Through the Living Hope

She sat at the holo table.

Left a trail of red on every island

She glanced over, but said nothing.

She sensed this. This crew… she could be safe telling them. The Force willed her to. About ten minutes after isolating herself, she emerged from the room, lightsaber hilt in her left hand, another clipped to her belt on the right side of her waist.

All good! I can’t guarantee that we’ll still be in a good spot at the end of the week, but I’ll try

@CoderDrag0n8 @Keke @Through the Living Shadow (any of you may eavesdrop and/or see tiny bits of this) After a couple minutes, the astromech droid C1-25P rolled over to Aerith’s room, and the door opened. It stayed in the doorway and beeped its report. Aerith sat with her legs criss cross applesauce on her bunk, back to the door. Her elbows rested on her knees, hands in the middle, as she listened. So, the droid had had the time to plant a tracker. Well, she’d handle it on Takodana. “Thank you. I’ll handle it when we land.” A few beeps. She chuckled. “Yes, it is urgent, but we can’t exactly just drop out of hyperspace to get rid of it. We need to conserve as much fuel as we can.” More whistles and boops. “You’re right, I’ll need to pick up more for this crew.” She paused. She had a crew. People under her. Been a long time. “Hopefully we get a chance to eat and pick up more supplies on world.” After a brief moment of silence, the droid left, and the door closed. (Now out of eyeshot, but not earshot) Her arm shifted, and she came out of her more traditional meditative position. She tried not to hold her lightsabers. The memories of them, the echoes in the Force, the longing for the times past… they all grew each time she saw them. Yet she often failed. These blades were one with her, and just like a part of herself, she had hidden them for five years. Five years did a lot to change a person. A galaxy. She shifted one of the weapons’ shaft upwards in her hand. And yet, despite everything else changing, these weapons remained. The bronzium emitter, the wrapped sleeve… if only something else in the galaxy could remain so.. unchanged. Something besides the blade’s twin in her other hand. Which one of you guys is a Jedi in disguise? Jedi… to hear the word used so flippantly for the first time in five years… Aerith was a Jedi, yes, though not a Knight, exactly. She and her former master, Rylan Kai, had had some criticisms of the Council. A potential danger in overriding the will of the Living Force. Her master had petitioned for them to take a title different than that of a Jedi Knight - the title of a Jedi Wayseeker. It was an old practice; dead, actually, as far as the pair were aware. Master Kai had found records of the old title in the Jedi Archived. The Council was not fond of his suggestion. However, Rylan continued to fight, and eventually his request was granted. Master Kai… Aerith set her own blades in the crook in her lap and balanced her old master’s in the fingertips of both hands. The whole of the hilt was white duraplast, a simple blade for a man who sought simply the Force and only the Force. He found adventure, peace, and balance within it, and had advised her to do the same. Despite her fond memories of the man, she didn’t dare touch his blade with ungloved hands. The memories would be overwhelming. A slight squeeze of the handle, and she concealed the blade once again in a hidden compartment. The connection with the Force they both possessed granted a window in the past, but he had warned her not to dwell there. It would remain unchanged. Rather, she ought to listen to the will of the Force, and shape a better future. The Force had drawn these people to her. One of them - Vivens - was another Jedi, and the Force had seen fit to have her stay close to the other two as well. But she couldn’t comprehend why. She’d survived just fine all this time with her droids, she didn’t need- … because she did need them, she supposed. She was just scared to believe it. Fear… these days, it was incredibly hard to keep it from controlling her. The Empire’s hunt, the bounty that she was now sure was on her… it was stifling, consuming. Quiet whistles. She jumped. BD-5 had followed C1-25P into her room. She smiled sadly. “No need to worry. But… thank you, BD.” The small droid climbed up next to her. He never liked it when she was alone. He was a good friend. She smiled once more, an echo of melancholy remaining, though more genuine overall. She took a breath, setting her elbows on the knees of her crossed legs once more, her sabers’ hilts in her hands once again. Her eyes closed, and she surrendered her fear to the Force. She found solace in it once again.

@SpartanBrigade We’ll soon be in a spot where you can join pretty seamlessly, if you’re still interested in filling out a sheet

She didn’t answer before the door closed. Too quiet to hear, “I know.”

It didn’t exactly feel tingly, but he felt like he should follow her.

Does it mean anything else?

She entered.

She nodded and took a step back. So.. that mark- or bond, or something… that’s a good thing?

She glanced in first before following.

She didn’t answer as she put the ship into hyperspace. She looked at an astromech droid. “C1-25P, scan for any tracking devices. I doubt that droid had time, but just to be safe.” Still not answering the question, she told the others, “We have about five hours until we get to Takodana. Make yourselves at home until then.” Aerith exited the cockpit and entered one of the bunks, letting the door close behind her.

She followed. She hoped Revi, Evee, and Divine were alright.

“What kind of sword was I using, again?”

I know that you’ve been waiting, waiting for love

She turned her head a bit to look at her.

If you knew all I’ve done? The things I can’t undo

The copilot’s seat was occupied, however, by the sassy droid L-8. “Will you let me get out of the system first?!” Not rude, just extremely stressed.

“Aerith!” She ran to the pilot’s seat and fired up the ship, which took off with a lurch.

She continued to watch silently, skeptically.

“Nice to meet you, do you know how to fire a cannon!” ”Due to your underestimation of our time frame-“ ”L-8!” ”-we do not have enough fuel for the return trip.” ”Set the navicomputer for a nearby planet then!” ”Entering coordinates to Takodana.” ”Good enough, I suppose.”

“L-8! Power up the ship and start takeoff!” ”Fine, but don’t think I didn’t notice the blaster fire. Great job laying low.” ”L-8-!” ”Powering up.”

And I am not the love you knew before