suitably_heroic | An Apartment, Citadel Station in Orbit around Telos, Hours After Last (Reply)

"Thank you for seeing me. I am Mora, and I have come to see you on behalf of our leader here."

The Ithorian stood in the doorway to their apartment-slash-cell, looking expectant. He had called some time ago, requesting what Atton could only characterize as an audience with their resident pantsless Jedi. Been a while since he'd seen an Ithorian, but this one seemed about as earnest as the last one he'd spoken to.

"What does your leader want?" Meetra asked.

They'd been doing nothing but hanging around for over a day - this was a welcome distraction, for now. Depended on what the Ithorian wanted.

"Are you familiar with the restoration project on Telos?" Mora asked.

Telos had been razed by the Sith during the Jedi Civil War. They had bombed it in hopes of taking down the newly reawakened Revan. Even now, the planet suffered heavily under the consequences.

"Yes," Meetra replied. "Go on."

"Recently, we have run into contention with the corporation known as Czerka," Mora explained. "Perhaps you have heard of our troubles as well. Czerka has integrated themselves into the Telosian political system and economy. They are currently pressing to be awarded our planet restoration contracts. Their efforts hinder us greatly, and have terrible consequences for the planet's surface."

Meetra crossed her arms. "So what can I do--?"

"Our leader, Chodo Habat, is a powerful priest," Mora replied. "He sensed something upon your arrival - a disturbance, an echo in the Force. Chodo told me to tell you that if you could help heal Telos, it might be possible for him to help heal you."

She blinked. "What does that even mean?" An echo? A disturbance?

"I am unclear as to what Chodo means by this," Mora said apologetically. "He says the echo he felt upon your arrival suggests that you yourself are damaged. He can feel the pain through the Force."

Kreia	"Perhaps Chodo Habat should turn his eyes towards his own people, if they truly suffer so," Kreia interjected irritably.
Meetra	"Forgive me," Mora said, bending his head. "I am unclear as to Chodo's message. I may have relayed it incorrectly." He turned to Meetra. "But if the offer of mutual aid interests you, please go to the Ithorian compound in Residential 082 when you are able. Chodo would be most pleased to see you." "I'll speak to your leader when I am freed," Meetra said quietly. "Farewell," the Ithorian rumbled. He bowed his head respectfully one more time, then backed out the door.
Kreia	"Now perhaps we may be able to rest uninterrupted," Kreia muttered. But they barely managed to catch another half hour's sleep before the comm went off again.
Atton	This time, it was just a call - which made it less interesting. Atton sat back on his bed and tried not to think about the part where the only call he'd received so far was damned Anakin Skywalker. He watched as Meetra deftly handled the Czerka employee who was clearly trying to get her to backstab the Ithorians before they'd even bothered to talk to the Ithorians. No finesse in that one. "You should go back to bed," he called after Meetra the moment she finished talking. "Whenever they decide to release us, we need to get going immediately." Instead of wasting time on Czerka or the Ithorians. As if they didn't have anything better to do.
Meetra	Meetra shot him a glance. She ran a hand through her hair. "I should," she said. So far the four hours or so she'd had aboard the Ebon Hawk had been the most relaxing parts of the past day or so; she could only hope she would now be left undisturbed. Pushing thoughts of the Ithorians from her mind, she sat down and sank into a deep meditative trance.
Atton	Atton waited until he could be sure she was definitely out of it. Then he pushed up off his bed and stalked towards Kreia. "Explain something to me."
Kreia	"I do not have the years required - nor the desire to indulge you," Kreia said, projecting a death glare despite the hood - and despite her blindness.
Atton	Let it not be said Atton wasn't capable of ignoring an insult when there were more important things to be asked. "If she served in the war, Jedi are supposed to be tough-- capable," Atton said. And-- he was starting to get an idea of just which Jedi she was. But he wasn't sharing that.
Kreia	"Yes," Kreia replied. Some of the irritation fled her voice. "And what are they without the Force? Take the greatest Jedi Knights, strip away the Force, and what remains? They rely on it, depend on it, more than they know." It was starting to occur to her there was something about this fool she had overlooked. Something useful. "Watch as one tries to hold a blaster, as they try to hold a lightsaber, and you will see nothing but a man - or a woman. A child."
Atton	Atton frowned. "But to lose so much," he said. "I guess I didn't realize how much they relied on it." He'd known, to the point where he needed to know - ways to blind their senses, ways to get around their Force abilities. But he had not fully realized their reliance on it.
Kreia	"Do not be surprised," Kreia said. "In many ways, even you are more capable than a Jedi." She lifted her head. "You could survive where they could not, simply because you do not hear the Force as they do. It is an irony of a sort - and it is why I tolerate your presence now."
Atton	"But such a loss of ability," Atton pushed - he didn't have time for backhanded compliments - "for a Jedi, it seems so extreme."
Kreia	"She has been gone from war some time," Kreia noted. She glanced towards the Exile. "It is conflict that strengthens us... and isolation that weakens us, erodes us." She shook her head and turned back to Atton. "Add to that that she turned away from war, did all she could to forget it, and the last piece clicks into place." She pursed her lips. "But we have spoken enough of this - and we do her a disservice by not speaking of this while she is present."
Atton	She was probably right. Atton nodded, and then turned around, heading back to his bed. He curled up there, letting thoughts dance through his mind - thoughts more about the present than about the past again, thank space. He snuck glances towards Meetra from time to time, but she was out, and eventually he, too, fell asleep. When he woke again, it was to the sound of guards opening the doors, and the message they were free to go-- to a point. "The Republic is sending its own ship," the lieutenant finished, "They have insisted you remain on-station for the duration of their search."
Meetra	Meetra had stood up as soon as the lieutenant arrived - now she was frowning. "Why is the Republic sending a ship?" "To further investigate the station's destruction and search for their missing ship, the Harbinger," the lieutenant said matter-of-factly. "How long do I have to stay?" Meetra asked with a sigh. "The Sojourn is already en-route, likely not more than a few standard days," the lieutenant replied. "Feel free to use these quarters during your stay." "Is the Ebon Hawk still impounded?" "The vessel's I&D is complete. Please visit the local TSF station to complete the necessary paperwork at the front desk. The Ebon Hawk should be transferred from the impound docks as soon as you're free to leave. As will your T3 unit."
Atton	Atton watched the lieutenant stride out. "Now what?" he asked Meetra. "We can't just stick around. We need to find some way off this station, whether it's the Ebon Hawk or some other ship." He wasn't exactly married to the piece of junk. "We could hit Nar Shaddaa, maybe. If you've got people coming after you, it's where you go to get lost in the crowd." And he happened to be an expert, at that.
Meetra	Meetra blinked. "You know that from experience?" she asked.
Atton	Oh, for-- No, Atton wasn't going to go into that. "Look, this place is a waste," he snapped. "If Telos wasn't doomed before Peragus blew, it is now - even more so if your 'friends' from Peragus come calling."
Meetra	Meetra crossed her arms. "Why would Telos be doomed?" she asked. The Ithorians seemed to be doing their bit.
Atton	"Because it depends on Citadel Station," Atton said. "And the Citadel depends on Peragus fuel and the Republic senators. The Citadel's fuel source went up with the mining facility, and the bickering senators...? Not something worth counting on."
Kreia	"It is difficult to say," Kreia said thoughtfully. "I feel we came to Telos for a reason, but we may have spent too much time here already. Even if the Harbinger was destroyed at Peragus, even more Sith could be coming our way." She gave it another moment's thought. "Still, there is a chance we might learn of other Jedi here, on the planet's surface. Jedi who might restore your abilities, or sever the link between us."
Meetra	"Other Jedi?" It seemed almost too good to be true, that possibility. "We should see if we can find something out there."
Kreia	"It is unlikely," Kreia replied, "But we shall see."
Atton	Jedi. Just what he wanted. Really. "So what are we--" Atton started, but Meetra had already passed by him. "...We're going to see the Ithorian, aren't we? Great."