Separation of state (Meira)

[Ash]

Lily sighed a little as she still failed to get the inner plate out from the inside of the droid head she was working on. She wiped grease off on a rag then went back to work. A grunt and a heave later, and the little piece of metal popped off, showing the glorious innards she had to play around with. She couldn't help but let out a little chuckle as she won her hard fought war.

Now she just needed to find her small clippers... which were... on the other side of the room on her work bench... where she should be working rather than sitting cross legged on the ground. Rather than getting up, the young woman channeled the force, focusing hard on her task. Slowly, the clippers rose from the table a few inches, then shuttered towards her, a few inches at a time. Halfway to her, a bell sounded off at the storefront, wavering her focus and causing the tool to clatter to the ground... well that was nice...

The woman sighed again and leered at the cracked door separating this little workshop from the storefront where she dealt with droids and droid parts. Or really anything that required some sort of tech influence. Lily heard her droid she had working the store chattering away at someone, and the little holoscreen she had synced to its visual cortex showed it to be some man. Lily rose to her feet, tossing on a faded jacket over her light clothing and went out to talk to the woman as well.

10 minutes, and some half dozen bad pick up lines later, and she sold him a servo for a shoulder for a simple labor droid. She went back to the back, idly picking up the clippers with the force and letting them float into her hand. How and why did it work now when whe wasn't even trying to make it to work.

"Sure, work when you don't need to, right force?"

She idly spoke to herself as she went to go recover more parts, but one she needed wasn't back here. She did have a spare up front, and, well... it was her shop.

Smiling to herself, she went back up to the front, where it was clear and empty. She also didn't see anyone outside of the windows out front. Smiling wider, she channeled the force again, reaching deep inside and letting it flow between her and the bundle of wires she needed halfway down an isle she could see. Slowly, the bundle rose up and began to float towards her.

[Meira]

Her eyes followed in the direction that the Gran pointed as he spoke. Seeing the sign above the doorway down the street, she nodded and thanked him, giving a slight bow as the two parted. Kinyen was, unsurprisingly, an easy place to get used to. The kind and welcoming Gran had been nothing but helpful ever since Meira had arrived. She'd started her time on Kinyen at Capra, but it hadn't taken long to realize she would not find what she was looking for in the city. She'd spiraled out from there, casting her net ever wider. Eventually, something was bound to turn up.

It was an odd thing that she was out here at all, honestly. After so much time, Meira had all but forgotten about the Sith that she and Jaidan was captured. After bringing him to the Order, Meira hadn't thought much else of the man, but she did remember that he had somehow gotten away from custody at some point. Perhaps during the attack on Coruscant? or while being transported? Whatever the case, he'd gotten away and disappeared years ago. Meira had assumed that he'd gone back to the Sith. Their hooks had been embedded deep in his skin, after all. But, apparently not. The man who had been known as Lancer had been seen again. Jaidan was already out on assignment so, as the other most recent Jedi to have interacted with the man, Meira had been sent.

So far, she hadn't had much to go on. Rumors led her to Kinyen, and now she was fanning out from the larger spaceport city to the surrounding farmlands and smaller communities. The same rumors that had mentioned him, also seemed to hint that this Lancer was no longer with the Sith. If that were the case, then his redemption might still be at hand, but only if she could find him and convince him to come back to the Order, where he might receive the help needed to return to the light.

The time difference between Kinyen and Coruscant, however, was beginning to have its toll on the Jedi master, and so Meira had asked the first Gran she'd come across upon arriving at this most recent settlement, where the nearest inn where she might rest was located. He'd pointed it out for her and she made her way quickly, resolving to continue her search after a decent rest. She moved with a purpose along the walk toward the sign and the door it hung over.

At one point, while walking, Meira stopped. She'd felt something like a tug through the force. Looking around, she could not pinpoint exactly what it was, or where it'd come from. Reaching out with her senses, Meira sensed a flickering like presence. But just as it'd registered in her mind, it seemed like it was gone. She did not believe the man she was looking for was so powerful as to do all that, but she looked around anyway. Seeing no danger, Meira continued past the droid shop and pulled open the door to the inn.

[Ash]

Lily managed to get the bundle over to her with relative little effort, compared to when she was trying earlier. Guess it was just a sudden bout of control that allowed her to do it. Shrugging it off, she went to the back and resumed work on the droid head she was working on. A few minutes of putting in wires and soldering later and she was replacing the head on the droid. She smiled to herself, popping the head from one hand to the other as she walked back out to the front, putting the head on the counter.

The wires she had in her back pocket, which she put back where she got them from. Random bundles of wires were in this particular area, and were paid by the wire, rather than by the bundle. It wasn't anything special, but little things like this helped people who needs only a few little things.

She had an odd thought now... why would she worry about helping out others who, on this planet didn't have much it seemed, have some will to help them out? She sat down on a stool behind the counter, resting her head on her hands, and thinking about this. She had no use to help them out, even if she was hiding out here. She was a Imperial Agent, and had no use to help out these folks of the Republic. She could easily do her basic mission and keep track of things.

Then why? Her thoughts were still stuck there.

[Meira]

As with all her encounters since arriving on planet, Meira's interactions with the Gran proprietor of the inn were cordial and pleasant. She was provided a room at a discounted rate, which she accepted with many thanks. It was a small room, spare and clean, perfect for one such as herself. Stowing her small pack in a closet, Meira had removed her prosthetic leg and sat herself on the bed in a meditative position. She had much work to do, and sleep would not be appropriate at this hour. Relaxing her shoulders and allowing her hands to rest lightly on her knees, Meira closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. There was no guidance to this meditation, she simply needed the rest and clarity of mind that it would bring to her. In only a few moments, she had slipped into the trance and was one with the flow of the force around her.

Letting the eddies take her, Meira moved through her own mind, and through the metaphysical space around herself. She could feel the pulse of life in the inn's common room one story below her room. She could feel the bonds of love and friendship that tied the people there together. Those bonds were like vibrant golden ropes between instances of pure light, larger and more vibrant the closer they were together. Other threads radiated outward, stretching through time and space toward distant lights that Meira could not sense; family and friends, near and far, some gone from this existence and still others yet to come. She could have lost herself in the examination of those bonds for hours, so fascinated was she by how the Force tied all life together. And it was in her wandering meditation of the life around her that Meira noticed small threads, weak in light and barely tangible, that connected to the life form in the neighboring droid shop. Curious, Meira probed further. In her meditative state, she could sense that this life form was different from most around her, similar to how her own presence was different. Not a Gran, perhaps? There seemed to be no negativity in the weak connections that she sensed around this being. An outsider, or a new resident then? Slowly, the curiosity brought Meira out of her meditation.

Opening her eyes, Meira remained seated on her bed for a moment, allowing all of her senses to return to her in their turn. She sighed and stretched her arms up over her head, bending her torso side to side. Perhaps the Force had guided her exactly where she needed to go. Reattaching her prosthetic to her leg, Meira stood and descended down to the Inn's common room. At the bar, she requested a local ale and had to insist on paying when the owner tried to offer it on the house. As she sipped, she asked the owner a few questions about the community. Proud of his home and his neighbors, the Gran answered easily. As she broached the subject of the shop next door, the owner had few details on the woman who owned it, but only nice things to say. A human, as far as anyone knew, the woman was friendly enough. She did good work, and had fair prices. Thanking the Gran, Meira finished her drink and left the inn.

A tone sounded as the door to the droid shop opened and the Kiffar Jedi master entered. Looking around, Meira saw that the woman was seated behind the counter, apparently deep in thought. Clearing her throat, Meira stepped up to the counter. "Excuse me." she said, giving a polite smile. "If I'm not intruding, I was wondering if you might be able to help me."

[Ash]

Lily was so far in her thoughts that she didn't even notice someone walk in until she was nudged in the side by her droid, bringing herself back to awareness before this new person spoke to her. Lily was getting too complacent; otherwise she wouldn't have let someone sneak up on her. Her eyes focused in on this woman.

She seemed to be in her prime still, very beautiful. Tattoos showed that she wasn't a human, but rather a Kiffar. Lily's bright green eyes looked the woman over quickly before she brought out a bright, bubbly smily.

"No way you are intruding in my shop. I'll be more than happy to help you out with. Need some parts for droids? I can help a little with cybernetics but this isn't the best place for it."

She looked at Meira with her innocent eyes. Inside her mind, though, she was sizing up this woman. She was obviously a Jedi, and she hoped that she wasn't discovered by the Jedi order.

Or maybe this Jedi was here for the hidden force user she knew of. Again, Lily stunned herself slightly when she knew she should have turned in the man, or kill him, as was what was supposed to happen to traitor Sith.

"Oh. Introductions. I am Lily, owner of this establishment.

She smiled widely at this woman.

[Meira]

Meira's words seemed to shake the woman from whatever thoughts she'd been lost in. Hopefully nothing too pressing. As the woman came back to the present, Meira senses some kind of change in her. It was a subtle thing, but this woman seemed to pull herself into a particular persona. Without being more invasive, Meira would not be able to pinpoint just what it was, but she was fairly certain that the woman was playing a part, so to speak. Well, whatever it was, it wasn't really Meira's business. Nor was she here to pry into the lives of random local beings. She was here to find Lancer.

"Oh, no." Meira said with a smile as the woman offered droid and cybernetic repairs. "That won't be necessary. I was hoping you might be able to answer some questions for me."

"Oh. Introductions. I am Lily, owner of this establishment."

"Pleased to meet you, Lily. I am Meira." she said, giving a slight bow of her head toward the woman. Meira then looked around the shop. "Have you been here long?" she asked. "On Kinyen, I mean? I am looking for an old... acquaintance of mine, and have heard he might be here."

[Ash]

Meira was her name... hmm... This was definitely a Jedi name she recognized, but it wasn't as if there were many Jedi these days. Though it seemed as if she may have known this woman before... Lily had no idea anymore. When she said she was looking for an old acquaintance, she resisted narrowing her eyes slightly, and instead held a face of mild confusion and concentration.

Something in the way Meira said that started to put Lily on edge, and she knew to trust her instincts. Keeping her smile on and remembering to crinkle the corners of her eyes slightly in the parody of a true smile, Lily leaned against the wall right behind her.

"I have been here for a couple of years now. Enough to be included as one of the long term locals. Who's your mysterious stranger?"

Lily didn't want to make any assumptions on who Meira was searching for. Her intuition, however, told her that she knew who Meira was looking for. Until it was confirmed, she kept her mind blank and face its normal bubbly smile.

[Meira]

Meira kept her eyes off of Lily, choosing to instead let them wander over the shelves and walls. She was not really looking at the merchandise, however. Those verdant eyes slipped over the bins of spare parts, coils of wire and cord, and other sundry items the store had to offer. She was not really looking at anything. Nor was she focusing too much on the words Lily spoke. Her ears heard the woman, certainly, and the words would be recalled without doubt, but Meira was not relying on sound any more than she was on sight. Such things could be deceived. One's senses were only so reliable.

So, instead of merely looking at or listening to Lily, Meira reached out with her senses through the Force. It was nothing invasive, merely an extension of her own presence within the room. She did not try to invade the woman's mind, but simply allowed herself to know Lily's presence beyond what mere physical senses might allow. The first thing Meira noticed in this fashion was a slight difference in Lily from the other beings. She recalled her earlier meditation and how she had sensed that difference then. At that time, she had assumed it was simply the fact that the woman was not a Gran. But now Meira began to wonder if it was not something else. The woman did resonate with the Force, but it was a very weak thing. There were many beings in the galaxy that possessed some slight Force sensitivity, but not at a level suitable for Jedi training. Perhaps that was what this woman was. Meira wondered idly if Lily was even aware, if that were the case. Well, whatever it was, it was none of Meira's business as certainly had nothing to do with the task at hand.

"I knew him as Lancer." she said. "He had a different name, more difficult to pronounce, but I am afraid I do not remember it." Meira turned back to the woman then. "Do you know anyone by that moniker?"

[Ash]

Lily watched Meira as she focused her eyes and seemingly her attention on other places around her shop. To Lily, it seemed as if she was trying to get more of a tactical mindset to this place, but maybe that was Lily was just going back to her more Imperial self. Suspicion started to take root in Lily, and she focused on her inner self, calming her with an old ritual she remembered from... who knew how long ago.

Lancer...

That was indeed what Meira said, and Lily's eyes widened for a moment, before she blinked and they went back to normal, her surprise being hidden behind her mask again. She focused the force around herself, blanketing her thoughts and hiding them. She also attempted to use it against Meira, nothing horrible, but try to persuade. She was sure that this Jedi would know if she was telling the truth regardless, but if she could nudge the suspicion away, then it would make her own life much easier.

"No, I don't know anyone under that name."

She tried to push truth into those words before she continued speaking.

"Nothing but farmers and workers around here come to me for help. Nothing much I do more than run my store."

Despite her best efforts, Lily couldn't hide that little... twinge of false at the end of her last sentence. Even she knew it was there and hoped that Meira believed her.

[Meira]

Tuned as she was, and with her eyes back on Lily, Meira did not miss the fleeting expression. Had it not been for Lily's subsequent attempt at manipulating the Force, Meira might have dismissed it. Lancer was, after all, an odd nickname. Certainly not one a peaceful farmer would take on. But Lily had begun to pull the Force around herself, as much as she could anyway. Meira might not have sensed it, had she not already been reaching out her senses.

"No, I don't know anyone under that name." she said, and Meira could feel the faintest push of the Force behind those words.

Meira allowed a small smile to appear on her features, gentle enough to appear as one of understanding, rather than mirth at the woman's attempt to persuade her. How very odd it was to have someone try to use the Force against herself in such a way. A novel experience, to be sure.

"Well, I suppose he wouldn't use that name, would he?" Meira replied, her smile warming. "But please think carefully. He is Firrerreo, with dark blue, or maybe black hair, about six feet tall. He would not have been here much longer than you, I don't think. Only a handful of years."

This time, as Meira posed the question, she did her own manipulating of the Force, adding a pressing authority to her presence. Not imposing, but undeniable. She also gently dismissed Lily's attempts to push her own will upon Meira, causing that presence to filter away from the Jedi Master like a light mist carried away on the breeze.

[Ash]

Well, needless to say Lily's attempts at persuasion didn't work in the least, and her little card she tried to play was for not. Why the hell did this Jedi master need to come here now? Or ever? She closed her eyes, as that was all she could do from narrowing them dangerously. Time was up, and the round was chambered for Lily.

She opened them back up as Meira spoke more, giving the description of Darmid pretty spot on. She also felt her mind grow slightly fuzzy and she almost spoke out of turn. Her sense kicked in and she held her tongue, but barely.

"I..."

It wasn't much, but the single word fell off after that as Lily collected herself again. Meira was using the force on her as she did to the Jedi master, but it was much more effective. Obviously the training.

"Doen't seem like a normal look for a Firrerreo. Besides, its not like he is in here all the time, nor would I say if he was."

Lily blinked a few times, her mouth running off in a different tangent than her blocking, and she didn't realize what she said until it was too late. Her eyes glanced down to the hold out blaster hidden under the counter and judged the distance and her movement speed based off of what she thought a Jedi could do. It was too late now, and she needed out. She didn't quite move yet, but was ready to lunge for her blaster and hope for the best.

[Meira]

Force bless her, she tried. Meira's smile continued on her face as she watched Lily attempt to resist her influence. Not to revel in her own power over the woman; never that. But Meira did admire the spirit of people who could tell that they were being influenced by the Force. It took no small amount of will power even to notice, let alone resist. She would give Lily that much, at least. But in the end, she simply was no match for a Jedi Master.

"Of course not." Meira said as Lily realized her words had betrayed her. "I imagine that people tend to look out for their own out here. That is honorable."

Lily's darting glance caused a ripple through the Force, alerting Meira to the danger that might lay ahead. the Master's eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly in curiosity, then relaxed. She could now sense Lily's budding anxiety at having just given away that Lancer was, in fact, on Kinyen. Understandable, she supposed, though it made Meira wonder just what kind of connection these two had. Lancer likely knew that the woman was sensitive to the Force. Was he training her? Meira almost laughed at the thought. The last time she'd seen Lancer, he'd hardly been in a state to maintain himself, let alone train anyone else. But then, had the war not changed them all? If her sources were correct, Lancer had not returned to the Sith. That was a step toward redemption. Perhaps she was not giving the man enough credit.

"I hope that isn't necessary." Meira said, her eyes moving down to the counter as Lily's had. "I only wish to speak with him." This time, when she pushed with the Force, it was to allow Lily to see that her words were the truth. Meira had not come here to confront an old enemy. She'd come to offer redemption. Or, if Lancer would not come to the Jedi, to let him know he would have no enemy there, so long as he lived peacefully.

"Besides," she said, amusement causing her smile to widen a bit to one side of her mouth, "you'd only damage your shop if you tried."

[Ash]

Lily watched Meira watch her, and she came to the realization that Meira was onto her wanting to go for her hidden blaster. Her eyes finally narrowed, the air of an Imperial Agent leaking through already. She was still debating on if she should make a break for it. At least until she had a small realization.

She couldn't escape. She could call up on all her droids, and try her best, but this Jedi could probably wipe the floor with them and catch her. And if not, she could bring the force of the Republic and lock down the planet before she could get off world. Lily was just too inexperienced still to do really anything. She sighed, defeated.

Without caring, but not threatening, she took out her pistol from under the counter and tossed it on, the imperial made weapon clattering uselessly on it.

"If you were here a week ago or so, you would have been in luck. But he is off world right now. As for the shop, its a front."

Using her mild ability of the force, which decided to work again, she pushed open the back door. It seemed like the back of the the shop, with repair stuff and everything of that like, but there were a few pieces of Imperial tech hanging out. It was up for Meria to go check it out if she wanted.

[Meira]

By the time Lily had reached for the pistol under the counter, the warnings of danger through the Force had faded. Judging by the shift in Lily's features, she had come to the wise realization that Meira was right. This was good. There was hardly anything worse than a foolish enemy. The pistol, produced and lying on the counter now, was pushed aside with a casual gesture from Meira's hand. The motion put the blaster far out of the woman's reach.

Meira nodded at Lily's words regarding Lancer. She could sense only reluctant honesty from the woman, and so felt no need to delve any further than that. In any case, Meira had come to see if it was true that Lancer had settled on this world. Finding that he had, she felt no further obligation to track the man down. She could sense no indications around the small town that he had been a corrupting influence. If Lancer was content to lead a quiet, farmer's life, then Meira was in no position to deny him that. Knowing where he was, however, did provide the Order with what would be needed to track him down should he ever fall back into more nefarious habits.

Meira craned her neck slightly to see through the door Lily opened. Behind her, Lily had revealed a back room with mostly innocuous items one might expect to see in a droid repair shop. But there were a few bits of tech here and there that carried the tell-tale signs of Imperial make. Some of these items were obvious contraband and indicators that Lily, like Lancer, was not entirely what she appeared to be at first glance. Meira turned her vibrant green eyes back on the woman.

"I see." she said, giving one nod of her head as she reached to the back of her belt. "Let's go, then." she said, producing a pair of manacle cuffs and tossing them to Lily.

Who or what this woman was... it was really no matter to Meira. However, she'd revealed herself as some sort of Imperial agent. Had this been an independent planet, then Meira might have shrugged her shoulders and left the woman alone. She would have reported the existence of an Imperial up her chain of command, but she would have had no authority or obligation to do anything. But Kinyen was a Republic world, and so she was duty-bound to apprehend an Imperial agent acting illegally there. The Empire would most certainly disavow the woman, claiming she no longer operated under orders, and she would probably just end up in some prison. The woman's fate was none of her business, though.

[Ash]

Seems as if Meira was more or less over the sense of danger she was feeling around Lily seemed to have passed, but still, with a flick of the force, the pistol Lily tossed up was tossed aside and easily out of physical reach of her. It didn't really matter if Lily could get the force to work for her. She didn't give it a second glance though and looked back at Meira.

The other woman took a look at through the door. Lily stood idly by, not hiding and keeping her mind at peace and ease. She didn't need anymore heat than she had now. After a moment, Meira spoke and nodded, producing a set of manacles and tossing them to Lily.

Lily caught them and looked at them, as if she was familiar with them, and she was. Very familiar that is, as she had messed with them, of various types, over the years. She looked at Meira, then back at the cuffs, then back to Meira before she set them carefully on the counter.

"I will go with you, but not wearing them. Consider this... a change of heart. Switching sides, I guess..."

Lily fidgeted for a moment before taking a breath.

"I can take you to his farm if you want. And we can... talk..."

[Meira]

Meira waited, calm and patient as ever, while Lily considered the manacles. Inwardly, she was considering how odd this trip had turned out. She supposed she couldn't be too surprised. No event surrounding Lancer had ever been typical, at least in Meira's experience. He was an odd one, Lancer. And it seemed that his penchant for finding odd company hadn't changed. It had been something of a surprise, though, to learn that this Lily was an Imperial operative. Not so much in the sense that she was one, but in the fact that she gave up the ruse so easily. Meira hadn't pushed her that hard. If all Imperial agents cracked that quickly, then the Republic surely would have defeated them right out rather than sign an armistice agreement. So that begged the question; why did she throw her cover so easily.

Lily spoke then, and Meira didn't bother to keep her eyes from narrowing at the response as the woman set the manacles on the table. When Lily hesitated, and then spoke again, Meira's suspicion increased. Some kind of trap, perhaps? Not entirely unheard of, if a bit unorthodox. Did she think that revealing her affiliation would be enough to win over Meira's trust? If she did, then she would be sorely mistaken.

"I'm sorry." Meira said. The smile she gave the woman was gentle and apologetic. "I was not clear." Meira placed a hand on her hip, right next to her lightsaber. "That was not a request, or an invitation to negotiate. You are in violation of the Armistice Agreement. By the authority of the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic, I am placing you under arrest. Whatever talking you wish to do can wait for your trial."

[Ash]

Lily looked back at the manacles as Meira said that she was under arrest as she was in violation of the Armistice Agreement. True that she was, but there were ways around that. She was too nervous to think about anything else though. She was a young woman who happened to be thrust here.

Shrugging lightly, Lily walked forward to the counter and grabbed the manacles, putting her hands through them. At the same time, she brought her knee up and bumped a hidden button. Behind her, the door slammed shut and small popping sounds could be heard as small explosives and phosphorous went off, dousing the room in white fire. Casually, Lily finished putting the manacles.

"Burning someone's shop isn't nice. Good thing it wont spread much from in there as long as that door is shut."

Lily set her eyes back on Meira, showing a softness to them rather than them being hard.

"I wish you luck in finding Darmid. I think you have a knack for finding lost Jedi."

[Meira]

It took another few moments, but then Lily seemed to come to her senses and complied. As she did, however, a sudden movement on her part bumped the underside of the counter. Behind Lily, the back door slammed closed and a series of muffled pops could be heard. Meira's eyes moved from Lily to the door, then back again when Lily spoke. It took only a moment for Meira to realize what the woman mean. When she did, Meira's brows furrowed again. That was inconvenient. With a sigh, Meira fished a comm from her belt and keyed it on.

"This is Master Valli, Planetary Security please." she said, her eyes still on Lily.

"Go ahead Master Valli." came a response.

"I have found an Imperial Agent while conducting my search. She has been apprehended and I will be bringing her with me back to Coruscant. She has destroyed evidence. Can you send a forensics team out? Someone with incendiary device expertise?"

"It will be done, ma'am."

"Thank you. I am sending you the location now."

Meira pressed the locator button and then pocketed the comm. "Let's get going." she said to Lily, gesturing for the woman to walk ahead of her. All said and done, they'd be back at Coruscant in just a few hours. Meira's ship was not a large one, but it had an extra seat. And it wasn't wired to explode, so she was fairly confident the woman wouldn't be any further trouble.