001 | I will be chasing a starlight

[bright_imperius]

Something was wrong.

Takumi knew that before he was awake, before his eyes were opened. All of his senses told him this - this was not his bed, he was not on his Interceptor, he wasn't near any of his allies, he - he had been taken. He had been snatched from his own bed, and while he did not feel injured ...

... Fear and anger swirled in him, and he sat up as his hands began to crackle, shifting the box left on his chest to his lap. His eyes darted about. If anyone - if they'd hurt his -

The cave was empty. And surrounded by water. Lightning and water don't mix.

"Calm" is not in a Sith's vocabulary, but "focus" was - Takumi challenged himself to do that now. The sick feeling of worry and fear, anger and concern, all of that could be used. Productively. He took a deep breath, and using every ounce of his self-control, dismissed the lightning, pulled his senses inward, and then reached out using the Force.

No enemies. At least, no powerful Sith rivals who had wanted him dead.

No allies, either. He didn't feel Ashara's bright spark anywhere, or the dark contempt Xalek had, or the ever-hungry void Khem Val represented. There was no sign of Adronikos or Talos, either, their signatures fainter but familiar to him, if only they were there.

He turned his senses inward, the careful energies he'd honed to heal flesh and bone now trying to find injury or corruption. Nothing. Nothing was there, clouding his mind, blocking his Force abilities, fooling him with some illusion.

Fear was still there, because his friends - they may be dead. It could still be, that he was taken to this place, and his allies may all be killed.

He let the fear continue to focus him, making his mind brighter and sharper than a lightsaber. Whatever was happening, he needed to be present, aware, and ready.



[ ACTION ]

[ Takumi had opened the box, read all of the materials. Wandered outside, looked at the hologram.

His brow was furrowed, looking worried.

At least - at least. He'd remembered now, he'd been snatched from Nar Shaddaa. Teaching Ashara how to cheat at gambling, under the noses of some self-important Hutts, seemed like a good and entertaining way to continue to ease her out of the old, Jedi mindset. It was Andronikos' idea, anyhow.

Point was, he was dressed significantly down - high cowl on a tan tunic, green undershirt, brown pants - inconspicuous. If you were cheating using the Force, you didn't look like Sith or Jedi while doing it.

His grip tightened on the handle of his satchel. He'd be ready if need be, but -

- these strangers. Everyone here. Who were they?

Takumi opened the strange, odd datapad he'd been given, and began to scroll. He read for hours.

Anyone encountering him would find this young man, puzzled expression on his face, reading - making faces at times as he thought.

Get his attention for a wave! ]



[ VIDEO ]

[ Looks like someone's found his way to Nova City, judging by the background. It's late in the evening by now.

He smiles, sheepishly, but it's clear Takumi's worried. He also looks a bit lost. ]

Hey!

Looks like I'm the next to make one of these arrival ... videos.

I looked around a bit first, so I think I know the drill, except.

Uh.

I think I ended up in the wrong place?

[ He scratched the back of his head. ]

I mean, maybe the right place if I wanted to find, I don't know, a cantina which looks more like I'm used to - the first portal I walked through had a bunch of trees and mud and people pulling carts with animals, so that was really not right -

- but I need to find my way to the "Genessia Commons", I think?

If someone could lend me a hand? I'm not used to ... big portals which zap you from city to city.

Thanks!

[ He fumbles a bit with the communicator, and mutters: ]

... Now how do you ...

Kriffing son of a sarlacc ...

... why couldn't we just been given holo - oh! ...

[ And the feed cuts out. ]

Comments

[Video]

[liorafae]

[Have a small Light dragon appearing on the screen.]

...I think we all ended up in the wrong place...

[But then she realizes he may have been looking for something within this world instead.]

The "Genessia Commons"...those are in Genessia City, where you come into after leaving the Bay. You shouldn't have to take any of the portals to get there...unless you've already taken one into another city?

[Video]

[bright_imperius]

Yes, I went through ... at least three portals by now? I think one of them was the same one, twice. I was just curious, and.

[ He looks sheepish. ]

I guess I was too busy reading the crazy stuff that's been happening here, instead of. You know. Checking on the address for where I needed to go. Plus, I wanted to look around, but. I should have gotten my bearings first?

[ Blinks at the video, now, as if noticing for the first time. ]

... Uh.

I've never seen a ... talking kryat dragon before ...

No, wait, I'm sorry, I'm being ... really rude, I'm sorry.

You're from another world, right?

What are you?

[ This was Liora, a small gold-colored "dragon", from what he could remember from the entries posted before. ]

Or, rather. Sorry. Who are you?

[Video]

[liorafae]

Um...yes, it probably would have been better to get settled before exploring...

[Well, she doesn't find it too rude. He really doesn't know what she is.]

I'm Liora...a Fae dragon from Sornieth. I think someone else mentioned these "kryat dragons" before...

[Video]

[bright_imperius]

Probably!

That'll teach me to get carried away.

[ That would match the data he'd read. ]

I'm Takumi, a human, from Nar Shaddaa.

[ It was partially true, at least. ]

Really?

Maybe they're from the same world I come from ...

... Or maybe a lot of worlds have kryat dragons. Which is probably a little unfortunate, they're not really the nicest of creatures.

I've never had one introduce themselves to me, for one.

[ He grinned. ]

[Video]

[liorafae]

Well...some dragons are nicer than others...

[Like Erebus. Definitely the meanest dragon she's ever seen...]

Maybe? He said the kryat dragons come from a world called...Tatooine?

[Video]

[generalgrievous]

It looks like you are in Nova City.

It is likely that you passed through Genessia upon your arrival so you need to go back the way that you came. The Commons are not far.

[Video]

[bright_imperius]

Right ... That'll really teach me to check my bearings, first, before wandering off ...

[ He looked a little sheepish, but also a little distracted. He peered at the screen. ]

... Stop me if I'm out of line, but. I don't think I've seen anything quite like you, before.

I mean, I've seen a lot of droids, but ...

[ This was Grievous, who had worked as a deputy Guardian to Nova City, actively seeking out recruits, according to what Takumi had discovered so far. He suspected the ... droid? ... might be from the same reality he was from, but there were too many inconsistencies to be sure. ]

... Uh. Right. That's definitely out of line.

Sorry.

I'm Takumi Terasu. It's nice meeting you, ... ?

[ He trailed off in a question, as if hoping for a name. ]

[Video]

[generalgrievous]

[There was a distinct growl when he was compared to a droid, followed by the clarifying confirmation - he really did need to get his original body reconstructed to avoid this continued misconception.]

I am not a droid. I am unique.

I am General Grievous, deputy to the Guardians of Nova City.

[There also was that confirmation. Even with no military he often did still introduce himself with the added title. He was just used to doing so.]

[Video]

[bright_imperius]

[ Takumi holds up his hand, placating.

That also lined up. Pride. This is what Grievous seemed to possess in spades. It was a familiar thing. ]

Sorry! I didn't mean any offense.

Even the most advanced cyborgs I've ever seen don't seem to compare.

[ Looks sheepish, perhaps even cowed. ]

The tech that you used must have been advanced, to say the least.

[Video]

[generalgrievous]

I have the most advanced enhancements that....

[But, strangely, he falters, shakes his head and drops that line of talk.]

That is not important here.

Video

[blindpuppet]

You're no where near the right place.

[Enis sighs inwardly.]

You're in Nova City. That means you stepped through one of the archways and have left Genessia City.

Video

[bright_imperius]

Yeah, I got that impression, whoops.

[ The grin she's getting is both apologetic and bashful. ]

I stepped through at least three archways before winding up here, actually. I, um. Might have gotten a little carried away, exploring this place.

[ He moves the camera around him, showing generally where he is ]

So, if I was to go back on the right path, like I should have done in the first place -

- Which way would I go?

Video

[blindpuppet]

That depends where you are along that path.

[Enis sighs softly.]

Do you want me to come find you?

Video

[bright_imperius]

[ His sheepish look turns into a warm smile, instead. ]

If you'd like, that'd be lovely.

Easier than trying to give directions over the hol- I mean. The video. I'd imagine, anyway.

Video

[blindpuppet]

A little bit. Can you tell me what street corner you're at?

Or rotate the camera.

[Enis has a map literally imprinted in her head, it won't be hard to find him.]

[gotabadfeelingaboutthis]

I'd know those swears anywhere...and yeah, I agree. This thing isn't great compared to the Holonet. Not to mention that there's not even a kriffin' spaceport in this place. I've been on the ground longer than I care to remember.

Anyway, the name's Solo...Captain Han Solo.

[Han isn't sure what period the new arrival's from...some in the Old Republic would associate the last name with Corellia's ruler, but Han was about as far as one could get from that, husband to a princess or not.]

[He gives what directions he can to the common area. That much he can help with.]

[bright_imperius]

[ That's exactly what he'd been hoping for. Fish, caught.

Berethon e Solo was after Takumi's time - but even if he'd known of the man? He already had been doing a little digging in the datapad's entries. He'd remembered Han Solo was another deputy Guardian - of Attleton, this time - and yes. He mentioned piloting often. ]

Nice to meet you, Captain Solo. I'm Takumi Terasu.

Thanks for the directions. They're a huge help.

[ He looks a little disappointed, though. ]

But ... even in in this place, Nova City? Not a single ship, anywhere?

[gotabadfeelingaboutthis]

Nice to meet you.

[He sighed]

No, not that I know of. Someone from back home was trying to get something together for flying, but I don't think anyone'll be making it into space anytime soon.

[bright_imperius]

[ Takumi looks a little disappointed, but seems to want to hide it, laughing a little. ]

Just my luck.

Haven't been grounded by choice in a few years.

[ Well, never been flying at all before he was twenty, but, details.

He smiles, wry. ]

I suppose if someone went all the trouble to ... getting us here, or whatever happened to me, they don't want us to leave.

[gotabadfeelingaboutthis]

[He nods] Yeah, even with my family around, I haven't been grounded like this in a long time either.

[He nods] That's probably it. No one knows yet why or who, but it's not hard to figure that much out.

[captain_by_the_book]

[ Really, it's a mood thing whether Cassian responds to newcomer's messages, and usually he isn't in the mood for it. Welcoming committee will never be his favorite job, though every now and then he feels obligated to do his part.

Today is not one of these days. He mentally files away what little information the newcomer has given about himself and decides to proceed with his patrol. He ought to talk to Mrs Smith, she'd been complaining about the neighborhood cats menacing her koi fish.

Then there's the mutter of sarlacc and Cassian feels like he's been punched in the gut. It's been months since the last arrival from their galaxy. There hasn't been a friendly arrival since Jyn and Baze all the way back in May.

His face is blandly friendly when he responds to the message. ]

I'm afraid you've gotten turned around quite a bit, most people end up first in Genessia City, you can walk there from where you wake up. You, however, have been to Fayren, and now you're in Nova City.

[bright_imperius]

[ Ah, there's Cassian Andor. Guardian of Attleton. And ... had a ... droid lover who looked human? More research was probably needed.

Or, he could just get to know the guy, rather than being researching the public posts on the datapad. Details.

Takumi does look rather apologetic, sheepish, scratching behind his ear. ]

Yeah, that's what everyone told me.

I think I was in Genessia City, but the portals were right there and I needed to see where they led.

My curiosity got the best of me, I suppose.

[ He shrugs, and adds - ]

Not my brightest moment, I admit.

[captain_by_the_book]

No, it wasn't.

[ His tone is wry, but not hostile. Honestly, he doesn't know what to make of this chipper man. He doesn't have anything Imperial about his bearing. Are they really in luck for once? They deserve some good luck after getting both the Emperor and his mastermind dumped on them. ]

No harm done, as long as you know the way back to the portal you can easily return to Genessia City. Just make sure you don't end up in Everglade, the city can be dangerous to defenseless humans.

[bright_imperius]

[ The only thing Imperial about Takumi, outwardly, was his accent - which plenty of people tended to have, really. He knew what he'd say about it, if it came up, besides. ]

Well, that's kind of what I was having problems with? That is.

[ Winces a little. ] Someone's offered to lead me back, at least.

But.

Nobody had mentioned ... Everglade, you said?

[ He's starting to look a little uncertain. ]

How do you mean, "dangerous"?

[captain_by_the_book]

Then you're taken care of, most people here are willing to help newcomers. We have all been lost and confused at one point.

[ It's kinda creepy how trusting and friendly everyone is to strangers. At least it had been creepy to him upon his arrival. ]

Everglade's one of the towns, filled with sentient beings many of which consider humans food. They aren't supposed to attack them, but it would be careless to wander around there at night if you can't defend yourself.