Making Up for Lost Time [Jennos]

[Mara]

[...from Keeping the Blade]


It had been interesting talking with the other Sith, though it was the middle of the night on Korriban. Especially so with Lady Novus. Looma hadn't believed her good fortune right away to see her outside with the others. And having met Lord Eurachis, well, before he was titled, the yellow Twi'lek was feeling mighty happy with her time at the Sith Temple. All her frustrations at having been there so long without so much as getting a master and getting much more than some minor training had fled away. Knowing that she was still important, though still an initiate, had made a world of difference.

But her happiness couldn't be all attributed to these matters. No, the night had gotten even better. Among those joining them in the cold night had been Caleb, someone very special to her. He had come in with the others from Bakura with Looma to be assimilated into the Sith. They had worked together in the fields on that hot planet, growing closer over the two years since they had first met. A meeting that seemed a lifetime ago to the young Twi'lek.

Nevertheless, he had been there, his presence striking her dumb briefly, so surprised she was to see him and feel him through the Force. It had only been a month since she had last laid eyes on him, but that month had been a long month, full of work on the Temple. Looma had had to use a great deal of Force-assisted self control throughout the conversation with Novus and the others with the young man standing at her side. Just the minor contact of holding hands for a while had set her aflame inside, realizing at that moment just how much she had actually missed him. Despite the cold night and her threadbare clothes and blanket, she no longer felt chilled.

Now she stood off to the side in the shadows of the Temple far from any entrance door. The night was slowly ending, though dawn was still about an hour off. The others had already dispersed and finally she could greet Cal the way she had wanted to when he had first appeared from the Temple like a good dream. She picked at her blanket which she now wore around her shoulders, not sure why she was nervous. This was only Caleb from Bakura, her friend, her very good friend. The only being in the galaxy who knew her better than herself. But the yellow Twi'lek was shaking slightly, not from the night air, her heart pounding loudly in her chest, confused at her reaction.

Looma tried vainly to think of something to say, a million thoughts flooding her mind. She didn't want to be too friendly but she also didn't want to seem too distant. It wasn't completely his fault that they hadn't seen each other since arriving. But it had been some time, and despite her faith in him and, was it love?, Looma didn't know how Caleb still felt about her. A horrid thought that she wished she could slash away with a lightsaber.

"It's nice to see you again," lamely slipped from her lips softly, and she instantly regretted it. For the life of her, Looma wished she could put a finger on herself, her heart, her mind, her feelings. But it was all a jumble. Embarrassed for her words, she tilted her head down, her violet eyes looking downward.

[Jenno]

His experiences so far at the temple had been quite different. Ever since arriving on the planet, Caleb felt as though he was moving with more of a purpose, a direction in his life. He also had to start using that brain of his again; there weren’t any green fields to stare out over any more. The planet was dangerous, but even that failed in comparison to the trouble that swelled within the walls of the Sith Temple.

Quite quickly Caleb had come to learn that not only do the Sith value a thirst for power, they also value existing power, an area in which Caleb was lacking quite considerably. The other Initiates around his age were always looking to prove themselves, to best all the others. He had avoided any conflict with these people so far; he had a knack for knowing when to turn his head. If he lacked the strength and the power that others already had then he would take to the shadows and dwell within them until he had an opportunity to rise within the Order. He would use his brain to overcome their power, it was all he had.

He had managed to remain almost completely invisible until earlier that night when he had stumbled upon one of the recently appointed members of the Inner Sanctum, Darth Novus. How beautiful and terrifying she had been, even he had been able to grasp at the degree of her power; it was amazing the potential that was around here. Caleb had also found himself hand in hand with Looma again. It’s not that he’d been avoiding her since they arrived on Korriban. It’s just that things were now so hectic and with his scheming on how to survive in this environment, he rarely had any time for anything else.

Perhaps it was good that he and Looma had found each other again. After overcoming his awe of Darth Novus, he had felt how tightly Looma had been holding his hand, and he realised all too suddenly how he had missed her during these last few harsh weeks.

He stood before her now, the pair of them huddled in the maw of the temple’s shadows. She greeted him and seemed embarrassed for it. He had to admit, his own mind was wracked with anxiety, and it wouldn’t be too great of a stretch to assume she felt the same. Regardless, he couldn’t help but smile with true joy again at the sight of her awkwardness; it was good to see that this place hadn’t turned her into a monster. He ran his finger gently down her cheek, until he could delicately lift up her chin as though it were a wilting petal. “I’ve missed you, Loo” he said, moments before wrapping his arms around her in an embrace, “it’s like we’ve been in completely different systems since we got here.”

He held her for a moment longer; he could feel the warmth of her smaller figure, even on this temperate planet. Then he fell back from her form, standing alone again. “How have you been? What have you been doing? How are you finding this place?” His questions fluttered about before he had chance to contain them. The wings of his words were on the air now; he could but only hope for a response.

[Mara]

Still inwardly chiding herself for how she had greeted Caleb, Looma tried to place a reason for her nervousness. Throughout her life she had never been afraid to speak her mind or to get involved in a situation that others would rather not. In fact, her personality had been probably a good share of the reason that she was now with the Sith, not with the Jedi any longer. It had been how she had met Caleb those years ago back on Bakura. Though not quite one to say she was an aggressive type A, Looma knew she was also not one to hide meekly in shadows, unsure of what to do.

Perhaps it was just the new situation she had found herself in, transported to Korriban in a whirlwind. No longer forgotten on an agriworld but now a part of something great with the Sith. But she knew that was no excuse. Since arriving, she had been involved everywhere she could. She had helped with constructing the Temple, not shirking away from meetings with more powerful beings than her. Looma hadn’t exactly purposely initiated those conversations, true, but she had stood her ground among those older Sith. The same had happened just hours ago, with Novus and the others. So why now, when faced with the only person in the galaxy she truly knew and trusted, was she filled with awkwardness, not able to express what was on her mind?

Then the thought came to her, one that had briefly entered her mind earlier before she dismissed it. Looma was unsure how she stood with Caleb. After being almost inseparable for two years, they had arrived here, separated, and she hadn’t seen him for weeks. She was worried whether he had changed in the inside as well, just as she had seen how he had changed on the outside. Now that he was among peers, dozens of other young Sith and not just other Jedi castoffs, would he see her in the same way? And… would she see Caleb in the same way; had the Twi’lek also changed in their time apart? Away from the structures of a working life on Bakura, Korriban was like a place full of independence for Looma and all the others. Maybe her newfound freedom would also include being free from Cal, and that was a thought that shook Looma to the core. So rattled was she that she hadn’t felt through the Force that the young man standing near her was having similar feelings.

So it was when he reached out and touched her, tilting her head back upwards to look each other in the eye, that Looma could no longer hold in her emotions. She was glad when he almost immediately put his arms around her, holding her tight, keeping her from shaking from the sheer overwhelming nature of it all. He could not see the tears that were wetting her face as everything she had been feeling came to a head and relief began to wash over her. Seeing the look on his face, hearing his words, Looma knew she had been foolish to even think the thoughts she had. “Oh Cal…” she said, sniffing, her voice muffled against his shoulder. Looma was unable to speak anything else. This time not because of any nervousness but because the flood of emotions were blocking her.

She relaxed into his embrace, her breathing becoming more even, finally able to draw her own arms around him to complete the gesture. Against her arms and hands, even her torso through her thin clothing, she could feel his new strengthened body. And instead of the heart-pounding fluster of when she had first seen him this way, Looma just stood there, enjoying the moment. Knowing there would be plenty of time later, she hoped, to study him in more detail. For now, though, her tears had dried up, and she felt as if nothing had changed, no time had passed. If she opened her eyes now and saw the forest clearing on Bakura that had been their secret place, it wouldn’t have surprised her in the least.

Looma had been ready to stand there all night and into the morning, but apparently Caleb had not been. He pulled away from her and to her surprise, began peppering her with questions. But of course it shouldn’t have surprised her. After all, they hadn’t seen each other for a great while. It was only natural for him to wonder what she had been up to since arriving to the planet. Looma had to admit she was curious, too; she just hadn’t realized it among all her worried thoughts and fears of earlier. And perhaps Caleb was nervous as well; she could tell by looking at him and feeling him through the Force. It made her feel good that they could share in this awkwardness, furthering that her earlier feelings had been unnecessary.

Reaching out and taking his hands, one in each of hers, she smiled at him, her gaze never leaving his face. It was covered in shadow, the moon’s light behind him, but yet she knew every detail of that face. She felt oddly calm and at ease, a dramatic turn from when he had first approached him. But she knew it was from being able to slip back into the comfortable relationship they had together. With Caleb, she could always be herself. Remembering his questions, she tried to answer them as best she could. “I’ve been good. Tired and sore, but good. Working on the temple, even with the Force… it’s hard work.”[/b] Though she knew that he was not as proficient in most areas of the Force as she, she also knew that he would not take her words the wrong way. Back on Bakura, they had both come to terms with their own personal strengths and weaknesses.

Her eyes turned away then, to gaze past him. “In some ways it feels similar to the Jedi Temple. But in others, this place is… definitely different. I’m still getting used to being here.” With anyone else, she would have growled out her words of the Jedi, but this was Caleb, and he knew how she felt towards them. Her voice never deviated from its calm. Looma looked back at him, speaking softer this time. “For the first time in a long time, I feel like I truly belong. Like, this is where I’ve always meant to be.” She wouldn’t ask him the same questions; he would respond to her answers with his own thoughts, not needing prompting.