A Whole New World... (Torgeir)

[Lilaena De'Ville]

After a productive day, and a restful night, Lilaena De'Ville stood outside the heavy freighter Stormfalcon. Her socialite guise from the day before was gone, replaced with a utilitarian jumpsuit in navy blue. Her black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, her face free of makeup. She felt confident that the technician from the day before, Torgeir, would be arriving shortly, and his strength in the Force would be added to the collective of adepts that she was gathering.

It was strange to be in a position of leadership. She had followed others for so long... yes she had trained apprentices before, but leading a small army and a group of Force users was something else entirely. As long as everyone remained on the same page, the group would stay together. If it began to splinter, if those she brought together decided to seize power for themselves? She would have to decide how far she was willing to go to keep the group together, and under her control.

Droids were loading up the cargo bay with crates of consumables, suitable for long term storage and greatly needed for her large capital ship. "Hey," she shouted, jabbing a finger at an errant heavy droid who was rolling away empty handed. "I need these packed up as soon as possible! That means you help!"

"Apologies, gentles," the droid wheedled in a low voice. "This one is needed elsewhere." It continued on it's way, leaving her with a pile of crates and only one droid to work it.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Packing up his toolkit, Torgeir ensured that nothing was missing as he went over the inventory again. Having to buy all his own tools to work for the hangar meant that anyone else that needed something they had broken or lost would go looking for a convenient replacement and then he would have to beat their ass to get it back. Sometimes. He had seen it before, but luckily for those here on Naboo they were spared that fate. Closing up the olive drab satchel, he shouldered it and then grabbed his duffel bag and threw that over his prosthetic shoulder and headed for the door. Leaving the locker room behind, he had a tinge of regret that still plagued him from time to time as the same scenario had played out back home on Corellia. Saying goodbye to the veteran mechanics there who had been friends of his grandfather's, watched him grow up and had become his own friends and mentors. A third beginning was on the horizon and this one he couldn't pass up.

Besides that, Lilaena was very attractive and he was going to be spending a lot of time with her.

Grinning to himself as he pushed the door open, he nearly missed the supervisor reaching for it. "Sorry, Tang."

"Nah," the older man shook his head and backed. "Need a window on this door, even though the females would be peeking in while we change all the time."

"That or train everyone in telepathy," he chuckled and continued out into the hallway.

Smiling, a gnarled hand held the door open. "Gonna miss you around here, but I understand. Take care of yourself."

"Yeah, you too. Been a pleasure."

Nodding to him the older man continued into the locker room as Torgeir departed. Within a half hour, he arrived at the private hangar at the starport and overheard the droid as it was leaving, passing it in the narrow hallway meant for personnel entry. Continuing into the hangar, steel-blue eyes noted the disappointment on her face as she gazed to the stack of supplies. Continuing toward her, he scanned the rest of the hangar and then had an idea. Taking out his comlink, he dialed in a supply manager that he knew here at the port.

"Hey Tor, what's up?"

"Not much. Leaving here shortly, but was wondering if you have any lifter droids on hand that my friend could borrow for about a half hour?" Torgeir waited for a moment as he approached the ebon haired pilot and his new trainer, winking at her.

"Yeah, got two that I could spare for that long. Where at?"

Grinning at Lilaena, "Fourteen A. Appreciate it."

"Not a problem, they'll be there shortly."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Lilaena inclined her head in a nod as Torgeir put away his commlink. "It is much appreciated." His easy going demeanor, coupled with all the grinning and winking, would be an interesting dynamic to see operate with the others. What would he think of Lyydea, for example, the cute-yet-homicidal former slave? More importantly, how was she going to stop him from continuing to flirt with her? His attraction to her was plain, and it made her a little uneasy. Lilaena had spent her life with a singular focus - one that had no room for indulging the desires of the flesh.

For that matter, no one had ever seriously tried to make a move on her. A random stranger in a bar, perhaps, but they were easily ignored. As much as she'd grown into her own skin over the last year, this was one part of herself that she had no plans on exploring any time soon.

Lilaena forced herself not to think about ... Him ... and turned her attention to directing the new droids on where to stack the crates when they arrived. She and Torgeir were standing inside the hold observing the droids work. "Perhaps you can help as well," she said softly, looking at him directly. "You are here to learn about the Force. Have you ever opened yourself up to it before? Some find the Force calls to them in quiet moments, others during times of heightened emotions. It flows through us all, and through everything around us - even these crates," she said, indicating the stack closet to them.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Noting her obvious discomfort with his wink, the Corellian did his best to tone down his natural swagger having grown up around men that always appreciated the game. Though he at one time already had someone that wished to be with him, Torgeir had walked away from her as well and as he unloaded his duffel and satchel on the open ramp, he listened to her explanation as his eyes drifted to the crates. Brow furrowed lightly in thought as he pondered how exactly to perform this feat that she was asking.

"Never knew how. Those dreams that I had just happened," he shrugged, returning his attention to her. "I've seen some holovids about Jedi where they talk about all that stuff, but I thought it was mostly some dude's imagination. Never seen anyone leap up to the roof of a four story building or anything like that." Turning to her more squarely, "How do you open yourself to something you can't see?"

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"You close your eyes," she said simply. "Do not trust in what you can see - the Force is much more than what your eyes can process. Yet your mind, your body - it already knows and understands the Force in a way your rational side refuses to allow. Cast aside your doubt. Breathe deeply, and exhale out the past, the things that you've been told and think to be true. What is possible? Everything is possible. There are no longer any boundaries. Physics are a mere suggestion to you now, something you need not be bound to.

"Release your limitations, and embrace your freedom. Then open the eyes of your mind."

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Though he wasn't a simple man, Torgeir felt like she was talking in riddles and fantasy, but he also wanted this so quietly nodded and hoped she just didn't read his mind. Grinning, he closed his eyes and emptied out all his thoughts and just focused on the black within his eyesight. Imagining the crates, he then thought about a hand picking them up and moving the load toward the open cargo bay. Opening his left eye momentarily, they remained in place mocking him. Taking in a deep breath, he closed his open lid and again tried to focus even more of his mental ability, trying his best to believe that he could do this regardless of how amazing and fanciful it seemed. Moments lingered as he pushed everything he could muster into the feat, hearing the droids performing what he couldn't in the background, moving to and fro from the supplies to the ship's cargo bay.

Sweat beaded on his forehead with the effort and he again opened his eyes. Nothing.

Getting frustrated, his hands now on his hips, Torgeir shook his head. This shouldn't be so hard, he thought. Especially if she could do it. Steel-blue eyes looked at Lilaena, "I understand what you said, but you're making it sound so much easier than it is."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"It is both easier than I made it sound, and harder. In time it will be as simple as breathing to you." She reached out with a hand and one of the heavy crates that had been stacked in the hold lifted out of where it had been placed, moving up and then slowly toward them. "Can you sense anything about what it is I am doing?"

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Her touch to the Force was both amazing and baffling as he felt something stir within him, the feeling an almost out of body experience. Nodding, he watched as the box floated toward them as if on it's own, but the longer she concentrated on the feat he could feel the unique, unsettled discord within. "Yeah, almost like when your foot falls asleep. Kind of like that, but all through me," he stated, steel-blue eyes still fixed on the gliding container.

[Ireen Cole]

Ireen was bored. She was perched atop a crate in the cargo hold, watching the listless relay of droids. Whenever a new one appeared, she made a log entry into the small datapad in her hand. Eighteen, so far. She imagined that they were full of ripe shuura, or brightly-wrapped candies. Inside, she ached for chocolate - a single piece would do - rich, and dark, like velvet on the tongue. With a groan, she reeled from another wave of hunger, and climbed down to walk it off.

Another crate drifted by, and she absently tapped the datapad. Then, she froze. A feeling, like a cool breeze, drifted over her skin, making her hair stand on end. This was someone new. Alert now, she descended the loading ramp to where Lilaena was joined by an unfamiliar man. One of the crates was floating in the air before them. So this must be the guy. She listened to him speak; his voice was like homemade soup for the soul.

"Another Corellian?" She sounded pleased. The stranger was offered a hand in greeting, and her... Lilaena was given a look, "Are you starting a collection?"

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"I appear to be," she replied, a trace of amusement on her face. The heavy crate settled slowly down, sitting on the deck quietly. De'Ville released her hold on it, looking between the two adepts. "Ireen, this is Torgeir. Torgeir, Ireen."

[Torgeir DeHaan]

So transfixed on the ability being displayed that Torgeir almost missed the addition of the blonde, but once he heard her accent and caught the blue eyes, he forgot the crate altogether. Grinning, he leaned in and reached out a calloused hand. "Pleasure," he stated. Backing again, he glanced to Lilaena and chuckled lightly. "Have a thing for Corellian's, huh?" He nodded playfully, "That explains a few things."

Steel-blue eyes turned again to Ireen, "How long you been with the group?"

[Ireen Cole]

His hand was rough - the hand of a workman, probably some heavy duty manual trade, Ireen imagined - which went no lengths to explain the luxurious brown locks cascading from his head. That was the hair of a Nabooian pleasure boy. Ireen suppressed a smile. Maybe, during tougher times, Torgeir put in some extra work hours on the side.

"A few weeks," Ireen said, in response to his question. Also in response to his question, she clasped the datapad to her breast, for fear of looking like some nobody secretary, and not an adept. That's what Lilaena kept calling her, but so far, she didn't feel adept at anything other than working up a sweat. It made her wonder about this steely-eyed Corellian's own level of adapt... ness.

"I hope you like pain." Ireen raised a hand to her mouth, and spoke in a half-hearted undertone, as if to guard her words from Lilaena's ears, "Lilaena has a talent for helping you discover muscles you never realised you had, and then wish you hadn't."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

De'Ville hid a smile at Ireen's words, leaning in toward the other woman. "When you can defeat the twelve year olds in Battle Circle I will be so proud." She did smile then, and laughed. "Not everyone is gifted in hand to hand fighting, but everyone should know how to defend themselves."

She gestured toward the out of place crate. "Do either of you wish to move this back for me?"

[Torgeir DeHaan]

He grinned at Ireen's comments and knew he was going to definitely enjoy this new life, especially if the scenery continued to be like this, he mused as they seemed to be contesting for him already. His natural Corellian pride wouldn't let him think otherwise as Lilaena did her best to knock the blonde down a peg. Though he had worked all his life, he knew this training was going to be a true test and didn't doubt he was going to find new muscles again. Enduring saving friends in the cantina's back home, he had his share of fights, but not with the Force which was going to test him more mentally than anything.


His new master's challenge didn't go unnoticed as Torgeir then focused once more on the crate on the floor between them. Sighing, he closed his eyes and cleared his mind and fed off of the need to please as well as impress these two females. Black gloved hand rose in time with his demand that this stupid box move finally. Seeking that out of body feeling once more, the fledgling Force user began to sense something else. At first it remained in the background, but as he concentrated on it the dribble began to intensify and before he knew it a wash of incredible energy flowed through his strong frame, rushing down his prosthetic arm and outward toward the large box. Picturing the cargo bay's opening, he commanded the crate to rise and move toward it. Keeping his eyes closed, the strange flow of energy continued for what seemed like an eternity. Sweat beaded on his forehead with the effort and he finally opened his eyes to see the square object moving through the air and though at a snail's pace, eventually reach the cargo bay's open ramp where he then focused on setting it down. Tired now, Torgeir drew in another breath and slowly let it out knowing he couldn't lose it right near the end. Slowly descending, the box dropped the last few inches as he relinquished his hold.


But, he did it.


A grin arced upon his strong features as he lowered his arm and then felt like a real weight had been lifted rather than an imaginary one. Steadying himself, the mechanic took a moment as he felt dizzy, easing his breathing before he fell on his ass.

[Ireen Cole]

She smiled at Torgeir. The smile she wore like a mask. Behind it, her face twisted with bitter resentment. How she had longed for him to fail, all the while thinking "Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it," as if she could will his failure into reality in the same way he had willed that crate into the air. A glance at Lilaena was futile - she remained wholly unreadable - and when their eyes met, Ireen averted her gaze. Did she expect the same of her? Why not ask her to pull the moons from their orbits, too?

"You will fit in well, Torgeir." She gave him a nod and resumed logging cargo.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

She was surprised, but kept her face smooth. Not that he could levitate the crate, but at the control he displayed in not only lifting it but in putting it in front of the stack. It was out of place, but one of the lifter droids quickly picked it up out of their path and started a new stack. Ireen was jealous of the man's ability; Lilaena could read emotions easily even though thoughts remained something of a black box for her.

She nodded at Torgeir, "A good start. In time you will be able to lift a heavy crate with no more effort than lifting a spoon. To the Force the size of a thing means nothing." De'Ville nearly smiled. "The droids are almost done, and then we'll be on our way. Did you bring anything with you?"

Lilaena looked pointedly at Ireen, who was trying to bury herself in the datapad she was holding. "Show him to one of the empty cabins. We will be leaving as soon as possible." She walked through the cargo hold into the rest of the freighter, joining Jeng in the cockpit. The handsome Mandalorian brushed his blond hair out of his eyes, looking at her with a question on his face.

"As soon as the droids are done, seal the hold."

"Of course, Manda'lor," he said, touching his fist to his chest. It was unusual to see him without his armor on, but he carried himself with the languid grace of a drexl. Even without the armor he radiated deadly competence, as did most of her Mando'ade. After generations on Onderon, living in the wilds where a misstep meant you were dead, all of the survivors were well honed warriors.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

The competitive spirit betrayed the fellow Corellian as Torgeir let the out of body discomfort finally wash away, clearing his eyesight as he took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, not wishing to appear weaker in front of the two. Straightening, he nodded to Lilaena's directive as he then moved to the ramp and reclaimed his duffel bag and tool belt, shouldering the larger pack and keeping the belt in his hand. Watching their apparent leader head up into the ship, steel-blue eyes turned to the blonde. "I take it you're new to all this as well?" Hoping she hadn't been studying with this mysterious group for years, Torgeir kept his tone more curious than judgmental.

[Ireen Cole]

"Greener than a Drexellian sea cabbage," she said, punctuating her confession with a stab of the stylus. The last of the crates had been loaded, and the droids dispersed, burbling tunefully amongst themselves. And, with her own task complete, Ireen lowered the datapad and considered Torgeir for a second time. She didn't hate him for being able to float a crate across a room, that was silly. But he had the spark of confidence in his eyes, and, in her experience, that meant one of two things: either he was a monumental ass, or he was overcompensating. The two weren't always mutually exclusive.

"That was an impressive display," she nodded at the now immobile crate, "It usually takes me that much effort to get out of bed in the morning."

A thin smile, "Let's find you a room."

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Torgeir chuckled, liking her spirit already and as he watched her work the mechanic was beginning to like her. In some way, reminding him of his mother and grandmother on her side, it seemed to be a cultural thing, he mused. Strong personalities were apparently necessary to keep up with Corellian men and no matter how strong his father always tried to be when with his friends, mother's call always brought him running. Though never admitting that to anyone else outside the family, no matter how much they ribbed him about his love for her. The more he thought about home, the more homesick he was becoming, so shifted gears as Ireen turned to him once more.

Grinning, steel-blue eyes glanced to the lifter droids momentarily before returning to the attractive blonde. "Sure you know how much of a handful Corellian guys can be," he chuckled. "Grandpa taught us that if you do something right the first time, then you don't have to do it again. Kindof stuck with a lot of things, especially with work." Knowing she was going to test him as much as she could, their playful tension was going to make for an interesting future, he mused as his demeanor became more serious. "All this is new to me, so I have to try and get all this down. Especially with what I've heard about certain governments cracking down on... us." Scanning for any spying ears, he hoped none of this was being recorded by any Port Authority official.

Following her up the ramp as the servomotors on the cargo bay door whined, closing it, he knew this new life was definitely going to have a lot of bumps in the road. But, the scenery was definitely worth the trip.

[Ireen Cole]

"Cracking down?" Ireen repeated, with a frown, "That's certainly one way of putting it."

Hunted. Trafficked. Tortured. Exterminated. Pick an atrocity at random and you'd be closer to the truth. That Torgeir had described the looming shadow of Imperial horror in such a tepid and quaint kind of way suggest to Ireen that he had no idea what they were up against. She could educate him, of course, but with that came the awkward questions she rather went unanswered. So she remained mute on the subject, and kept things casual as she led the way deeper into the ship.

"So whereabouts are you from, anyway? You don't sound like you're from the city. The way you speak about grandpa's folksy wisdom... farm boy, right?"