A Difficult Task

A Difficult Task
Date of Scene:	21 January 2025
Location:
Synopsis:
Cast of Characters:	Navi, 195

Navi has posed:
It's been a few hours since Cayde dragged Navi away from Amarik and his crew, and she has been forced to wait until the Padawan was called away on other matters before she could return to try to speak with the Tholothian. "I just hope I can catch him alone," she murmurs, approaching what passes for a town square.

She is very conscious of how alone she is. But this isn't the kind of business you bring friends along on, and Cayde tends to create as many problems as he solves, whether that's his fault or not. Besides, Amarik and Cayde don't really get along, either...

"Amarik?" she calls softly, very nearly in a whisper, hoping he's still close by.

Amarik (195) has posed:
He won't reply, but she'll be able to sense him in the Force. He's vaguely and faintly aware of her, but doesn't know where she is, exactly.

He's currently heading away from the colony site's makeshift town square, down into in to the valley below the ridge, towards the vergence...

Navi has posed:
Navi hurries after him. <Be careful in that valley! There's a big and really aggressive herbivore down there that doesn't like visitors!> she sends to him telepathically. <I'm not too far behind you, if you could let me catch up?>

Amarik (195) has posed:
<You mean the gangul> he replies, his presence in the Force suddenly flaring as they get nearer to the vergence. <It's away hunting>

But she'll be able to sense that he's slowing his pace, despite still heading towards the vergence.

If she hurries, she'll be able to catch up to him within several minutes.

Navi has posed:
<Wait... it's an herbivore that /hunts/? That's a troubling thought... just what does it hunt, and why?> Navi asks telepathically, hurrying to catch up. She does employ her mini-glowrod, however, not wanting to rush and potentially take a nasty fall.

<Sorry we were interrupted earlier,> she says as she joins him. <Cayde means well, but sometimes he causes as much trouble as he cures. That aside, I really need to talk with you.>

Amarik (195) has posed:
The Tholothian man doesn't respond, but less than a minute later, she'll find herself approaching a quiet glen surrounded by many willowy trees with silvery green leaves. If she pushes the hanging willowy vines aside, she'll find herself standing on the bank of a gorgeous little pond dotted with white lilies. Those glowing beetles are floating serenely in the air around her. It's... stunningly beautiful, and so full of life.

Amarik is seated on a log overhanging the pond, playing an Andraven flute quietly. The fish in the pond below him seem enchanted, and are swimming in circles under the log...

Navi has posed:
Navi pauses and tries to remember how to breathe normally. The beauty of this placid place is overwhelming, and if she weren't here on a potential matter of life and death, she'd love to just sit down beside Amarik and just... be, surrounded by picturesque life and soothing music.

<You bring me to the nicest places,> she sends, without the slightest trace of irony. <I'd join you if I wasn't afraid I'd scare the little fish away.>

Amarik (195) has posed:
He stops playing the flute, then gives her a faint smile. Then he stands, and with shocking agility, jogs the length of the narrow, mossy log. He stops a few feet from Navi and extends a hand.

<They won't be afraid> he says. Then he makes a beckoning motion at her.

Navi has posed:
Navi stares as he bounds down the log without batting an eye. The fish don't seem troubled, either. And when he beckons her to follow him, she does, with due care for her footing. Fortunately, she's also agile and sure-footed, too.

Amarik (195) has posed:
He reaches forward and pulls her towards him, backtracking as quickly as he'd run forward. But he seems just as surefooted as she, if not slightly more.

Then once they've reached the highest point of the log, he sits down, and invites her to do the same.

Below them, the fish continue to circle, though they're poking their eyes above the water now. They watch Amarik expectantly, as if hoping for him to continue playing his flute. Which he does. A few of them jump out of the water now, their silver scales flashing. And when they strike the water now on the way back down from their jump, the water now glitters with a multitude of glowing dots that flash with life momentarily before winking out like miniature lights triggered by a motion sensor.

Navi has posed:
Taking a seat next to Amarik, Navi watches the interplay of music and wildlife, stifling a giggle of delight as the oddly intelligent and playful fish leap in time to the music. For long moments she just watches, spellbound, drinking in the glory of life in this peaceful place.

 she says at last, keeping to telepathy to preserve the peace of this place. <But we need to talk about what that Shani woman said this morning. Regretfully. What did she mean?>

Amarik (195) has posed:
He places his hand over her's gently, intertwining their fingers. he says. <Life is so beautiful, isn't it>

<She knows who you are, Navi. She knows that I'm going to try to leverage you, and your position within the settlement, to manipulate the odds into the most favorable outcome for the Republic colony>

Navi has posed:
<What position?> Navi asks, confused. <I'm just a functionary; I have some responsibilities, but no power or privileges to go with them. I assist Master Windu occasionally, but most of what I do is fill out forms I still don't fully understand. How can what I do help the colony thrive?>

Amarik (195) has posed:
Amarik shakes his head. <What she meant was that you have an opportunity to get close to Xera. Because she thinks you're gullible, and you're close with the Jedi>

<Look, you must know this already. The settlement is headed for trouble. The colonists are not who you think they are. The last time I visited Jedha, the other informants and I noticed that the heads of all the primary crime syndicates were gone, along with many of their operatives. And that was several days ago. We had already known that the Republic had come to Jedha to recruit for the Initiative, and there didn't seem to be any other explanation for their sudden disappearance>

<I have to succeed in some way by bringing more wealth to the Nihil. If I don't, Shalla will kill me. She was unhappy that you took the lightsaber, but deemed me useful enough to give me another chance. A power shift is inevitable, and the Nihil hope to take advantage of everything when it comes>

Navi has posed:
 Navi replies, after a long silence. <I want to talk to Xera anyway, because what happened today can't be allowed to happen again. She was part of that. She could have prevented a lot of the trouble, but fed it instead by losing control of her emotions multiple times. But I doubt she will listen to me.>

<As for the Initiative, I was of a mind that Xera's sudden influx of willing colonists was suspicious, but I'd no idea she was recruiting criminals to fill the ranks. Without that influx, the Initiative would have failed, and it's likely the Republic would have been better off for that. But it didn't, and now we're /all/ in danger. All because Xera was too eager to get out here. I wonder if she knows just how much danger she herself is in? I doubt it.>

Amarik (195) has posed:
Amarik shakes his head again. <She might, she might not. Even if she does know, it wouldn't matter. She would just try to control the situation through blackmail and bribes. She always thinks she can control people, but she cannot>

Navi has posed:
 Navi replies, horrified by the realization that Amarik means to kill Xera. <If she were to try to kill me or another colonist, I could act to protect them, or myself. But not a murder...>

Amarik (195) has posed:
<I'm not asking you to be> he says. Navi will suddenly feel a spike of acute grief pierce her.

<But you don't know her, like I do. Her family abducted my mother and uncle, forcing them to work for them, for many years. And when they finally had the strength and courage to leave the Grafs, they were practically creditless. They freelanced as hyperspace prospectors but were forced to take the most dangerous jobs, because they were so desperate to make ends meet. To take care of me>

<It was their demise, eventually. And I was left an orphan, all alone, on Nar Shadaa. The Force seeks balance, Navi. I have to tip the scales, and bring justice, in the right way.>

<Xera hates me for a grave wrongdoing I committed six years ago, in an attempt to equalize the Force. We were engaged once, you know. At some point, she's going to find out I'm still alive. And she'll try to have me killed.>

Navi has posed:
 Navi says, hugging him gently and forcing back tears. <No one should ever have to suffer like that.>

But the knowledge that he was once engaged to Xera, and the fact that he calls it a grave wrongdoing, frightens her. <Why were you engaged to her? After what she did to you and your family, it can't possibly be because you loved her.>

Amarik (195) has posed:
<She wanted it> he says with a sigh. <And I thought it wise to keep my enemy close. Close enough to be ignorant of an incoming blindside. Do you remember the Graf luxury liner that crashed into an asteroid and killed thousands? It was all over the HoloNet. Xera and I were supposed to be married on that yacht. That... that was me. I didn't know there would be so many people on it. I thought it would just be the Grafs and their close relatives. Regardless, I went through with it. I was the pilot, and I crashed it into the asteroid. I thought that since they were all rich, selfish bureaucrats, they deserved to die. I thought I was bringing balance to the Force. But I regret it deeply now>

His burning indigo gaze has dimmed now, and Navi will be able to feel in the Force that he's deeply grieved. <The Grafs have no way of proving it was me. But they had their suspicions. However, they never went looking for me because they assumed I had died in the crash as well>

Navi has posed:
<You can't quench hate with hate. It just doesn't work...> Navi hugs Amarik even tighter, her emotions a loud and discordant tangle that takes on an overall sense of bitterness and sadness at the tragedy of his situation, of Xera's, and of her own. <I know you think she deserved to die. Maybe she did. Like you've said, I wasn't there. I don't know what happened to you and your family. But destroying that liner didn't help at all. She lived. And many others who probably didn't deserve to die perished instead. And now if she finds out you're still alive, she'll want you dead. She may already suspect... she has people combing that wreckage to this day, looking for something. I don't know what. It might be your body.>

She sighs deeply, tears burning her eyes. <And now that misdeed has brought you both here, and this colony is a crate of unstable baradium, ready to explode at the slightest wrong touch. And I've got no idea how to fix it. Gods... what an awful pickle we're all in...> she murmurs.

Amarik (195) has posed:
Navi's discordant tangle of emotions seems to cause the Tholothian man to fall into deeper despair. <I should have died in that crash, Navi. By some sick twist of fate, or the Force, I survived. And my atonement is to live a life of tooka and mouse. Kill or be killed. Shall I let it end? Perhaps I should go to her now, let her pierce me. At least I will know peace by becoming one with the Force...> He buries his forehead in his hands with a heavy sigh.

Navi has posed:
<That can't possibly be the only way to bring balance to the Force,> Navi whispers, actually beginning to cry softly, her face pressed to his shoulder. 

<Maybe you /should/ see Xera Graf... but not to kill her, and not to let her kill you. You /both/ lived. Whether it's together or apart, the Force still wants you alive. That can't be just some fluke of fate.>

Amarik (195) has posed:
He rubs her shoulder gently. <That can't be the answer. Seeing me won't change her>

But then he seems to have a thought. He pulls away momentarily, then takes both her hands in his. <But maybe you can> he says. <If you can change her mind about everything, the Nihil can act as mercenaries when the uprising inevitably comes, as long as we're given reasonable compensation>

Navi has posed:
<You can't hide from her forever. But you can choose the best moment to seek her out. Even if that's not tonight.> Navi sinks against him as her shoulder is rubbed. <As for the Nihil, I can try. But they must not hurt any of the colonists who aren't part of this group of criminals. A lot of these people are guilty of nothing more than believing a promise of a better life here. People like your departed family.>

Amarik (195) has posed:


<I'll give you to the end of the initiative. If you succeed, we will aid you in suppressing the inevitable rebellion, for a fee. However, if you fail, we will take our share and spare the innocent colonists, but we will not protect them from your mutinous own. And as you know, if Xera does not change, she will not be counted among the innocent. Even if I don't kill her, one of the colonists will. And their justice may not be merciful or swift.>

<I'll be honest about your odds. It's unlikely you'll change Xera's mind about anything, but if anyone has a chance at it, it's you> He touches her face gently. <You changed me. I didn't have much regret about the Graf liner until after I met you, so don't lose hope>

Navi has posed:
 Navi whispers, tilting her head slightly, toward his caress. For a long few moments she just sits, accepting their closeness and the tranquility of this place.

But in the end she lightly kisses his cheek and reluctantly stands. <>

Amarik (195) has posed:
 he says. He lets her lean into him for a moment, then stands and with signature grace and agility, makes his way off of the log.

When he comes to stand on the bank of the pond, he extends a hand towards her again, and Navi will hear him projecting a song to her, softly, a serenade of sorts. <The unfamiliar road could be the same place you get lost and find yourself / There might be bumps, there might be bruises, but at least you'll have a story here to tell / Time will slip on by if you're stuck here living life with too much caution / Oh, it's safe where you are / But safe only gets you so far / What if, for once / You can find the piece of you that you've been hiding / What if you chase your heart out to the edge / Rewrite your stars and be brave instead?>

When she kisses him on the cheek, he reflexively returns the kiss on the cheek, but seems both surprised and embarrassed by his own actions. He regards her with those burning indigo irises for moment, then disappears into the brush...

Navi has posed:
Navi watches Amarik go with some regret. Only when he has disappeared completely from sight and she can no longer hear his passage does she turn and make her way back up the cliff. "Why do I always seem to get the closest to the most dangerous people?" she asks herself as she returns to her tent.

A Difficult Task

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