It had your typical bar-goers: unhappily married men, women looking for a good time, sloppy flirts; all of them were pretty drunk of course. She was probably on her second round when a guy walked up beside her, he elbowed her and pushed her out of the way quite harshly.

She furrowed her eyebrows, though didn’t grab her lightsaber. This guy was asking for it, so she shoved him right back. Pretty soon, the two of them were up in each other’s faces. Sitara was reluctant to back down and the man was too drunk to know any better. She was even-tempered, though in a few seconds, she’d slice his wrists off.

| [member="Tobias Wraith"] |

 

[Tobias Wraith]

Tion Cluster​

Algor​

Last Regret Bar and Grill…​

Being back in the Tion Cluster after joining the Order was strange, and that was the only adjective the budding Jedi had for the situation. Sure, his outfit was still the same. He hadn’t adopted the tradition of wearing the robes, and was hoping to hold off on that for as long as possible. The Jackdaw was still his ship, because smugglers knew it and knew him personally. So there was no new Republic starfighter sitting in port to raise questions. Tobias face was still the same, and he hadn’t grown one of those ponytails that the Order usually requested of those learning the tradition. Strapped to his belt were still the same two pistols he always carried, along with some new Jedi issued gear. Sure, there was a lightsaber he had been given in his jacket pocket, but he was still Tobias.

On the outside at least, on the inside he was completely different.

Corellian ale sat in before him, right by his usual spot in this dive. some old associates had already come to talk to him, and he had laughed and joked around with them. Yet, he hadn’t touched his drink and he wasn’t enjoying himself like he used to. Quorl, his Jedi Master had told him to get out and experience his old life after having his eyes opened. At the time, it didn’t make sense to him. Sitting in that bar, at that moment, well he completely understood what the crazy bird wanted him to see.

He wanted him to open himself up to the Force, and feel it for what it was.

What he felt as he emptied the cup that was himself, well it shocked him. Pleasures he had thought were abundant, well there was fear and despair everywhere. Souls lit up around him, but most had been tainted by some dark emotion. This wasn’t the Jedi Praxeum, or even the temple on Ossus. Innocence and light were few and far between, and in their place were things he couldn’t readily stand. Muscles in his jaw tightened, but for what reason he didn’t understand until he felt anger and intent.

Tobias sprung into action without a thought.

“That’s enough.” His words cut through the din of noise and laughter as he took the safety off his BTI-WB “Woebringer” pistol. “Make one move towards her, and I’ll pull the trigger.” The barrel was pointed at the man’s appendix, not enough to kill but enough to hurt him. “I want no trouble man,” was all he said before walking away and out of the bar. Holstering his pistol, that troublesome smile crossed his features as he introduced himself to the woman.

“Hi, I’m Tobias. Sorry he was giving you trouble.”

[member="Sitara Qin"]

 

[Sitara Qin]

First of all, she was perfectly capable of handling that situation. This guy was all bark and no bite; he was practically small fry: a wannabe pirate perhaps making chump change in some street stall. He had absolutely no right to be picking on her, and she knew that off course. She had tried to play it cool at first, and then he started yelling. Now, Sitara would normally brush things off but she knew better.

Her hands were curled into fists, and she was ready to land a straight punch to his jaw. Strength wasn’t her biggest asset but she could probably break his nose if she wanted to. It wouldn’t be the first time she bruised her own fists injuring someone. Of course, she had her lightsaber on her at all times. It was Algor, you always had to be safe.

And then Mr. Hero comes out of nowhere and aims his pistol at the jackarse who provoked her in the first place. Men. Always trying to be saviours. She rolled her eyes as the other guy backed off. Idiots like that were always scared of other men, especially those with a pistol aimed to their heads. Of course he stumbled out and walked away from them, leaving Sitara to interact with her rescuer.

She smiled. “Thank you, hun,” She started, gritting her teeth. She was still pumped up, she could totally use another drink now. “But, I definitely could’ve handled that.” She told him as she hopped back onto her seat.

| [member="Tobias Wraith"] |

 

[Tobias Wraith]

Feeling quite pleased with himself, he watched the drunk leave in quite the hurry. Dipping his mind into his newfound power, he could feel his intervention had the desired effect. Eyes lingered on him, and their attention focused on the man who stood up to another for a moment. Thankfully, he hadn’t pulled out his lightsaber that he had. That would have elicited a completely different reaction in this bar, especially the blade of a Jedi. As a smuggler he had heard stories, all of them including Jedi who had managed to end up in the wrong parts of time. Most times, they got out alive with plenty of hostilities. A few times, well let’s just say that the Jedi didn’t come out the same way as he entered.

He would come out in pieces, then buried that way.

Wraith shuddered at the thought, and turned back his attention to the woman in question. She thanked him, and got back on her barstool. Except, she sounded like she wanted to punch him too for just trying to do the right thing. Scanning where he had been seated, he saw someone had just taken his drink. Well, looks like I’m not saving money on this trip. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a few more credits before sitting next to [member="Sitara Qin"]. Keeping his eyes and elbows forward, he tried to not get in her space.

“I’ll have whatever she’s having along with another for her as well.” The bartender nodded and brought him the drinks and sat them in front of them. Slightly turning now, he flashed a smile at the displeased woman. “So, what did I do to make you so mad?”

 

[Sitara Qin]

And he was still here. Really? He had taken a seat, ordered a bottle of beer like she did, and smiled at her. She smiled back sweetly as the drinks had arrived. He was trying to be sweet, trying to be a gentleman. Did he have any motivation to do so? Or was she just another pretty girl, another damsel in distress who needed a big, strong man to come and rescue her.

She batted her eyes at him. “Aren’t you sweet?” A soft smile playing on her lips. He knew how to treat a lady, and he had the looks for her to assume that he was experienced. Was he just another goody-good two shoes who wanted to play the part of the knight in shining armour? A gentleman who was good to young ladies?

He was tall, bulky and didn’t look as innocent as he seemed. She could see the bump of a holstered lightsaber as well as feel a signature she hadn’t noticed before. Was this guy force sensitive? He surely didn’t seem like anyone she had known. Probably a jedi since he was such a nice guy.And besides, if he were a jedi; what was he doing in a filth infested place like Algor?

Or was she just mad because she didn’t get to punch someone in the face? “Well, I’m sorry if it looks that way.” She definitely wasn’t mad. Annoyed? Yeah, that was more like it. But hey, it wasn’t like she asked him to come sit down with her. He should’ve just let her be. “But you and I both know I was handling that.”

| [member="Tobias Wraith"] |

 

[Tobias Wraith]

He felt it, for the very first time he could feel it. Months of training with Quorl had shown him what to expect when this happened, and he was just glad to have felt it as it happened. Auras were touching, intermingling. Life had it’s own distinct feel in the Force, and those chosen to wield it had their own little eccentricities. His own, that of light was mingling with something a little different. Defenses quickly came up, but he noticed she wasn’t trying to do anything to him. No, her senses washed over him like his did to her.

They were simply feeling the other, and he relaxed as he sat there with his drink.

“I’m just trying to do the right thing,” that sly grin flashed again as he looked at her with his head cocked a little to the side. Cerulean orbs eyed up the petite woman for just a moment, not too long. Judging by the fire in her eye, she wouldn’t appreciate him checking her out. Old habits die hard Toby, he thought to himself as he took a quick swig of his beer. It’s grainy, and hoppy flavor something he savored for but a moment. Actually conversing, even in this situation allowed him to enjoy just a bit of his old life.

Even if he could never, and would never want to go back.

“But you and I both know I was handling that.”

He could have taken offense, but that wasn’t how he was wired. There was no need for the Jedi response, he just chuckled and nodded in the affirmative. “You are probably right, and I apologize for trying to do the right thing. Call it a nasty habit I have no desire to kick.” Another swig of beer went down his throat before he set it down and turned to look at her. “Can you blame a guy for at least trying to help the pretty girl out? I didn’t know doing the right thing was worth getting mad about.” Shining white teeth again were visible behind his smile. “So, tell me about yourself. Why are you here on Algor?”

[member="Sitara Qin"]

 

[Sitara Qin]

Definitely a “good” person. Trying to do the right thing. He had a grin on his face, one that almost annoyed Sitara. He was cute, with soft cerulean eyes that bore into hers for a moment, before moving away. He had stubble, which she liked. Maybe he was forgivable after all.

He chuckled and then was apologetic. It was a typical response, it didn’t mean she’d crucify him for trying. The guy was force sensitive, most probably light sided too. He was just a nice guy; trying to be chivalrous despite the fact that they were on Algor and it was about one of the weirdest things for someone to do.

It was a planet where girls like her were taught to shoot after all. The planet didn’t have the best reputation; most of the people who wondered its streets were criminals, like drug traders, slave traffickers, pirates; the other kind of people who lurked its streets were lawyers. Sitara didn’t know which were filthier.

However, despite all this, the people on this planet still considered it a safe place for them. Their buddies were of the same kind after all, and who was Sitara to judge? Her dad was of the same species except at one point, he wanted to join the order. Did it really come to him as a surprise when she was recruited for the sith academy?

She snapped back into reality, her dark blue-grey eyes met his again. She furrowed her brows just as he was asking her what she was doing on the planet. It was funny to her; was this another “what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?” type of line. Couldn’t have been more typical.

“I grew up here.” She told him, her eyebrow raised. “And obviously you didn’t. So what are you doing here?”

| [member="Tobias Wraith"] |