I leaned heavily against the refresher and breathed slowly to calm myself. It was too early in the morning for my day to start off on the wrong foot but it appeared my mind was not going to rest easy. It never seemed to.
I could still see the electrical storm and never ending rain under my eyelids and feel the oppressing nature of the darkness with each roll of thunder. The dream disturbed me to the point where it was getting harder and harder to find sleep. And it was getting harder and harder to hide the bags under my eyes from Carth Onasi and Bastila Shan. Carth still wanted me to settle down, probably with him and, in all honestly, I wouldn't mind it because of how attached I was to him but my heart still had unfinished business. Bastila knew that but she still encouraged a relationship with Carth after all this time because she knew I would handle it. But the bags under my eyes would make her send Carth after me in my apartment. She was like my sister.
But there was someone else I could talk to without being fretted over. And maybe I could solve some issues I've tried waiting for him to solve. It seemed he was not going to be the one to take those steps.
I finally released my hold on the refresher and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked older than I was, not that the prematurely graying tips of my shoulder length raven hair helped my case. My blue eyes were still sharp and lively with my age but the bags weighed them down and made my estimated age soar.
Mission would probably want to start caring for me.
I smiled at the thought and left the small refresher room after I put my hair back in a braid with my two lightsabers hitting each waist. The classic Jedi robes I was wearing did not bother me but I bothered the Jedi. I insisted that Bastila return to the Order but she even refused after the Council judged her so harshly after finding out I turned her from the Dark Side. The Council... Made me want to avoid them, in simple terms. A part of me wanted to get under their skin at every opportunity though.
I grabbed the cloak I kept at the table by the door and threw it on before placing my hand on the lock pad for the door. A few indignant chirps were heard from deeper in my apartment before T3-M4 rolled around the corner that led to my chambers. I smiled at the droid. "T3, are you recharged and ready?"
He beeped but an edge was put into his vocals that I picked up on and smiled at, "Good and yes, it's fine if you come. I'll be glad to have your company. Don't ever think I'd just leave you rusting in here."
T3's next few beeps were affectionate and happy. I pulled the hood up from my cloak and walked out with my companion in tow, making sure through the Force that the gears for my door locked. We walked silently... Or I walked and T3 rolled. Bastila and Carth all had their apartments on my level in this section of building. I felt their presence as I walked on, still sound asleep while the sun continued to rise on a waking Coruscant.
By the time T3 and I made it to our location, I walked the streets out of habit, it was coming close to noon. Coruscant was awake and people were bound to be at the cantina I knew a former companion of mine visited, thanks to Bastila and Mission. T3 beeped me out of my thoughts and cracked another smile from me. "Yes, an old friend."
I fell in with the crowd as I walked in. The noise level wasn't as loud as I would've thought but the band on front and center looked to be in a heated discussion and no one wanted to interrupt it. I felt their discontent and irritation through the Force when I reached out but I also felt the presence I came searching for without even trying to find him through the Force.
My head turned and I lowered my hood. Through the moving bodies and dancing Twi'leks, I saw the broad and familiar form of the Mandalorian I befriended. His attention paid me no mind, of course he had no idea I was watching him, because his eyes were glued on the green skinned Twi'lek dancing for him at a table for two.
