Star Wars - The Old Republic: Close To Home (Book 1: The Beginning)

The Force moves in mysterious ways

The way Lereana heard about the revelation that she was lied to about her father's defection, made her think she needed to expand her way of thinking. She was trying to calm herself down. She even tried to go drinking to give herself the peace of mind she needs, and she wouldn't have it. There's something that needed to change.

That night, she requested Aric Jorgan go back to the Thunderclap. He immediately opposed it, and Lereana made it into an order, even assuring him she'll be fine. He advised him to be careful if she's staying around the Coruscanti streets. It's not always a friendly environment to begin with.

Now alone, Lereana that night was heading to the nearest bar. The reason was... not because she'll take a drink to take her mind off the things that break her. It was because she needed to know what she can do as a Force-user. Being Jedi or Sith would depend on how the Force will be used, and the long-term influence of it... "It isn't a joke,"she thought. "I don't know so much about the Force, but it could help me if I knew how to do it.

"Okay... What to do with it...? First thing I heard about Jedi is that they could influence someone's behavior... Wait... Mind tricks?" Lereana thought of it when she was in the bar. Everyone, human or of other species, was either intoxicated or occupied by the conversations groups were having. Some talked about sports, while others talked about the ties they have with various people in Coruscant and off-world. This could be perfect if she wanted to get the hang of it. Lots of ways it could go down. "If it was a mind trick, I'm sure the target's gonna need to have his guard down. So... Weak minded? Maybe? I should try." The next thing she did was roam around the bar.

It was then she arrived at a small table with chairs. She took a seat and was listening to people talking behind her. They were loud and half-drunk as she identified just with their faces. This could be her chance. She listened in further and made sure her attention was on them.

"So this Ithorian came by my house asking if I was an analyst for the military," one of them said, being a male Twi'lek olive green in skin color. "I told him to buzz off because he was just killing my view. I mean seriously!! I got the best view at the damn balcony and he suddenly gets in my way like how one poops out fodder that says 'I dare you.'" And the two laughed.

The other companion was a male human and replied to the first he's talking to. "So, you shoved him off?"

"Absolutely. He's just nobody." The male Twi'lek replied. "I mean really?"

And Lereana thought of this as disgusting. "So that's your attitude, huh? Fine. Time to change it around... If I could. So... convince him to go home? Okay then. I could start there."

Then she heard further from the man. "Hey... Did you put up my bet yet? Couldn't do it last week."

That made Lereana smirk. "Illegal gambling," she thought. "Even better," she thought again just before she got off the chair. She's just at a fair distance from the two and they don't even suspect her. She focused right at the Twi'lek man and made sure for some reason, to clear her mind. It was somehow instinctive but she felt as if thinking more would lessen its effect. So the Force, non-threatening as she focused it should be, is now being used starting with eye contact towards her target. The sounds of conversation of other people and the sports broadcast nearby start to blur from her hearing. She muttered to her own words which she hears clearly to herself. "Know what? Maybe I wanna go home."

The effect of it is what happens next. The Twi'lek man looked at his companion with a short stare before speaking it out. "Know what? Maybe I wanna go home."

Lereana acknowledged he said it. And she continued to mutter. "Thanks, but tonight's just not my night."

The man was even surprised the Twi'lek companion said it himself. Without doubts, the Twi'lek male left his drink and started to walk away, half-drunk as he walked out of the bar. This made the man scratch his head in confusion.