Candle By Our Side

[Dutch]

Her boots would echo in rapid succession as Halli paced back and forth in the empty hangar. Small, delicate hands worried over each other's fingers as she walked. Halli's black eyes would repeatedly dart over to the Coruscanti sunset that was seen through the hangar. She could only stop to stare at it in appreciation for mere seconds before the worry gripped her stomach and Halli's pacing would continue. Over and over she said Bellinda's message in her head, still hardly able to comprehend it. It had been days since she had contacted Karon, and after tracking his flight, had made sure that she had arrived to Coruscant well before he would return from the Outer Rim. His shuttle was slotted to land in the hangar she was in now, and the sooner it got to the arrival time, the worse her stomach roiled within her.

She looked down at herself in her robes, as per usual Halli was covered from head to toe in vibrant spots and splashes of colors. Bright purples, reds and blues spattered her, and Halli mentally cursed that she had such a strong urge to paint after her shower in the morning. Her lightsabers would clink softly every time Halli would abruptly spin on her toes to turn and continue pacing. What would Karon do when he arrived? Yell at the Jedi? Yell at her? His words had been so blunt and quick, she didn't even get to say goodbye before he had hung up. Luckily he had forwarded his flight information so Halli could see when he would be arriving. Minutes felt like hours as she waited, and it felt like every time she checked the time keeper the numbers didn't change. She stamped her foot in frustration at that, and turned to stare out at the sunset again.

I wonder if Bellinda is watching it too... somewhere... Halli thought. Her bottom lip would quiver and she could feel her eyes wanting to water. The shock of her friends words still shook her every time she thought of them. She had begged and pleaded with the Masters to search for her, the only response she received along the lines of 'we're doing everything we can'. Halli's heart fluttered and a sick nausea gripped her stomach at the thought of never seeing her dear Bells ever again. No more sweet smiles, no more soft words, just an empty bed in their room when she arrived on Coruscant. The little blonde had broken down as soon as she entered the room, and it was clear Bells truly was gone. She must had left in a hurry, as it still looked like Bellinda lived there, but Halli could feel the absence of her presence in the Force clearly. It had been days since she had been in their room when Halli had arrived.

The roar of an incoming ship made Halli snap out of her reverie as she scampered well away from the landing pad of the hangar. The Jedi shuttle eased itself into the docking bay, effectively blocking the sunset from Halli. She peered around at the viewports to see if she could catch a glimpse of Karon, but wasn't able to see him. Her anxiety ballooned and her hands twisted over one another more and more. Halli loved Karon dearly, but it still scared her every time he got angry. A large man now, though he had always been quite a lot larger than Halli their entire lives, he had followed the Guardian path, and was already on the lips of many in the Order. Not to mention she hadn't actually seen Karon in person in nearly three years, not since she was fifteen. She wondered if he looked any different, he certainly never sounded different to her. The ramp hissed as it began to open, and butterflies took flight in Halli's core as she awaited her friend.

[Swamps]

"Five minutes to landing, Mr. Meritt. Make sure you've grabbed everything you need, I'm not coming back for you! Places to be and all that..."

A hearty voice exclaimed from the shuttles cockpit, calling loudly over the numerous rattlings and clatterings of fans and mechanical parts. Behind the cockpit lay a wide passenger compartment with several seats and tables along with a variety of different amenities. Karon had found a seat in one of the rooms darker corners, a place where he could think. Well, attempt to think. Ever since he had heard about Bellinda his mind had continually swung in its activity. One minute it was numb with and the other it was swarming with thoughts, terrifying possibilities that took him to darker and darker places each time. He thought of Coruscant's diseased underworld: prostitutes, ruffians, addicts, crime lords, murderers, rapists, thieves and the desperate, ordinary people caught up in the hellish game. It was no place for anyone least of all Bellinda.

Bellinda could handle herself well and possessed a mastery of the Force that Karon would never attain, but she was inexperienced. Having spent her entire life living in the Temple she didn't know how bad things were, how low people sunk when put under pressure or how corrupting even the small amount of power could be. Karon had seen it time and time again back on Fondor, the Wicked Fang Clan weren't the first to raise hell in the slums. However Fondor's slums were relatively peaceful compared to Coruscant's degenerate filth, he had been down there only once and it had been a sorry sight. Something that turned his stomach as much as it did his mind. So many people living in poverty and fear and the tyrannical few ruling like despot kings.

He and Bellinda had talked about it many times, how ironic it was that miles beneath the Jedi Temple where justice and peace were treasured and upheld such crime and injustice was taking place. They had even considered doing something about it, leaving the Jedi to fight injustice on their own terms. But each time Karon would remind them of the danger, the depth of the problems. They were more effective within the Jedi than flailing about in the dark down in the lower levels. But he hadn't been there to stop her. It was his fault. If he had been there he could have talked her out of it or worst case scenario: left with her. The guilt was unbearable, like anvils around his legs. Every time he moved, thought or spoke it was there. You should have been there. You should have been there. You should have been there.

Karon took a deep breath in and bit back the eruption. He would see Halli soon and he hated her seeing him like this, he had to be strong for her. Save the fury for the underworld. The Jedi exhaled and forced the feelings to leave his mind with the breath, like Master Djorn had taught him.

Feel the Force flowing through you, let it carry your troubles and your burdens. You are it's warrior and avatar but not it's pack animal.

For a moment Karon enjoyed the emptiness before pushing himself up and moving across the room to the cockpit, bracing himself on furniture as he did.

"Alright, Odrian. Thanks for the ride!"

Karon pushed the cockpit's odd-looking divider curtain aside as he spoke, it's odd-looking fabrics reminded him of the Humani spinsters back on Fondor. Odd folk that mainly kept to themselves, apparently they travelled the stars once upon a time but had become stranded on Fondor. A sad fate for nomads.

"Anytime, Mr. Meritt. Any friend of Eldred's is a friend of mine, just let me know if you need picking up again."

Odrian Yammer turned in his seat and beamed at the Jedi. He was an odd man and a particularly large one too, bulging and filling his seat with ease. He wore an old, faded suit adorned with stripes of many colours, many of which clashed horribly. Odrian didn't seem to mind though, in fact he seemed intent on convincing his passengers he belonged in a circus. A job that his thick, orange moustache was more than up to, it's furry curves bridging two pudgy, beetroot cheeks. But his sunny demeanour more than made up for his gaudy appearance, no doubt entertaining the multitudes of passengers his ship carried as one of the few personal taxis that operated between the rims.

Karon had grown to like him over the last few years and still smiled when he called him 'Mr. Meritt'. Nobody called him that least of all an odd, moustached taxi pilot.

"Oh, I'm not sure I'll need picking up. Thank you for the ride, Odrian. It's been a pleasure."

"As always I hope!"

"Well, I don't know... See you around, Odrian!"

Karon teased, ducking out of the cockpit and heading down the exit ramp. And there, just meters from him, shone an aura he recognised instantly. His head erupted, happiness and fear and terror and joy all wrapped up into one searing cloud of vivid confusion. Karon felt his lip quiver, but held himself firm. Stay strong.

"Halli!"

He called out happily, forcing a smile. It had been years since his 'smiling lessons' but by the Force he had never need them more than he did then...

[Dutch]

And then there he was. Halli stopped mid pace and stared up at Karon as he made his way down the exit ramp. A wide smile blossomed over Halli's face at the sight of him. He looked as he always did, clean shaven and square-jawed. Except his build was much larger than she saw him last. Twenty-year old Karon was no longer just a boy she was friends with, he was a man now, a Jedi worthy of their ranks. A pink blush would touch her cheeks as he called out her name, and she waved excitedly before she simply couldn't contain herself. Halli ran to Karon as he was still descending the ramp, and tossed herself into his arms with a great embrace. She hugged him close and buried her face into his robes. He smelled of space travel, as if he hadn't stopped until his arrival on Coruscant. Halli would have to scold him for that later. She parted from the embrace and stepped back a step to look up at Karon with a mixture of curiosity and glee.

"Karon! You got taller again!"

Halli said in her breathy, gentle tone. A wry smile of amusement touched her lips for a moment before she remembered the whole reason of his coming to Coruscant. For Bellinda. She grasped her hands again and once more took up worrying over them. Her eyes would glance away for a moment before they would timidly flick back to Karon. Halli knew Karon well enough to tell when he forced his smiles, and this was surely one of them. She tilted her head to look up at him better, and a single eyebrow would arch at him.

"Karon... you need to show less teeth if you want people to think you're really smiling..."

She told him, unable to stop the grin that spread as she spoke. Halli walked with him down the ramp, their boots a crescendo down the ramp. Her mind simply couldn't think of a single thing to say to Karon. What could she say? 'I'm sorry Karon' simply sounded too flat to portray how she felt. Halli couldn't shake the feeling that she had done something wrong, that somehow Bellinda running away was her fault. She felt she could have been there more for her friend, if she had, maybe Bells would have talked to her more about how she felt. It hurt the blonde that she didn't even think to contact her when she first thought of leaving, and that her message when she did leave was so... abrupt and impersonal. Halli timidly looked up to Karon. She could only imagine how he felt, having not even been told by Bellinda, but instead Halli needed to tell him the news. Would he hate her for that?

Halli stopped before they could leave the hangar. She looked back at the sunset as it neared closure before she turned back to Karon. A light breeze would ruffle her hair as she cast worried eyes at the Miraluka. Her mind searched for words, something, anything, anything to find out how he felt. But she came up with nothing, instead she worried her hands and fretted. After a moment she bowed her head slightly to look at Karon's boots. She would peer up at him again before she stepped a couple steps closer.

"...What... what are we going to do Karon?"

She asked timidly. Halli simply had no idea, and where normally that situation meant asking her Master for advice, this situation was met with no kind words and gentle nudging. And so, she turned to Karon to take the lead. He was easily the more proper Jedi out of the two of them, and traveled the galaxy for a living. It helped that she trusted him with her life, she knew that he wouldn't steer her wrong. But Halli still couldn't help the gnawing anxiety that chewed at her midsection every time she looked his way. She awaited his words quietly, her black eyes never leaving his face as her nerves got worse.

[Swamps]

A grin splashed across his face as Halli started towards him, arms flailing at her sides and an impossible warmth to her aura. He knew that if he could truly see her he would be able to see her smile, but instead he felt it. A rush of feeling in the Force that only strengthened as she ran closer. Karon chuckled loudly as she crashed into him, slender arms failing to wrap their ways around his larger form. He brought his own arms up around her and held her tight for a while. It had been far too long since he had seen his friend and all the beautiful, wondrous things he had seen on his travels could not compare.

"Karon! You got taller again!"

He laughed again, shaking his head a little as he did.

"You know, most would say hello. But I suppose I have grown. I see you've been too busy to do so yourself."

He teased, glowing with happiness. In spite of which his mind still whirred, Bellinda never being far from his thoughts. He forced another smile. She noticed, her face curving into a grin so wide he could just make it out.

"Karon... you need to show less teeth if you want people to think you're really smiling..."

"You mean you don't like my gundark impression?"

He showed more teeth, roaring a little, before descending into laughter again. Hoisting his bag onto his shoulder, they set off down the ramp in silence. He knew what she was thinking, for similar thoughts plagued him. He watched her aura in turmoil, all uncertain and writhing in confusion. She stopped.

"...What... what are we going to do Karon?"

But he didn't know. He despised it. He wanted to know with all his heart, wanted to take Halli's hand and lead her to Bellinda but didn't have the slightest idea of where to start. The lower levels, there were too many to count and each was too vast to cover. He'd failed her. But he hadn't tried yet, so how could he fail. The Force would guide them both, as it had all their past days. And they would find their friend, pull her out of the slums if needs be. And then... Then he would be having some words with her.

Regardless of how he felt he couldn't put it into words. How could he tell her to trust in the Force. It was empty, a riddle. Not comforting or at all reassuring. He put an arm around her shoulder and held her firm, attempting to at least reassure Halli that she was safe.

"We're going to do all that we can do. Now come on, I want to visit the temple before we leave, ask some questions, see what Bells has been reading lately. It could hold a clue. If not, we'll go down there all the same. Let the Force be our guide, we'll find her if it's the will of the Force. If not, well... we'll have a ruddy good look regardless."

Karon squeezed her shoulder before releasing her and starting towards the hangars exit. His little speech had made him feel better at least...

[Dutch]

Halli instantly folded into his side. She closed her eyes as his strong arm wrapped around her. It was the first time she had felt comforted since receiving Bells' message. Halli let her fingers clutch into and weave through Karon's robes and she rested her head lightly against him.

"We're going to do all that we can do. Now come on, I want to visit the temple before we leave, ask some questions, see what Bells has been reading lately. It could hold a clue. If not, we'll go down there all the same. Let the Force be our guide, we'll find her if it's the will of the Force. If not, well... we'll have a ruddy good look regardless."

She reluctantly let go of him as he began to walk again. Her arm unfolded until she literally couldn't touch Karon anymore, and let it fall to her side. Halli looked away from him to hold her arm with her other hand. Already she had begun to feel overwhelmed. She was afraid to go into the slums, but she had already known that was where Bellinda had gone.

"I... I did. Mostly police reports. Crime rates. Murders per district. Drug trafficking movements... I haven't really been able to sleep so I did as much research as possible for the past couple days. I wanted to go as soon as you arrived... Bel- She's gone below, the slums..."

Her words were almost defeated sounding, despite her best effort at keeping composure. Something the girl often, if not completely lacked. Halli took in a slow breath before exhaling. Doing her best to help center herself, the Force was brought into her the best she could. It did help, the panic beginning to subside. Still her heart fluttered in anxiety. Without looking up at Karon, Halli played her toe over a crack in the duracrete under her befpre speaking.

"... I'm scared Karon..."

[Swamps]

Turning at her words, but not ceasing in his motion, Karon responded. A warm smile flashed across his face, he had underestimated his friend yet again. Hope shot through him for a moment as he recalled all her tales of investigation and intrigue. All the times she and her Master had succeeded, then all the times he had. His smile became a bulwark, one supported and reinforced by these past victories. If they could find one person why not another, if they could solve one mystery why not one more?

"Good work, we'll start there. At least with so many people around somebody might have seen her."

He began to turn away but her aura stopped him in his tracks. The fear and doubt that he saw was unbearable. After watching her fret for a few more long seconds she spoke, the brutal sincerity of her words cutting into him. I'm scared. He felt compelled to comfort her, to put his arm around her again and lie. To tell her everything would be alright.

Not this time. His face fell and as did his facade, smile disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. For a while he stood there motionless, head hung low to avoid his friend's searching gaze. He felt his brow quiver and his eyes soften, a burning in his cheeks making his shame obvious. He was a Jedi Knight. He did not break or falter or cry, he fought and won; even when the odds were incalculably damning. But he was also a person, a Miraluka. A being of emotion. And however much he disliked that, it was true.

After several deep breaths he raised his head to meet her gaze, tongue halting before words could arrive. He tried again.

"I'm scared too. I-I don't know how we're going to do this but we're going to try. You and Bellinda, you're my... If anything happened to either of you I'd never forgive myself. And by the sounds of it the Order has already counted Bellinda as lost. We have to prove them wrong."

He offered his hand to her, the dregs of a smile forming at the edges of his lips.

"Come on, Halli."