Nightmare

Locations

Tia’s Apartment
Hothdens
Taris
Adasta

Factions

Vigil Compact (Republic)
Harmonium Council
Nigita Rangers

Players

Tia O'Mandalorio (Laurie)
Sabbath Rune (Jack)
Syatt Walker (Scott)
Fausto (Roger)
Bef'fo (Phil)
T-3PO (Scott)
Velayna Marus

NPCs

Lt. Lee Meriweather
Kestra Illip Oggurob
Tattle (TTL-8)
Junero O'Mandalorio (Uncle J)
Dr. Savannah Moore
Cpt. Assyria Cromwell
Dr. Connor Mathison
Jayanna Korrs (JK)
Lady Adasta
Maggie
Gov. Edward Hothden, Esq.
Agent Lee Rambaud
Cdr. Caerr'Lon
Adm. Malachy Veloth
Werner Marus

---

Short Public Excerpt/Summary

Game Date: 10.Forn.35 ABY

When Sabbath visits Tia to report on his findings after a chat with the Rangers’ psychologist, Tia shares her fears about the Agent’s strange behavior. But that’s just the beginning, as alcohol and circumstance reveal far greater fears lurking in the shadows.

---

Sabbath trotted up the stairs, data pad in hand. While he could not say he technically spoke Huttese, he had spent enough time with Bef’fo that he was able to manage the general syntax, if not all the words. But, with the universal translator downloaded to his pad, he was going to give it a try. He looked at it, going over it in his head, then addressed the gatekeeper droid, Tattle.
“Good evening, Tattle,” he nodded as he spoke the guttural language, as if conducting the speech in his head as he spoke it. “Would you proverb alert Tia that Sabbath Rune is growl, please?”
The Gatekeeper droid quickly extends from its hiding place. He cocks his head to the side, and seems to regard Sabbath. His eye rapidly focuses and unfocuses, appearing briefly perplexed. "As you wish, Master Rune...though calmly refrain from getting excited, jumping up on me, and please remember that you are fucking housebroken once you are permitted inside." Tattle slowly enunciates as if speaking to a child.
Retracting his head through the doorway, he switches over to the rapid fire slang Tia’s only heard Uncle's street hustlers keep pace with. "Great, now it's got a dictionary and hasn't any grasp of gender accents, so she's going to slither her canine ass in here as soon as I get the door open. Gotta tell T to put down some towels."
More loudly, he calls out in standard Huttese, “Ms. O! Master Rune is barking at the door again! Or, as he’d have me say, ‘At open doors dogs come in.’”
Tia’s muffled voice comes distantly from upstairs. "Thanks, Tattle - go ahead and let him in. I’ll be right down."
Sabbath sees the door click open, though Tattle himself does not reappear.
Sabbath blinked a few times, looking back at his pad and at the closed socket where Tattle disappeared. With a scowl at the socket, he said, “Did that little.....?”
He looked at the pad again and turned it off. When the door opened, he stepped inside. Past the threshold, he looks at the interior socket and silently swore an oath to himself that Tattle was going to get his... once he knew what the droid was actually saying.
Sabbath waited in the foyer. He heard movement upstairs and assumed the soft padding about wasn’t T-3PO, so he waited. Only for a moment did he consider yanking Tattle out of the wall. Only for a moment. Really.
Sabbath only waits briefly before Tia appears, heading down the stairs. For once, her hair is pulled back in a ponytail instead of hanging loose around her shoulders. She gives him a friendly wave as she approaches.
"Hey, Sabbath. Sorry to keep you waiting. What brings you to my doorstep today?" She smiles.
Sabbath smiles and shrugs. “The same thing that brings me here every day. You’re here.
“And... when there’s a job to do, I do it,” he says as he reaches into his pocket and hands Tia his commlink. “I recorded the conversation with Dr. Moore. She’s the psychiatrist at Hothdens. Didn’t want to rely on my memory.”
Then, he looks toward the kitchen. “Have you eaten anything yet today? I’m starving. Can I make us something?”
He motions toward the kitchen.
Tia gives him a small smile. "That's certainly true - you're not exactly one to sit on your hands and wait." Her voice is wry, and her eyebrows raise as she accepts the commlink.
"And you recorded it, hm?" Her smile grows, and a hint of approval shows on her face. "Does she know that it was being recorded? And by all means," she waves him into the kitchen, "I'm perfectly happy to benefit from your culinary expertise." She gives him a wink. "Besides, I haven't had lunch yet, either - and you know how cranky I get when I'm hungry."
“You? Cranky?” He gave her a smile. “Never heard of such a thing.
“And, no, I didn’t mention the recording,” he said as he moved into the kitchen, opening doors and drawers and pulling out what he needed. “She has the confidentiality burden. Not me. And it’s not like this will be passed into evidence in court.
“If we had a court,” he added with a smirk and a tilt of his head, then he oohed as he found queg. He knew a Fromirian recipe for queg. He smiled when he found the bum-bum extract. He could have used cane syrup, but the extract was better.
“She tried to get more outta me, but...,” he found a broiler pan and got to work. “Well, have a listen while I fix this up.”
Sabbath was trying to keep things light. Even in the context of their intentions, trying to help Connor Mathison, it would still be difficult for Tia to hear.
Tia smiles at Sabbath. Flopping down into the kitchen chair, she brings up the commlink and begins playing back the recording.

Sabbath entered Hothdens, giving the duty Sargent a wave as he went. The Corellian officer nodded but kept inputting data into a pad. Sabbath entered the main office, paying scant attention to the few citizens there to file complaints or licensing requests. He was certain to greet Maggie properly, the Ortalan dispatcher always pleasant. Then, instead of turning right to the offices belonging to the watch commander or detectives, he turned left and trotted up the stairs.
He didn't want to mention it to Tia, but he had avoided Dr. Savannah Moore since she came to work at Hothdens. It was her responsibility to see to the care and treatment of not only those who were taken into custody, but specifically for the officers whose job it was to deal with the stresses of this line of work. LEOs (law enforcement officers) had to deal with a lot of pain and suffering, as well as the occasional conflicts of their job as enforcers against their personal views of justice and punishment. And Sabbath had avoided her, not because he was reluctant to share his feelings as much as guard her from things even a trained psychologist would cringe at. She may be prepared to deal with more common fears and anxieties, but could she deal with the horrors he had experienced? He couldn't imagine so because he himself was barely prepared and he had experienced them.
He walked into her office and knocked on the open door as he did.
"Thank you for taking the time to see me, Dr. Moore, " he said to the Zeltron woman standing there. He removed his sword belt and leaned the weapon in a corner.
The Zeltron woman smiled as Sabbath came in. "Good afternoon, Sabbath. It's good to see you; we don't often get many visitors in this wing from the enforcement branch." She gestured him to a seat--not a couch, but a simple yet comfortable chair, with a table holding a pitcher of icewater between them and two glasses. Waiting for him to sit, she said, "I'll begin by telling you: anything we discuss in this meeting is confidential. Even if it were not for my own personal ethics which are quite strong, Governor Hothden just signed into law a bill which makes it a pretty serious offense for me to breach confidentiality and, moreover, for anyone to coerce me into doing so. I hope that will serve to put you at ease; it is often the first question I am asked."
Taking a seat, she continues: "Shall we begin with any questions you might have for me?"
"Thank you, Doctor," Sabbath smiled politely as he took a seat. "And thank you for your assurance of confidentiality. Before I ask my question, I'll explain why I am here.
"A good friend of mine has recently suffered a great loss," he placed his hands on his thighs, his posture straight. "She doesn't really talk about it, but I know she is hurting inside. I want to help her, but I don't know how.
"Can you give me some advice on how I can help her?"
Dr. Moore, picking up a datapad to take notes, looks mildly surprised at the question. She leans back and answers, "Well, different people deal with loss in very different ways. I know that may not seem like a terribly useful observation, but without knowing and speaking to your friend myself, it's very difficult for me to offer anything but general advice on how to approach those in trouble: let them know you are there if they wish to talk with you about such matters; don't bring up the loss if they don't do so first; if they are distant, don't press the matter. Did you also suffer this loss?"
"I did," he answered honestly. "But I am no stranger to loss. And I have good friends to help me, because I am not afraid to lean on them.
"But, she's different, " he shrugged.
"It's difficult for me to give you advice on this matter for several reasons. First, I don't know this woman; more, the only impressions I would get about her would be whatever you shared with me - which may not reflect the way she is dealing with this loss, but only the way she seems to be dealing with it by your impressions of it. Second, you haven't spoken about the nature of the loss - what kind of loss it is, and though I could presume it was a death from the context, I have no knowledge of the relationship between your friend and the person she lost, if it is even that sort of loss. But, perhaps most importantly, I don't know your relationship with your friend, nor much about you. What you can do for her is dependent upon both who you are, who she is, and the nature of your relationship." She pauses and says, "I don't want to give you the impression I'm not willing to help, Sabbath, but I need some more information to begin to give you any good advice. My instinct is to ask you if she's seeing a therapist of her own, and to give you some tips as to how to convince her to do so, but since you didn't begin with that I've resisted that suggestion."
He remained silent for a small stretch, his face impassive. He did not look away from the doctor, though. Finally, he spoke.
"She isn't seeing a therapist," he began slowly. "Not everyone shares their feelings with strangers, even though they are doctors. Or friends.
"This was her best friend, " he continued. "Not a life long friend, but a kindred spirit. She died... unexpectedly.
"She is reminded of the loss every day," Sabbath grimaced. "The places they would go. The things she left behind, all bittersweet reminders.
"We are close, she and I, " Sabbath had no trouble confessing. "Maybe one day we'll be closer, but the future is not important to me now. It's today. I want to help her now. Because now is all we really have.
"I just hoped," he sighed. "If I spoke to you, you could give me a place to start."
Dr. Moore nods, listening carefully. "Well, the best place to start is to ask her if she wants to talk about it. Place the ball firmly in her court, so to speak, and respect her decision if she does not." She pauses, and continues: "It may help, and convey less pressure, if you open up your feelings about the loss to her - find common ground. But depending on how she handles grief, that may also backfire. You don't want to do so in a way that makes it about your grief, but sharing your emotions can establish a commonality that may get her to share."
The doctor considers further and says, "One of the things that may be a barrier is that you may remind her too much of the person she lost if the two of you knew her together. Does she have any other close friends who did not know her passed friend as well as you did? That you can approach who may be better positioned to address her?"
He considered that for a long while, his eyes distant and thoughtful. He nodded.
"I will certainly think on that, Doctor, " he offered a tight smile. "She has many friends and we would all like to help her. Maybe I'm not the best one.
"And I have been open about my feelings," he added. "She knows how I feel.
"I wish she would talk to someone, even if it isn't me," he sighed. "I know I can't make the pain go away, I just want... her... to know... she's not alone. She has friends."
"She knows how you feel about the person you both lost?" Doctor Moore considers this for a minute. "Perhaps you might go deeper into that with her, then. Suggest some sort of quiet celebration or lasting memorial, that focuses on whatever element or aspect of this lost friend that your friend considers the most worth remembering? Such things can be maudlin - but they can also be empowering, to have something good and pure to remember them by."
Sabbath nodded as she spoke, listening and remembering. "We can all use a little more good and pure in our lives.
"Thank you, Doctor Moore," Sabbath said as he rose, offering his hand. "I will consider all you have said."
"Any time, Sabbath. As well, any time you'd like to speak about your own life, I am available. I hope you've learned that I'm not terrifying, and you can talk to me about anything that's on your mind." She smiles. "I find that police officers and Force users are both quite resistant to the idea that talking with someone like me can be helpful from time to time."
Sabbath smiled at the doctor as he picked up his sword and strapped it around his waist.
"Talk?" He almost laughed at that. "There are some who might say I don't know how to shut up.
"I never thought you were terrifying, Doctor," he said, his smile fading. "But, maybe I am.
"Who do you talk to when you learn things you didn't want to know?"
"Now that's a very insightful question. In my profession - less with folks such as you, and more with the prisoners we work on - we learn many, many things we would not have chosen to know. You've taken prisoner some individuals whose pasts are filled with some remarkably disturbing events, and we learn quite a few details about them that most people would never wish to know." She pours and drinks from a glass of water.
"The answer for some of us lies in faith, for others, meditation, and for still others, a desire to heal. As for myself? I get a great deal of strength from the fact that what I'm doing is attempting to forward the very, very slow process of healing the wounds that the galaxy has been dealt. Both in my efforts to keep police, who bear a very heavy burden, mentally healthy, and in my efforts to somehow understand why the people they bring to justice do the things they do, in order to figure out ways to stop them on a much larger scale than the individual. I speak to other professionals in my field when the burden becomes too heavy to rest on one set of shoulders, and work with them to improve myself and my dedication to my work."
Sabbath considered all she had said. On the surface, it sounded like a programmed response. But, he felt she was sincere. He nodded.
“Stay well, Dr. Moore. And I wish you luck,” he said as he opened the door. “We are on the same road. And it has no end. Thank you again.
“Until the next time.”
"Take care, Sabbath." she said as he walked out.

As she listens, Tia's expression is perfectly impassive. Though it's clear that she's thinking carefully, she gives no clue as to what those thoughts may be. After the playback ends, she briefly pauses before some life returns to her face.
Turning to Sabbath, she gives him a small smile and nod. "Not bad, slugger. Made it convincing and everything." She makes a face. "She didn't offer quite as much in the way of actionable advice as I might have hoped, but it's more than I had to work with before. Thank you."
She cranes her head towards the kitchen. “Whatcha making?”
“Fromirian roast queg,” he answered as he opened the oven and inhaled. He nodded in satisfaction. “About... fifteen more minutes. The rice will be done in ten.”
He closed the oven, checked the rice in the steamer, then continued to sauté the onions, grown locally.
“Yeah, I thought the same thing,” he looked at her and shrugged. “But, I couldn’t get more out of her without giving more and I was running out of places to go. Finally had to distract her by asking questions instead of answering them.
“Wasn’t totally happy about the answer I got,” he added with a careless smirk. “But, it’s not like I’ll ever be revealing anything terribly sensitive to her so....”
Tia smiles and gives him a shrug. "Bonus points for trying." One corner of her mouth crooks upward. "And she did seem like she would've been happy to keep talking with you." Pushing her chair back, she rises to her feet and stretches. "Although I can't say that I blame her." She looks at him with amusement. "You did tell her that you might be terrifying. I'm surprised she didn't try to glue your ass to the seat after that. I wonder if you'll get a follow-up call."
She walks to the cupboards and begins pulling out plates and glasses, before heading over and starting to set the table. “You ever do any meditating?” She lightly chuckles. “If so, you could always tell her that you self-treat with that, if she comes calling.” She winks.
“Tried the meditation thing,” he laughed. “Caught up on a lot of sleep.
“And she can call all she wants,” he continued as he removed the roasting pan from the oven, closing it with a pulse from his mind. “I threw that ‘terrifying’ line out there, hoping to discourage, but I can see what you mean. Everybody wants to hear the scary stuff....
“Until the nightmares start,” he added as he focused on the broiler pan, the thing rising from the stove top and moving to the table, allowing him to serve portions with his hands free. “So, does anything she said help us with Connor?”
Tia gives him an absent-minded smile, then chews thoughtfully on her lip. “It gave me a few ideas. It’ll depend on how the Doc is, and how much he even wants to talk with me. I’ll just have to play it by ear - see how much he’s willing to open up. Honestly, I don’t want to risk pushing him too much and having him shut me out - I think that would be worse for him. Might be a point in my favor that, while I’m fond of Mathison, it’s not as if we know each other especially well on a personal level.” She shrugs. “Maybe I’ll ask him if he meditates.”
Her eyes unfocus. “Dr. Moore mentioned that some folks find meaning in healing - I mean, Doc is a doctor. I wonder if it might help him to talk to someone he healed - or somehow remind him of all the folks he has helped. I think part of his problem might be survivor’s guilt. Maybe if he could be reminded of all the people he’s helped to save, that could make a difference.” She continues gnawing on her lip. “Although it would have to be subtle...don’t want to beat him over the head with it - that could do more damage than good.” She shakes her head. “I’ll have to think about it. But thank you again for taking the time to do the research.” She gives him a small smile.
Sabbath nodded, his expression thoughtful as he sat to eat.
“Well, he sure helped me,” he said, raising his left arm. “We could talk to him together. I’ve known him a while. And if we’re going to help him, then it should come from us. Or one of us.”
Tia frowns, considering. "I mean... You could stop by and say hello, if you wanted to. I'd say...just be careful. I wouldn't address it head on. Maybe just have a conversation with him? Thank him in passing for the arm, and for everything else he's done?" Tia gives a small shrug, then side eyes Sabbath.
After a brief hesitation, she says, "If you do visit, though, I'd say try to stay clear of the Agent. She...may see you as a potential threat. She doesn't seem all that...sentimental about the role of the Vanguard."
Tia watches him somewhat anxiously, again chewing on her lip, her plate untouched. After a long pause, she finally speaks. "If you do visit, and you do see her... Please try not to let her push your buttons, Sabbath. I know she's come on a bit...strong. But...well, being angry about it won't help. And...it's not worth getting that thing attached to you excited."
He chewed thoughtfully as she spoke, taking a sip of wine to wash it down. As he set the glass down, he spoke.
“She was being deliberately insensitive and I have not been able to figure out why,” he moved the food around the plate with his fork but did not pick any up. “Engaging us professionally for the first time, why would she do that? To establish that she was different? As if we wouldn’t know. Lee was cool.....
“The Agent is just.... cold,” he took up his fork and had some rice before continuing. “Deliberately cold. Until I understand why, she will not get under my skin again. I won’t avoid her, but I will otherwise ignore her.
“And I will see if Connor is in tomorrow,” Sabbath went on. “I am getting a Biofeedback system installed in my armor. I will also ask about getting a suit for you. It has considerable advantages. And when you think about all the work you have done with them and all there is still to do, it would behoove them to provide the additional protection and support.
“We’ll match,” his smile brightened childishly. “All you’ll need is a Vigil Blade. You already have an Abbatar.
“Did Lee give that to you?” he asked, his smile dimming, but not leaving. “I was wondering what it felt like to you.
“Because for me, I can feel it,” he leaned in a little, his voice lowering. “Not all the time, but when I stop and just.... listen?... I can feel it like warmth. Like... comfort? I don’t know. I just feel safer when it’s on.
“So, when I saw it, it made me think,” he shrugged. “Do you feel it?”
Tia watches Sabbath, thinking. She picks up her glass and takes a healthy swallow from it, before finally taking up a fork and beginning to slowly eat.
When she speaks, her voice is quiet. "I don't know. But...I do wonder whether the Agent's trying to provoke us. Maybe even..." Tia pauses before plowing ahead. "Maybe even you in particular." For a moment, Tia can't quite seem to meet Sabbath's eyes, but then something about her expression shifts subtly, and she does, giving him a gentle smile.
"Anyone who knows you would know how you react when people talk to me like she did, Sabbath. She might be doing it just to piss you off." She holds his gaze. "Please remember that I'm a big girl - I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, and I know better than to let her get to me, anyway. But you..." She sits back with a sigh. "The last thing you need right now is any kind of strong, bad emotions that might give that thing haunting you anything to work with."
She gives him a sober look. "I don't care what she says, or even if you think that she does manage at some point to get under my skin - please, just...don't worry about it." She shrugs. "I'll be fine, and it won't be the first time I've dealt with someone trying to show me they're top bitch. But..."
She sighs. "Look, I just...get the feeling that if any of the Vanguard were to start getting upset... Well, I don't know that she would put as much effort into trying to deescalate a situation as Lee did. She might just break out a thermal detonator and preemptively take them...you...out. After all, by her measure, you'd just come back, anyway, and that would neutralize the potential threat. Don't give her an excuse to do that."
Tia pauses for a long moment, then seems to nod to herself. Refocusing on him, she gives him an apologetic look. "Sabbath...from what I've heard, not everyone at Vigil was happy about the three of you being made Vanguard. And...you know that the three of you have been given a lot more freedom than most fledgling Vanguard are. Don't give them an excuse to take that freedom away. If she can provoke you into losing it - or even just close enough that she could make a case that you were about to - it might give whoever wasn't happy about you being made Vanguard in the first place the ammunition they need to do away with some of the special treatment they've given you. Or..." Something dark flickers in the back of Tia's eyes. "Or even make the case that you're too dangerous to bring back. Worst case... Maybe even let them argue that you should be locked up in one of their prisons. I don't know. But if she really did take you - or Fausto or Syatt - down, they'd have a lot more options on how to deal with you because you'd be brought back within their power base."
She hesitates, and he sees her wince. "Of the three of you... Because of that thing, you're probably the most obvious target to provoke, if she's trying to set you off. Especially since she can try to use me as a prop." She shrugs. "Don't let her do it. Don't give her anything that could be used against you like that."
She gives him a small smile. "I know you're not one to fight your emotions, Sabbath, but maybe... At least until we manage to get rid of that thing, maybe just...try to stay chill? Take deep breaths? Try not to get too worked up or angry about anything? Avoid anything that might make you too... excited?"
A slightly teasing glint enters her eyes. "I know doing things halfway isn't exactly in your MO, Sabbath, but you could try it on for a little while. Just try to take a step back until all this is sorted? Take up meditation and get some extra sleep in." She gives him a hopeful smile.
"And with some luck, hopefully this whole nasty situation with that thing will be dealt with soon. We really should try to talk to JK as soon as she's back." Her brow furrows as she thinks.
“It did not occur to me that the Agent would do that,” Sabbath played with his food, looking thoughtfully at his plate. “If she was, that means she has an agenda that completely goes against the Lady and the rest of the Vigil command structure. I admit, I don’t know her reasons, but trying to get me to flip out in the middle of her office, or anywhere really, would have been.... crazy.
“I know everybody seems to think that they have a plan to just take me out whenever they need to,” he shook his head a little, his expression weary. “But, they don’t know what I’m capable of. Even you only know what you’ve seen and I show less than I can do. Tia, what I can do is....
“It’s true. My emotions are always just below the surface and it doesn’t take much for me to express how I feel,” he showed her his truth in his eyes. “But I have never been... more sure... of my self control. I know what is at stake.
“And I hope you have seen the effort I have made to protect everyone...,” he tilted his head with a half shrug. “.... especially myself. And I don’t mean standing in front of blaster bolts like a shield. I have resisted every temptation the Dark has tried to lure me with since Fausto helped me see it for what it was. Every time. And with every victory against it, my focus is made more pure. If you could... feel... my soul, my heart... you would know that there is almost no Darkness left in me.
“But, I know you want to protect me,” he smiled and it was a little sad. “So I will do as you say and learn to better... quiet... whatever it is that makes everyone so concerned. What makes you concerned. And while this specter looms, I will be as diligent as I can be.
“But, you should know, it is not the Haunt that makes everyone nervous,” he shook his head. “The Haunt just makes it worse. Beyond that, the same is true for Fausto and Syatt as it is for me. Yielding to the temptation of the Dark is the danger.
“And I will not yield,” his eyes pleaded with her to believe. “The Dark is not a thing that masters me without my consent. And I will. Not. Yield.
“I am my own master,” he said and he blushed as he said it. “And I do not doubt this. Not even for a moment.”
Tia regards him soberly. "Sabbath...you're just going to have to trust me that I'm very much aware of how much damage you could do if you were to ever lose control. Maybe not in full detail, but....frankly, what I've seen has been enough to give me a healthy respect for it." She gives him a faint smile. "I've also seen how damned stubborn - and unyielding - you can be. I don't doubt your dedication or your heart." She watches him steadily, and some unspoken thought seems to swirl in the back of her eyes.
"But...when someone can move mountains, it seems prudent to err on the side of caution. I'd rather give you the warning and have you not need it than hold my tongue and worry if there’s any chance it might make a difference." Her eyes mirror the sadness that he'd shown in his. "Especially as long as that thing is latched onto you - I do not trust it, however much I trust you."
She chews thoughtfully on her lip. "I doubt the Agent actually expected you to flip out in the middle of the office. But...that kind of bitchiness can be ramped up over time, and take more of a toll the longer it goes on." She shrugs. "She hasn't exactly been here all that long. If she's trying to push your buttons, that could have just been an opening salvo. I don't know. But like I said - even if you didn't flip out, but you were upset or angry enough that she could say she acted as a measure of prevention...." She sighs. "Just be careful. There can be some drawbacks to expressing so much intensity - no one else can see into your head,” she smiles slightly, “at least, not unless they’re another crazy Force wizard, so everyone else has to just go based on what they see. If it seems like you’re not in control of your own emotions from the outside, that might be all the excuse she needs to pull the plug, and end this whole experiment.”
She pauses for a long moment, as if weighing something in her mind. Finally, she looks up at him. "Sabbath, I flat-out hate the idea of that bitch using me as some kind of weapon against you." Her words are quiet but forceful. She narrows her eyes at him, and for a moment she looks almost angry. "I don’t care what happens, you’d damn well better never lose it because of anything to do with me. I would never forgive myself, and I would be fucking pissed at you. For the love of all things holy, Sabbath, do not let her use me that way - don’t let her wind you up when she takes swipes at me. Just...don’t."
She shivers, and gives him a troubled look. “Please, Sabbath…I won’t stand for it. Promise me that you won’t let me be any kind of a factor in anything that might push you over the edge, or even bring you close to it.” She looks down at her hands. “I know your promises mean something. I’d worry less if I knew that she wouldn’t be able to get to you by sniping at me.” She looks back up at him and a ghost of a smile flickers over her face. “And don’t tell me I’m wrong. Last time someone insulted me, it only took you about two seconds to squish him like a bug. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
“Tia,” he says, leaving his chair and settling on one knee beside her. He takes her hand. “You are the reason I am dedicated to overcoming any challenge set before us. What happened on a battlefield is one thing. What happens in the streets where I live is another. Or any other, for that matter.
“I promise you,” he placed a hand over his heart as a pledge. “I will compose myself as you need. I trust your instincts. If you are suspicious of the Agent to that degree then I am warned by one I trust above all others. I will be a stone, if that is all you need me to be.
“Only the Dark is a threat to me and I will not succumb. Not for any proud or conceited notion, but simply that you need it of me,” he continued, looking to her eyes and showing her his desire to please her. “I promise you, Tia O’Mandalorio.
“I will display no fury, nor engage in any threat that will bring me under such scrutiny,” he nodded and sighed. “I trust Jayanna to know more than us and when she returns, we will speak with her together and learn what we can about this new Agent.
“I can make this promise because it is for you, Tia, and no other in the galaxy,” he smiled warmly. “Can I say it more clearly? I have sworn to you devotion and that is the single greatest assurance I can offer. To fail would be a shame I could never endure.
“And please, do not dismiss this pledge as an ephemeral or simple romantic notion,” his face became serious. “I am beyond that. The stakes are high and terrible, with my soul, my freedom, and the safety of all who dare to be near me at risk. Do not believe, even for a second, that I don’t know how dire things are.
“But until a threat or challenge presents itself, until then,” he tries a crooked smile. “Let’s enjoy the simple pleasures we have. You have my oath, I am your knight to command. And I will tolerate no objection....”
He stood, looking down at her, still smiling.
“I trust you because you are asking me to sacrifice even you to save myself and others.
“Can anyone find a more noble soul than you to whom any could swear such an oath?”
He drew her to her feet, taking both her hands. His smile was gone, but his eyes adored her.
Tia looks briefly startled but recovers quickly. She glances at his hands where they hold hers, then up at him, blinking. "Sheesh, Sabbath, you didn't have to make a whole speech. I asked you for a promise, not a formal oath. So dramatic." She shakes her head at him, wrinkling her nose. "Let's hope that nobody ends up being sacrificed in all this - I’m certainly hoping to stay breathing! I just wanted you to be careful, just in case.” She chuckles lightly. “Besides, your plate's plenty full already - I don’t want you adding more to it on my account."
She gives him a small smile, then inclines her head towards the table. "Speaking of plates - come on. Neither of us has actually managed to have much queg. And you made it from scratch and everything."
Sabbath smiled almost bashfully, never looking away.
"A little too much?" He let out a small laugh. "You know me. I don't do anything halfway."
He looked at the table and nodded. He hesitated a moment, leaning a little forward, then let her hands down and moved to his chair. He waited for her to sit.
"Simple pleasures," he half shrugged, his eyes happy.
Tia chuckles. "No, you really don't." She shakes her head, then sits back down. Picking up her fork, she scoops up another bite, then reaches for her wine glass to wash it down.
"The queg really is quite good." She smiles before taking another mouthful. Chewing, she gives him a thoughtful look. "I wonder if JK is back. If there are any leftovers, maybe we could bring her some. I swear, I really don't know how any of them survive on the rations they have over there. They're awful." She shudders.
He sat after she did, placing his napkin back on his lap. He drained his glass in a single draft, then refilled it, topping Tia off as well.
"I was going to wrap the rest so you had a ready made meal. Just heat and eat," he picked up his knife and fork. "But that would be a nice thing to do. I enjoy cooking almost as much as eating. I can always make more.
"I'll call her in a little while."
After they finished, Sabbath rose and began to clear the table. He refilled their glasses, nearly overflowing his own to empty the bottle. He sipped at it carefully to prevent a spill. Then, he started loading the dishwasher. He took a deep breath and looked at Tia while he worked.
"I asked about the Abbatar before I became all oathy and promisey," he rolled his eyes at himself, shaking his head. "Is that... something we can talk about, or no?"
Tia blinks, looking surprised. "Oh, that's right. I'm sorry - I guess I was a bit distracted." She gives him a small smile, but her eyes look pained. "Yes - it was Lee's Abbatar. She slipped it in my pocket before..." Tia trails off, then clears her throat. Smiling sadly, she continues. "Anyway, she left it for me, along with her dog tags."
Picking up her newly refilled glass, Tia takes a sip.
“So....,” he seemed to be trying to sort a puzzle in his mind. “... it doesn’t... affect you... in any way?”
Tia gives him a puzzled look. "I mean...it's still an Abbatar. From what I understand, Lee's is a simpler version of the ones they give you Vanguard folks." She gestures towards his and shrugs. "Designed for the Vigil folks that aren't crazy Force wizards. Basically, it's just supposed to warn the wearer if someone tries to mess with them with Force bullshit - it gets warm, and that's a cue that something's up."
Sabbath’s smile was a thing of wonder and joy. He laughed. Then, he took up his nearly full glass and drained half of it. He set it down slowly, his hand a little unsteady.
“You have no idea what a comfort that is,” his sigh was like a relief. Then, his smile became a little sadder, but not much. “She is still protecting you.”
Tia blinks at Sabbath, and again she seems confused. Her eyes flick briefly from his face to his glass and back. She takes another sip from her own glass, and a shadow briefly passes over her face. "I suppose that's one way to look at it."
“Is there another way to look at it?” he asked, picking up his glass and swirling the contents.
Tia stares at Sabbath for a moment, as if unsure that she'd heard him correctly. When she finally speaks, there's an edge to her voice, though her words are quiet. "Personally, I'd find it more comforting if she were actually still here. She did a damn fine job of protecting me when she was still alive." She frowns, looking at him with reproachful eyes. "I wouldn't have thought I'd have to tell you that - seems pretty obvious to me." Draining her glass, she carefully sets it down on the table.
Sabbath shook his head, looking down.
“I don’t know why you...,” he sighed and paused before beginning again. “You know I’d give anything to have her back. I just meant...
“I just meant what I said,” he set his glass down. “I miss her, too. And I was just trying to... it struck me... to me, it was kinda like... she was still protecting you.”
He tossed the rest of the wine in the sink and washed the glass.
Tia sighs. "I'm sorry, Sabbath. If you find comfort from that, I'm glad." She brings her elbow up on the table and rests her head against the flat of her palm. "Really. And I know you miss her, too. I just...." Again, she sighs. "You just seemed so...happy about it or something. I don't get it. While I'm glad that I have her Abbatar, it's no substitute for having her."
"Of course it isn't," he took a shuddering breath, still looking at his feet. "But, I was just... happy that... it made me laugh... she was always one step ahead of me... and for a second it felt... like she was here."
He sighed. "I'm sorry."
Tia swallows, then raises her head from her hand to look at him.
She pauses a couple of beats, before she sighs, then pushes back her chair. "I don't know about you, but I think I need more wine." She pulls another bottle out from the ever-present stack on the counter, then grabs two fresh glasses from the cupboard. Without looking at him, she pops the cork and fills both glasses. She takes a hefty swig from her own glass before turning and offering one to him.
She gives him a small smile. "Yeah, I know you just dumped yours out, but...well....." She shrugs helplessly.
He accepted the offering with a tight smile, tapped her glass lightly and drank half of it.
"The reason I'm drinking so much...," he shrugged. "What you said before, about getting more sleep....
"You're right, I should," he took another small sip. "It's just... this will help... dull my mind so... I don't dream so much."
Tia looks at him in surprise before glancing at the clock. It was only early evening. Biting her lip, she turns back to him. "Planning on making an early night of it…?" She blinks, and her voice softens. "Everything has been rather…busy lately. We all need sleep, though, Sabbath. It's no good for you to short yourself like you do."
She eyes his glass, and her brow furrows. "Maybe I should walk you home?" A faint hint of gentle teasing enters her eyes, though her expression remains concerned. "You're always walking me to my door. Maybe this time I should see you to yours." She tries a small smile. "You do seem to be a bit under the influence. I hope it helps keep the nightmares away, but I wouldn't want you to trip into your door. You have enough trouble with doors when you're sober."
"Sounds like a great idea," he nodded. "However, I don't think I'm done yet."
He drained the rest of his glass and set it back on the counter. He reached for the bottle and misjudged his reach, almost knocking the bottle over. He caught it in time, but it made him frown.
"On second thought," he sighed heavily. "Maybe I am done.
"Sorry I got so sloppy so early," he shrugged, looking at her and smiling sadly. "And I would very much appreciate an escort. Thank you."
He spent a few moments looking for his sword that he did not bring, then patted his pockets looking for a key card that he could not find. He lowered his head.
"I don't think this is the answer I'm looking for, Tia," he sighed again. "Losing control of myself is definitely not the answer. Hopefully nuthin'll happen before t'morrow mornin'.
"But, I have a couple of 'sober stims' if so," he nodded. "Rangers keep them with in case a drunk gets belligerent. "
He moved fairly steadily toward the door, catching himself on the jamb.
"Yeah. Not doin' this again."
Tia blinks at him, before taking a step forward and taking his arm. Gently pulling at it, she urges him towards the door, supporting him awkwardly despite their difference in height. "Let's just focus on getting you home tonight, and worry about tomorrow when it gets here. Come on. I'm stronger than I look. One foot in front of the other."
She pauses, looking up at him. "Sabbath, don't freak out on me, but I'm going to call Velayna so she's ready with the door when we get there." Supporting him on one side, she fumbles for her comm with her free hand.
"I've been drunker than this," he tilted his head thoughtfully. "Once. I think I was... I don't know. I don't even really know how old I even am."
He laughed and shook his head. "No parents. No homeworld. No birth date. Its amazin' I'm so well 'djusted."
He laughed again. "I useta to tell people my father was a Jedi. I dunno. Maybe he was. And my mother was a beautiful princess. Nobody b'lieved me or anything. Not even me."
He did not lean on Tia, but he enjoyed having his arm around her and hers around him.
"But I hadda say sumthin when they asked," he shrugged. Then, he looked at her seriously. "I know why family is so important to you, Tia. You have pictures an' mem'ries. It's nice. You're lucky.
"'m sorry your uncle hates me," he sighed. "Guess 'm never gonna be a 'plus one' at any 'Mandalorio gath'rins."
He didn't say anything after that. He just let himself be led.
Tia finally fishes out her comm and punches in a code.
Velayna's commlink pings.
"Hey, Tia," Velayna sounded excited. "Sabbath isn't here, but I'm sure I can help you with... whatever.
"Please get me outta here," Tia heard the exaggerated drama. "I am so bored."
"Does that mean you're home, V?" Tia's voice is hopeful. "Please tell me you're home."
"Yeah, I'm here," she sighed. "I wanted to talk to you anyway. Haven't had the chance since Taris.
"He lied to me," she sounded aghast.
"I'm sorry, V. Um. Let's talk later. But for now, I could use a hand. I'm on my way across the street to you. With Sabbath. Mind watching for us and opening the door? I'll explain when I get there." Tia continues awkwardly shuffling Sabbath towards the front of the apartment as she waits for Velayna's response.
"Okay." Velayna sounded concerned, but said, "I'll be right down."
Tia shoves her commlink in her pocket, then looks up at Sabbath. "Not everybody has the high O'Mandalorio tolerance, Sabbath. Wouldn't have thought you'd be such a lightweight, though." She gives him a small smile. "Next time, I think I'll hide the wine."
Without looking away from Sabbath, she calls out, "Tattle - the door, please."
The Gatekeeper droid makes a brief appearance and seems about to comment when Tia shoots him a warning look. He makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a snort before withdrawing back into the wall. Immediately after, the door swings open.
Tia returns her attention to Sabbath. "Come on. Let's get you home - don't forget you have Velayna waiting for you." Gently she pulls him out the door.
By the time they got across the street, Velayna was already downstairs, the front door open. Sabbath smiled when he saw her, waving to her.
"Are you... drunk?," the girl asked as they came through the door. "Are you kidding?"
"You've seen me drunk before. 's no big deal," Sabbath smiled.
"No I haven't, " she argued, then looked at Tia.
Tia just shakes her head, grimacing slightly. "Do you know where he keeps his Ranger stims, V?" She continues pulling Sabbath inside.
"Yeah," the young woman nodded, going to ring for the lift, then turning back and running up the stairs. "I'll get them and meet you up there."
"Doesn't tha d'feat the purpose?," Sabbath asked as they waited for the lift. "Why'd I drink all that wine if yer jus' gonna sober me up? I'll just sleep it off, no?"
He took his arm from Tia's shoulder and walked onto the lift. He was unsteady, but he managed. He leaned his back against the wall.
Tia puts her hands against his chest, holding him in place, just in case. She hits the button for the lift, and looks up at him doubtfully.
"I don't know, Sabbath... I'm all in favor of you getting a decent night's sleep, but... You sure it's a good idea for you to be out of commission like this?" She bites her lip.
"So, what's the alternative?," he asked. He shrugged. "I either pass out, or I wake up in two hours sweating or crying or... whatever, then walk the streets until the rest of the world wakes up? "
Tia swallows. "I knew you weren't sleeping much, but...are you saying you're only getting two hours of sleep every night? Because of the nightmares?"
He lowered his head and nodded, then moved to leave the lift when the doors opened. He stopped though, holding Tia's hand against his chest. He smiled, though he did not look at her.
"I catch naps here and there," he shrugged, looking up and seeing Velayna standing there with a stim. He shook his head. "I'm fine. I just don't seem fine cuz ya never saw me like this."
He was unsteady on his feet. But, he remained standing.
Tia pauses for a moment, then reaches her other hand up to cover where Sabbath's hand holds hers. She gives it a gentle squeeze before pulling his arm over her shoulder. "Come on, slugger. We're almost there. Let's get you to bed."
He nodded and allowed himself to be led. As they walked into the apartment, he pointed to his sword and nodded, remembering where he had left it. Where he always left it when he came home, leaning in a corner. He smiled as Tia led him.
"I love it when you call me that," he said, still smiling. "Jayanna calls me 'Slick'. Did I ever tell you that? I like 'Slugger'."
Velayna rolled her eyes and moved ahead to open the bedroom door. Sabbath's bedroom was simple, but the most evident thing to be noticed upon entry was how tidy it was. The bed was made and the covers were smooth and precisely tucked. Whatever few personal possessions he had were also straight and square. His grooming tools; his brush, comb, lint brush; all lined up evenly on his bureau. The only thing on his nightstand was a book. A paper book. And a holodisc, though it was not activated. Even his pillows were fluffed and square.
Tia leads him into the room. Holding him with one arm, she pulls the covers down with the other and carefully helps lower him down into a sitting position. She gives him a perplexed look, her hands on her hips, before she points and simply says, "Shoes. Off."
She glances back at Velayna, and with a single shake of her head, motions for her to leave the room.
Velayna nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Sabbath nods and bends to pull his boots off. He takes a moment to make sure they are side by side and pointed in the same direction. Then, he pulled his shirt up over his head. He just sat there. Finally, he spoke.
"Sometimes I dream," he looked at her. "Nice dreams. But not often. Every time I go to sleep I try to think about good things..."
He looked at his nightstand. His hand moved but he stopped.
"Maybe tonight I'll get lucky.
"Thank you for...," he shrugged. "Just... thank you."
He was about to stand, his fingers at his belt, then he stopped and shook his head.
"I'm sure I'll be my usual pain in the neck self in the morning, " he smirked as he looked up at her. Then, he remembered something. "I didn't wrap up the queg for Jay, did I?"
Then, he swung his legs up and laid back on his pillows. He lay there a moment, looking up at the ceiling as his eyes began to close. He seemed to grimace, then his face relaxed a little.
" ... you could do so much bet..."
He was already asleep.
Tia quietly watches him for several long moments, making sure that he is well and truly out. Then, she turns and walks out of the room, carefully closing the door behind her. As she steps out, she immediately looks around for Velayna.
Velayna is just down the hall, standing in the parlor. She looked anxious.
“I haven’t seen him like that,” she winces a little. “Is he okay?”
"I don't know." Tia's words are soft. "I can't say that I've ever seen him like that before, either. He's sleeping, now, though." She hesitates, then asks, "Do you still have the stim?"
Velayna holds it up to show her.
“What’s going on?” she asked, concerned. “Did something happen?”
Tia sighs. "I don't know. I wish I could tell you. Really. But...I honestly don't know how things ended up here." She rubs her temples. "Maybe we were just both having an off day." She looks back up at Velayna. "You mind if I hang onto that, just in case?" She holds out her hand.
Velayna handed it over, then looked toward his room. She lowered her voice to a whisper.
“Maybe he’ll sleep the night,” she grimaced. “Most of the time, he just sleeps a little while. Then, I hear the glasses start to tinkle and he usually wakes up after that. Then, he goes out. I don’t know where he goes.
“Sometimes he comes back in the morning...,” she looked toward his room again, as if making sure. “Sometimes he comes back with cuts on his face, or a limp. But he just stims himself in the fresher, I guess. He comes out, looking fine, like he just brushed his teeth, ready to start the day.
“He dozes off sometimes, when the Rangers have nothing going on,” she shrugs. “But, he... I try not to worry, because he seems fine. But, I don’t know.”
Tia takes the stim, then blinks at her. "What do you mean, you hear the glasses start to tinkle?"
“I think when he sleeps,” she winced a little. “I’m not trying to scare you, or make you mad, but when he sleeps.... things.... move. And I know he knows it. Because he sets everything back in place.... you know how he is. Like cleaning. Sometimes he’ll vacuum at like, 3 in the morning. It’s kinda weird, but the place always looks nice.
“But, like I said, by the light of day, you’d never know. Y’know?”
Tia chews on her lip, thinking. "No. I didn't know." Her focus seems to turn inward, before she looks back at Velayna and gives her a reassuring smile.
"But you know how he is. When he does something, it's all out. I knew he was a neat freak - given some of the other crazy things he's done, I guess 3am cleanings make about as much sense as anything else. They probably don't even make the top ten list of impossible Sabbath-isms. For tonight, it's probably just that he can't hold his wine." She shakes her head. "Last time I let him try to keep pace with me, I can tell you that."
She offers her a smile. "Tell you what. I know you said you were bored. You want to go to a friend's house or something tonight? I'll keep an eye on him." She motions a thumb at Sabbath's closed door.
Velayna looks back at his door, then back to Tia. She nods, but there is a reluctance there that is obvious.
“I’ll stay with my dad tonight,” she shrugs. “He likes it when I come home.”
Then, she looked at Tia and her expression was relieved.
“You can stay in my room,” she was still whispering. “I usually leave the door open a little.
“Maybe I should stay,” she seemed anxious. “It doesn’t happen every night. Just sometimes. But, he’s never done... that... before.”
Tia smiles gently at Velayna, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "He's sleeping anyway, V. If you stay, you'll probably just worry all night. If you know that he's waking up at 3 in the morning, that means he's been waking you up at all hours of the night, too. He's probably not the only one that would benefit from an uninterrupted night of sleep. Go. Spend some time with your dad. It'll be fine."
Velayna nodded and went to her room. She came out pretty quickly, carrying a bag. Tia knew all too well what a ‘bug out bag’ was. The life they led, you always had a bag packed for when you had to leave in a hurry and couldn’t always grab the things you needed. Always best to be prepared.
“There’s plenty of food.... everywhere,” she smirked. “If we ever get trapped in here, we’re good for at least a month. And he’s been watching this Corellian drama series... can’t think of the name... it’s kinda a bit much... but it’s a little addicting. It’s cued up on the holo.
“And call me if you need me,” she warned, seeming older than her tender years. “I’m not that far away.”
Tia nods. "I've got your com. Just try to have a good night with your dad." She gives the girl a small hug. "I know I keep saying this, but you really should come over for tea soon." She looks at Velayna speculatively. "And don't think I don't remember what you said when I called you earlier. I don't know what happened, but it sounds like you have a story."
She shook her head.
“I was being a little dramatic,” she shrugged. “It seems stupid now. I didn’t mean to call him a liar, but, you remember that night we had dinner?
“He made a big deal out of me moving a few glasses, saying how great I was because I moved three and he could only move two things,” she tilted her head in a small shrug. “Then, when we were on Taris and he buried that guy under, like, a dozen crates.
“I know he was just trying to make me feel good about stuff,” she sighed and shrugged again. “Like I said, I was just bored and got all drama queen about it.
“Call me in the morning. Okay?”
Tia gives her a sympathetic smile. "Maybe he didn't realize it at the time. Who knows? You're learning - maybe he is, too. If you haven't already, you could always ask him about it. See what he says." She makes a face. "When he's sober, that is. And call in the morning - got it." She sketches a rough salute, then smirks. "Now go and stop acting like a mother hen." She makes a light shooing motion with her hands.
Velayna smiles and turns to go. She waves and walks out, closing the door quietly behind her.
Tia lets out a breath, slumping, and she suddenly looks very tired. She glances at Sabbath's door, then pulls out her commlink and stares at it, considering.

T's comm pings.
T-3P0 answers, "Yes, Tia?"
"Hey, T. I just wanted to give you a heads-up that I'm over at Sabbath's, possibly for the night. You're probably still out, but I think I might have left the lights on in the office when I left. You mind switching them off for me when you get home?"
"On my way, ETA 15." he replies.
"Thanks, T. Oh - and when you do get back, if you could put the leftovers away that were left out on the table, that would be great. Sorry to leave you a mess."

After T hangs up, Tia again looks searchingly at her comm, as if it might hold the answer to some unknown question. She glances back at the closed door to Sabbath’s room. Then, swallowing, she punches in the numbers on the comm and waits.

JK’s comm pings.
"Miss O, to what do I owe the pleasure?" somewhere behind her you hear the hiss of a pressurized line release. She must have moved the comm away from her mouth and covered it as you hear a muffled. "Damnit, Seven, I just got that sealed! Kill the manifold and get one of the LE'bos down here to give you a hand so we aren't all swimming in coolant."
“Hey, JK - you are around. I wasn’t sure if you’d be back yet.” JK isn’t sure, but Tia’s voice sounds almost….relieved? There's a pause. "You busy? Any chance I can tempt you to head over to Sabbath's place, if I promise to get you something for dinner that doesn't taste like cardboard later?"
You hear the clatter of some tools or other. "Sure, sure. Give the crew here a chance to clean up the shuttle we're working on. Just give me a half hour to jump in the refresher on the Hesperus and get changed."
Again, JK hears another pause. "Great. I'll let you in when you get here - Sabbath's got those enormous windows, so I'll see you pull up. If you're quick enough, maybe we'll even have enough time to watch a game - I didn't catch the last one, but with some luck Karpahsyn will hopefully do a better job of actually relying on the rest of his team this time."
"I have a better chance of growing old. Heh. I'll honk on the way in. Only got my swoop back here, ain't heading back to the 'Clyffe just for the big speeder." She signs out.

About forty minutes later, Tia hears a ghastly boom followed by the rip-rumble of a heavy engine, then the scream as air brakes compensate for decelerating from supersonic speeds. A subtle pulse replaces the sudden noise as the green Mobiquet descends on repulsors past the window. About halfway down the first floor, the rider hops off the back to land on the pavement, and pulls at the clasps on the helmet. JK shakes out her brown hair and stows the helmet on the swoop (literally a rocket engine with a seat) as it settles into park.
She walks up to the door and raps on it with the back of her knuckles.
Immediately before knocking, JK hears a muffled yelling in the background. It sounds like Tia's voice. "What is it...and fucking doors?! If you're not ... fucking bursting through..."
A few more moments pass, and then Tia opens the door. There's a faint crease on her brow, and JK can see traces of lingering exasperation in her eyes. As she sees JK, though, she gives her a welcoming smile that is noticeably tinged with...relief. "Hey, JK. Glad you could make it on such short notice. Please, come on in." Tia stands to the side and waves her in. "Sabbath should be out in just a moment." She shoots a look over at a closed door, but she seems oddly on edge.

---

Moments earlier...
Sabbath was up on his feet before he even knew he was awake, startled by the sound of... of... he didn’t know what the hell it was, but it sounded like an out of control craft braking hard. He moved away from his bed, slamming into his dresser painfully. Damn it! He was still drunk, suddenly remembering where he was, who he was, and not much else. He cursed himself for getting drunk. There was no such thing as a ‘good time for’... anything... in his life. He should have known better. Exhaling in a frustrated gust, he pulled open the top drawer and slapped his badge and identification out of the way to grab a stim. He jabbed it into his neck and groaned against the sting. Then, he staggered over to his door, his head already losing some of the fuzz.
He staggered into the dining space, realizing that he was not wearing a shirt or his boots, but he didn’t care. If someone was in trouble, he didn’t have time to worry about how he was dressed. His vision was already clearing. He reached out at nothing and closed his eyes, reaching out to the Force, but the Force was not yet ready to respond to his command. So, he moved toward the foyer to grab his sword. He didn’t know if he’d need it, but it was better to have and not need, than need and not have.
Tia jumps, turning as Sabbath stumbles out the door. Her hand rises to her chest and she stares at him. "Holy shit, Sabbath!" she yelps. "You scared the everloving piss out of me! What the hell?! Do you always wake up that way? What is it with you and fucking doors?! If you're not breaking them, you're fucking bursting through them!"
Sabbath turned, looked at Tia, then moved toward the window. “Did you hear that? It sounded like it was right outside. C’mon. Someone might be in trouble.”
He looked out the big window.
Sabbath hears someone rap on the door. Tia looks at the door, then back to Sabbath in exasperation. "It's just a tricked out speeder! For fuck sake." She rubs her temples as she starts walking toward the door. "We talked earlier about talking to JK. It's still early, and you know how I feel about those shit rations they have over there. I invited her over - do I need to be worried that you're going to go after her with your sword?"
Sabbath looks at his sword, then at Tia, then at his sword again. He set it down and shook his head. He was feeling much better.
“OK,” he put up his hands in defense. “I’m sorry. But, damn, does she make a lot of noise coming to dinner.
“Would you please get the door while I get dressed?”
Tia rolls her eyes heavenward and continues marching to the front door. "Yes - now can you please go put a shirt on?"
“... that’s what I meant when I said ‘get dressed’....,” he whispered under his breath as he went into his room. He closed his top drawer, opened his second drawer and pulled out a shirt, which was identical to every shirt he wore. A black pullover. He pulled it on, then went to the refresher to smooth his hair, spray his breath, and look at himself in the mirror.
“No more wine for you, old boy,” he said, then left the refresher to put his boots on. When he was sure he was presentable, he went back outside.
From the bedroom, Sabbath hears the door open, followed by Tia's voice. "Hey, JK. Glad you could make it on such short notice. Please, come on in. Sabbath should be out in just a moment."

---

JK walks in, a look of concern on her face. It passes quickly and she reaches into her duster for a small case, slips it into a pocket on her hip then takes off the armored leather coat. She looks around for a minute, shrugs, then hangs it on the back of a chair.
"So, um" she peers out the window and across the street at Tia's apartment. "Guess location is everything in this neck of the woods, huh?"
Tia lets out a low chuckle. "Apparently so. Gotta say, didn't expect the area to be quite so popular when I first moved in. At least this beats the alleyway down below." She shakes her head.
JK plops down on the chair by the window and seems to automatically lean back in it, taking the front feet off the floor. She props her boots against the sill.
"Fantastic view of, um, a support elevator, and apparently someone who should definitely invest in curtains with a bay window that large." She shivers. "Didn't even know there were Gamorreans on this rock."
Sabbath heard that as he came out of his room, but said nothing. He put on a smile as he saw JK and shrugged. “Sorry, Jayanna,” he walked toward her, unsure how to greet someone, whose purpose was to hunt him, when they came over for dinner. A polite hug? A kiss on the cheek? “I was just taking a little nap.
“I guess everything went well for you and Connor on that... thing... you had to do?,” he gave Tia a tilt of his head and an uncertain smirk. “So listen, I have flatbread. Mygeeto burritos sound good?”
Sabbath moved to stand beside her chair, looking out the windows. He didn’t know there were Gamorreans in the neighborhood, either. Then, he winced, wishing he hadn’t looked.
Tia smiles slightly at her, then looks to Sabbath and shrugs. "Fine by me. But you're the guest, JK - and the one that could probably stand to have some actual food for a change. That work for you?"
JK looks between the other two, raises an eyebrow, "I'm good with whatever, no need to be put out on my account." Absentmindedly she pops the knuckle on her left thumb. "Yeah, we took the long-term patients off-world. Got them to a facility in the deep black, away from you know, hypermatter bombs set by terrorists and such."
“OK. Great,” Sabbath said as he moved toward the kitchen. “Would you join me in the kitchen so we can talk while I get it together? I’ve got wine or bourbon. I’ll just have water, but please, be my guest.”
He looked at the clock. 5:40pm. He had gotten home with Tia in the late afternoon, no more than an hour ago. As he turned his back, his smile dropped. Something wasn’t right, but he said nothing.
With a clunk, the chair rights itself. JK stands up, looks around the room, then looks around the room.
Satisfied she walks over to the kitchen.
"Chief? You got anything like a pop in this place?"
Tia trails into the kitchen. "I guess I'll be the lush and go for the wine." She looks around the kitchen, as if only just realizing that she doesn't know where the glasses or wine are kept. Glancing back at Sabbath, she raises an eyebrow. "Just sticking with water?"
Sabbath nodded, a slight blush reddened his cheeks.
“I’m a lightweight,” he said as he opened the refrigerator. He took out a bottle of Corellian Cola, handing it to JK. With a pulse of his mind, the cap popped off and landed in the sink. He hoped Velayna wouldn’t mind if he plucked from ‘her stash’ this one time. Then, he wondered where she was. Again, he reached out to the Force for an answer. Wherever she was, she was not here.
“Where’s Velayna?”
"She left to go to her dad's for the night. She seemed bored earlier, and it seemed like this might be a good opportunity before some other shenanigans happen, or we end up heading off-world, or who knows what." Tia shrugs. Finally finding the wine, she pours herself a glass and takes a healthy swallow.
Sabbath nods with a smile, then looks at Jayanna. “Spicy or mild?”
He starts pulling the things he needs from cabinets and drawers.
"Whatever you got, all comes out the same in the end." She looks at the pop then walks back to the other room.
She gets to the window and looks up to Tier 2. "So you always shortcut stuff like that, Slick?"
“Like what?,” he raised his voice to be heard. “Shortcut stuff like what?”
JK holds up the bottle over her shoulder, then moves her hand up the neck and taps the open mouth with her finger.
“Oh,” he shrugged. “Yeah. I do. I figure the Force is like any other muscle or learned skill. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
“Is that bad?”
She shrugs, ""Dunno. Any day I get where I don't use them at all I count as a win. But I weren't born with all the skills I happen to have now. Just had a knack for getting from point aurek to point besh in half the time and without getting lost.

via Comms

---

“Hey, T.” Her voice is clearly apologetic. “Sorry - I’m having dinner with JK and Sabbath. I’ll let myself in tonight - no need to wait up for me.”

"It is not as if I was going to take a nap or something. Enjoy dinner. Keep me posted."

"Thanks, T. Will do - see you later."

Tia's comm pings. A guilty expression flickers over her face. “Sorry, that’ll be T wondering where I’ve disappeared to. One sec.”
She answers the comm.
Sabbath thought about that as he poured a little oil into a pan, then took a bowl of ground nerf and used a wooden spoon to shovel some into the pan.
“I guess I never thought about it,” he finally said with a shrug. He poured oil into a second pan and turned the heat on. “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, don’t. I never had a teacher. What I know, I learned by trial and error. Hasn’t hurt me so far.” Then, he turned to Tia. “T is welcome to join us, if he’d like.”
Tia listens briefly, then says, "Thanks, T. Will do - see you later." She ends the call, then turns back to the other two, giving them another apologetic smile.
"Sorry about that. And nah - he's not big on dinner events, and I think there were some things he wanted to get done around the apartment tonight."
JK's shoulders drop a bit. She leans over to the glass and fogs it with her breath. "Well, that's sure a positive outlook on things. I mean, mine have killed a whole lot of people, sure they weren't all that thrilled with them. And happen to have killed myself a whole bunch of times in the process."
She draws a little jagged symbol on the glass in the fog. "But it's all good, from a certain point of view."
Tia glances cautiously between Sabbath and JK. Biting her lip, she says, "I mean...I'm no Force user, but..." She winces. "I know you taught yourself, Sabbath, and it's impressive that you've taught yourself so much."
She gives him a hesitant smile. "I mean, not everyone can teach themselves how to toss buildings around with their heads. But...I would think there would be something to be said for having a teacher."
She hesitates. "I mean...when I was still getting lessons, one of my teachers told me that the thing to worry about most was what you didn't know that you didn't know." She shrugs. "If you're self-taught, how can you know that there aren't things you take for granted that could actually be signs of trouble?"
Sabbath stopped chopping onions to listen to Tia. Then, he continued until he was done, scraping them off the cutting board into the simmering meat with his knife.
“I’m too old to go back to school,” he stirred the pan, then grabbed the salt. “Besides, where would I go? The Harmonium? That’s a joke. Besides, I doubt there’s a one of them who knows as much as I’ve taught myself.
“Adasta ?” he shook his head. “Been there and done that. And while I took the abridged class, I am not going to cloister myself. I learn just fine by doing.
“Or are you thinking the same thing, Jay?,” Sabbath called over. “You already said I’m ‘almost as strong as you’ with my ability to move things. And how old are you?
“I will not dismiss the idea out of hand, Tia. I won’t,” he was sincere. “But I’ll need to know what advantage there is in ‘classical training’ before I walk away from a life I like to sit on a mountaintop and focus on my inner child, or whatever they do.
“I’ve gotten pretty far on my own.”
He shook his head, realizing how arrogant he sounded. “I’m sorry. Really. What do you recommend?”
JK shrugs,"That's exactly why you need to learn."
“I’m listening, Jayanna. Tia, what should I be doing that I’m not doing?”
"You want to know why those Harmonium navel gazers are a joke? Because they know that they are grasping at straws. And even the dark siders know enough to be afraid of what they can do." She takes another sip.
"You want to know why every force sensitive child on my world is studying at the feet of instructors with lifetimes of experience?" She shakes the bottom of the bottle in the direction of the kitchen.
Tia swallows, hovering in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. She glances towards JK before turning back to Sabbath. When she speaks, her voice is pleading. "Sabbath, I hardly know enough to tell you much of anything about any of this. But...if you're asking for my uninformed recommendation....have you ever actually asked anyone about the trouble you have sleeping...?"
"Or...." She winces. "Or if there are any...side effects when Force users have too much to drink...?" She gives him a pained look. "Having an instructor with experience, let alone lifetimes of experience...it can be one hell of an advantage. Takes some of the guesswork out of things - not to mention a good teacher can help keep a student in one piece, offer some pointers on how to avoid common problems or pitfalls."
Sabbath is quiet for a while, sprinkling spices and stirring his pan. He places the flatbreads in the sizzling oil and flips them after a few seconds. After he takes them out of the oil, he lowers the heat and turns to Tia.
“I don’t have...,” he took a deep breath. “I only have trouble sleeping here. On Nigita. When it gets bad, I take the ‘Quest into orbit and I sleep like a baby. I don’t know what....”
He shook his head and grabbed up the pan with the meat and vegetables. He started spreading it over the flatbreads.
“I’m catering my own ‘intervention’,” he laughed, setting the pan down and folding up the burritos. “Please don’t think I don’t appreciate what you’re both doing for me. I really do. It means a lot.
“Who do I go to?,” he asked as he placed the food on individual plates. “What should I do?”
JK looks around the room, sighs, "Ah, so that's why I'm here. I wondered when it was going to come up."
Sabbath looks from Jayanna to Tia and back, as if there is a joke that he is not in on.
Tia sighs, seeming to deflate. She turns to face JK, leaving Sabbath briefly staring at the back of her head. She hesitates a moment, then softly speaks. "I'm sorry, JK. I thought this might be one of those moments to ask for help from the local safety."
As Tia looks at JK, her expression is profoundly apologetic. She hesitates a moment, then lets a small glimpse of fear show in her eyes.
She swallows. "The offer to treat you to dinner was genuine, though. I'd be happy to catch a game and not deal with Force bullshit anytime."
Sabbath purses his lips but says nothing as he places the food on plates. None of the plates match and neither does the silverware. He sets them all on a tray. He takes the tray and walks up behind Tia.
“Pardon me,” he excuses himself as he moves past her into the dining room. He sets the tray on the table and returns to the kitchen. He opens the refrigerator and takes out a bowl of diced peppers, also part of Velayna’s stash.
“... what’s happening right now...?” he whispers as he adds another bowl of a spicy sauce to the vegetables.
As Sabbath approaches with the tray, Tia moves aside so that he can more easily pass, taking a few steps to stand in the living room.
JK motions for the two of you to sit. She finishes the rest of the pop and puts the bottle in the kitchen, then stands at the doorway.
Tia takes another sip of her wine, then takes a seat at the table.
Sabbath sets the bowls down and obediently sits, though he is noticeably concerned.
"Do not be alarmed." She offers her best smirk. "Says the lady to a room full of alarmed people."
Tia chuckles softly.
He relaxes at that and nods.
“Please,” he indicates a chair. “While they’re hot.”
He reaches to place everything just so.
"I'm afraid that maybe they aren't the only hot things in the room." She aimlessly wags her finger at the two of you. "Let's just ask a neutral observer what's going on, shall we?"
That confuses Sabbath, but he shrugs. “Who is the neutral observer? I’m kinda coming into a subtle little conspiracy here, I think.”
"Maybe the confusion is putting a dent into that whole 'What could anyone teach me?' armor then?" JK nods, raising her eyebrows. "So as the one that got lured here under pretense of food only to find a couple of long tailed cats in a room full of rocking chairs, indulge me."
Tia sighs. "If whoever it is is already listening, I suppose you might as well."
Sabbath offers a tight smile and nods.
"Still getting used to having... anyone... someone...," he looks at Tia and his face reddened a little. "... care about...
"I think I need to listen more and talk less," he shrugged minutely. "Please advise me and I promise to seriously consider everything you say."
"Huh. Have you known many 'Who's' that could be described as neutral?" JK tilts her head.
She walks over to the corner of the room and picks up Sabbath's blade. She doesn't draw it, but taps her own Abbatar against it. The room is filled with the faint and whispy echoes of battle, snippets of conversations, the scent of perspiration, and an odd warmth. Seemingly satisfied, she puts the blade back against the wall.
"Okay, so no real heavy channeling of the Dark Side, no uncontrolled outbursts of violence, no petty viciousness." She shrugs, "Just a fairly unsurprising streak of overconfidence and casual use of a weapon of mass destruction." She walks over and sits down at the table. "I think we can work with that." She takes a bite of a burrito, swallows, "Em, the answer to my question, by the way. Is children learn whether or not they should do a thing before they ever can do a thing. Learning isn't about power, heck there are monstrosities out there with brains that could barely light a bulb brighter than a tater, yet enough mastery of the force to turn your hair white." "Learning is about ethics and consequences." She takes another bite.
Sabbath chews thoughtfully as he listens. He seemed about to speak or object when Jayanna mentioned not heavy channeling of the Dark Side’ but decided against it. He wobbled his head in general agreement at the end, taking a sip of water to wash down his food.
“I can learn,” he sighed. “I want to learn. I just don’t want to have to leave.... my home.”
Tia smiles slightly, and her posture seems to subtly soften as JK walks back to join them at the table. Picking up her fork, she takes a small bite as she quietly watches the other two.
Then, he seemed to consider something else. He looks at Tia with a bashful smile.
“And how do I tell my student that her teacher needs a teacher?”
Tia's eyes flick between Sabbath and JK, and she hesitates for a split second as if considering. Then she sighs, and some exasperation passes over her face. "Sabbath..." She rubs her temples. "Do you really think that Velayna thinks you know everything? Do you really even think it would be a good idea if she did?"
She gives him a small smile. "You've told me yourself that she has taught you some things since she became your apprentice. Would it be so terrible for her to know that there were still things you could learn from someone else? I'd think if anything, it could drive home for her that you never run out of stuff to learn - and that there's value to actually spending some time listening to people with experience that might be able to teach you something."
She shakes her head. "Always all or nothing with you. Mention the possibility that there might be something to be gained from actually asking someone some questions or for some help, and you immediately jump to going off world to Adasta or sitting with monks on a mountain-top."
She sighs. "Sometimes halfway isn't so terrible." She gives him a somewhat dubious look. "I don't know, maybe it's just because so many of you Force users seem to think in terms of master and apprentice that your brain jumps to that, but there's a whole lot you can learn from folks with experience without imposing quite that much on their time." She frowns. "Not everything requires so much formality or making such a massive commitment to someone." She snorts. "I can tell you that you can learn plenty from a person without actually moving in with them." She jabs a thumb in the direction of Velayna's door. "Even an hour spent with the right instructor can be worthwhile."
She pauses, and turns a placating look at JK. "Not that I'm trying to say that that is equivalent or a replacement for the kind of longer term training your people have adopted - not by any means. Just that...there’s something to be said for learning what you can from folks willing to share something of what they know.”
She drums her fingers on the table. "Sabbath, I think you got so used to doing everything by yourself, to having to figure things out on your own, that it often doesn't even occur to you to ask anymore. And certain things you take for granted without even realizing that you’re doing so.”
Frowning, she gives him a searching look. “It’s happened more than once that you’ve seemed ready to just...stop when you didn’t have an answer. But….when you’ve asked for expert help,” she turns a grateful look at JK before turning back to Sabbath, “don’t you think it’s made a big difference - and for the better?”
She bites her lip. “There’s no shame in not having all of the answers, Sabbath - but it’s good to seek them out when you can, and identify what questions may need asking. There can be consequences,” she inclines her head at JK, “to not asking questions - to taking things for granted, or just….moving forward without thinking about what’s really happening, what it might really mean. Sometimes significant ones. I don’t see how it’s a negative to recognize that - that there are times that we all need an expert, or a teacher.”
Hesitantly, she gives JK a hopeful smile. “Especially if there’s someone around who seems willing to help…who encouraged us to ask for help, if we needed it.”
"So, I've said you're almost as strong as me in moving things. Do you think you know as much about the Force as I do by that definition? Do you know how to guide a ship without a navicomp to a pinpoint location in a system no one has ever seen? Or spin an orbit around an unstable black hole without any sensors? Can you tear the Force away from people so they can't use their abilities? Can you paralyze them as soon as you see them? Can you speak to objects and shape their Force to your will?" JK pauses.
"Do you think I can't learn from Assyria? Someone who has fought more wars in her lifetime than I was ever taught about in school? Or Caerr'Lon who can literally open a hole in death and beckon others back through?" She shrugs. "Or as much as he pisses me off, Admiral Veloth? Hand trained by the old Emperor to hunt Jedi and duel force users that had decades of combat skills under their belts?"
"Do you think any of us, so sure in our powers and mastery, would never have anything to learn from Lady Adasta, who can move stars and planets?" She laughs a bit. "The second you think you have nothing to learn is the second you should realize that you know nothing at all."
Sabbath listened for a long while, first to Tia, then to Jayanna. At first, he felt his pride sting. Not because her words were wrong or unfair, but because he felt his personal growth was discounted. But, as she went on, he understood that she wanted his growth to continue, but tempered by a wisdom he had to admit he was lacking. In her eyes and her expressions, he saw a reticence that had nothing to do with her convictions, but concern for his reaction to it. He sighed and nodded.
And as Jayanna spoke, his eyes grew wider, her perspective showing him that for all he thought he was, what he had achieved, was barely the first steps in a journey of a lifetime. He looked from Jayanna to Tia and there was not resignation in his eyes, but realization. He had been a fool, but he felt no shame. He was among those who cared enough to want the best from him. And he knew he owed them that.
"Thank you," he stated simply, looking at each. "How do I begin?"
"See? Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" JK grabs a burrito and munches a bit, washing it down with the cooler. "So, like your wiser counterpart over there," She gestures to Tia. "You don't have to go to an extreme.
"So, first, you know those monks the Cat's always harping about?" she waits for your nod. "So don't be those guys." She says matter-of-factly. "In my lifetime, they've sat back and watched the Galaxy burn three times. So up their own asses about The Force will Guide Us... and We must balance... utter nonsense that they didn't fight to protect folk in the Clone Wars, nor the Rebellion, nor the stand against the First Order." She points with every word, a condemnation at her fingertips.
She shrugs, "We didn't stop the fighting, but you can be damned sure we went deep behind the lines and got people out of harm's way. Moved billions of refugees to new homes out of war zones. Just because you don't want to pick a side, doesn't mean you pack up and gaze at your navel.
"But you do have to temper your absurd confidence." She points at you. "It is one thing to be confident that your power serves you. The Force is mastered by your will, that's how it works, that how it always works." She pauses and puts her hands together. "But never stop trying to learn, and be absolutely sure there is someone out there who knows more than you.
"Always doubt your conviction with your power, not your ability. You are the fallible key in the power. You're the point at which the Dark Side can effect change. Never for a moment lose sight of the fact that you are wielding a weapon that most will never understand, and always treat it as a weapon." She takes another drink.
"If you are going to use your powers, even for the most selfless of reasons, keep in mind that in a flash of anger, they can be used in that same moment to kill or destroy the thing you're helping." She wipes her hands on a napkin. "Every time you channel the power is a chance for the Dark Side to influence your thoughts, your actions.
"So talk to the Harmonium, listen to what they have to say. Try to steer clear of the ideology and think about what they are mechanically doing. Strip it down to a question of Why would they use a weapon to do that? and you'll be surprised at how many of the traditions start to break down into preparedness for one situation or another. Aim a different question at it, Does this isolate them from others? and you see their tribalism come out." She counts on her hand, "Let's see you know some witches, some nightsisters, some barely trained padawans, a bunch of untrained folk, and a Bunduki monk. All of them convinced their way to the Force is the proper way to see it."
She points to herself, "Then you have us. We don't want to sell you a religion, nor a tradition, we want you to be absolutely sure if you have an ability that you have it under control. That you take it apart so you know how and why each part works, so when you act, you act with control, with purpose. So that you are certain of your intent, not following the dictates of a tradition or someone else's interpretation of truth." She taps the abbatar at her neck.
"Because at the end of the day, you have to live with the consequences."
He sat for a long while considering all the things Jayanna said. Her perspective was interesting, and in his experience, unique. Everyone he knew tried to make the Force a philosophy or a religion. A blessing or a curse. Jayanna described it as a mechanical process, and to this day, it was the only approach he could relate to. It was how he approached the Force his whole life. Does this work? No? Ok try it another way. Until he made it work. That much would not change for him. The difference was recognizing that many before him had already learned these lessons. And he needed to start learning from them
She wasn't telling him to learn why. She was telling him to learn how. For the second time, she taught him the same lesson. Keep it simple. One piece at a time. No jumping to conclusions based on incomplete information.
And, most importantly, a student who learns only from himself has a fool for a teacher.
"Will...," he started, then hesitated. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "Will you teach me? I don't mean everything. Just... something. So I know what a good teacher is supposed to do.
"I've never had one," he grimaced. "And now, I'm supposed to be one." He looked at Tia, indicating Velayna's room with a minor nod.
Tia coughs into her hand, then picks up her wine glass, taking another sip. She gives Sabbath a weak smile before turning her eyes to JK.
JK smirks, "You want to list the things I've taught in this conversation, Miss O? Or shall I?"
Giving in, Tia chuckles lightly, letting her wry amusement show on her face. "Why limit it to just this conversation?"
Shaking her head, she offers Sabbath a smile that's equal parts sympathy and exasperation. "Honestly, Sabbath...I mean...you do realize that she basically gave you a full-on lesson the last time we visited, right…?” She gives a short laugh. “I'd count it as one for me, too, non-Force wizard that I am. You keep asking when and how to 'start' learning. Isn't it a bit late to talk about 'starting' at this point...? Don't you see that she's been teaching you this whole time?"
Sabbath looked at his plate, his cheeks reddening. He was silent and unmoving for a long while. He did not look up as he finally spoke.
"I know you have been teaching me this whole time.
"This started because, until now, I have been figuring everything out for myself," he spoke in a low voice, without strength. "You made me understand that there was much to be learned by listening and by simplifying my approach to any situation. Ask the right questions. But most importantly to ask for help.
"I know you have already taught me very valuable things," his cheeks did not lose their glow. "And I thought I was applying those lessons. I know that I know nothing more than what I have taught myself. I know that there is no shame in not having all the answers. I know there is something to be learned from everyone. And I know that I should not be afraid to ask for help.
"I was asking for a practical application of the wisdom you shared in this conversation," he still did not look up. "I was hoping to be shown the mechanical process you use in learning a thing, whatever it was, by someone I trust.
"Then you direct me to a number of sources for whom you have little respect to learn what they know without getting caught up in their philosophies or doctrines," he looked up at Jayanna.
"I am asking questions for answers. So that I can use those answers to make sense of it all because I trust you to show me the right way," his eyes were never very good at hiding his hurt. "Or should I figure it out for myself, which I have only just learned might not be the best answer?
"I have never been a teacher," he looked down again. "But I have never been a student, either.
"Maybe when I have a quiet moment to reflect on everything you taught me I will understand it better."
"Practical, eh?" JK puts a finger to her temple. "Okay, how about you use what I taught you and answer some questions on your own? Take the problems apart piece by piece using what you know about the Force."
"So, why can't you sleep on Nigita?" she asks.
"I am pretty sure I know why, but in our last session, I gave you some tools and information on how to look at things. I know that if you use them, you'll come to the same answer I did." she posits.
"If you can do that, then you have enough to go out and learn some more. Especially from the navel-gazers." she adds. "I may not have any respect for their religions, but I damned sure well respect their powers and what they do with them. You can learn as much, if not more from the failures of others as you can from their victories."
Tia gives JK a considering look before her eyes widen, as if at some sudden thought. She starts to open her mouth, then pauses, biting her lip, and instead turns to watch Sabbath.
He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. It was always difficult. His thoughts were barely that, but more of a chaotic collision of emotion. But, it seemed that was what he was. Who he was. And if he was ever going to master himself, he was going to have to.... what? Stop being who he was? He shook his head minutely. He kept his eyes closed.
“It isn’t every night. And it has only really been the last month or two,” he spoke slowly, as if to himself. “But, it happens enough that I don’t want to risk....
“They’re like the nightmares after a retrieval,” he tilted his head. “But they’re more... visceral. Always pain and rage and hate. But, the nightmares after a death are always... clear... like a memory of a specific event.
“Lately, they’re just...,” he wanted to open his eyes and see what Tia and Jayanna might be thinking. But, decided against it. Neither one of them could be read. Tia always struggled to mask her emotions such that he could never be sure what he was seeing and Jayanna showed nothing at all. Maybe there was a lesson to be learned there. If he hid his emotions, it might keep him from...
“Lately, they’re just... angry,” he searched his mind for the right words. “Pain and hate and... slaughter, but I never see anything clearly. And they always end in a scream that wakes me up.
“And the place is usually... upset,” he shook his head. “I guess I move things... in my sleep. Funny that..."
He opened his eyes and looked at the both of them. “It never happens when I sleep on the job, or at Hothdens,” he closed his eyes and shook his head. “It only happens here.
“Is it this place?’” he wondered aloud. “Did something happen here that...
“No. That’s ridiculous,” he decided. “I don’t believe...
“I was about to say ‘I don’t believe in ghosts',” he shook his head again, then tapped it. “How can I not believe?
“Did something happen here that maybe I’m sensing it subconsciously? In my sleep?”
Tia blinks, as if Sabbath's words had gone in a direction she hadn't expected. Slowly, her eyes slide over to JK.
Her expression neutral, she carefully asks, "JK, is it...customary for Force users to move things in their sleep?"
"Are you asking if say, while I was asleep, I could walk over to my pistol belt, load the power pack, flick off the safety, then shoot up my cabin on the Hesperus?" She cocks an eyebrow. "That would be no."
"If a Force user is asleep, they can sometimes get visions as the Force intrudes on their unconscious mind." She gestures with her hand in a back and forth swing, "But focusing enough to deliberately move another object, toss lightning, or create another effect? That's pretty out there.
"Deliberate actions require a deliberate will."
"That makes sense," he nodded in agreement. "And sometimes even deliberate will is not enough.
"So, if it is not a thing I can do," he spoke slowly, as if giving his mind time to catch up. "... then... perhaps my hitchhiker... but I thought that it could only... manifest?... when it is fed Dark Side energy... and my blade...
"Does the Vigil blade only... read me...," he looked at the sword much differently now. "... when i hold it? Or does it read all of me whenever i hold it?
"Actually, I can answer that myself," he decided. "It reads all of me.
"And you did not see any Darkness there," Sabbath grimaced, trying not to be frustrated by his lack of answers. "And I hate to jump to conclusions...
"...anymore...," he offered them both a smirk, then subdued it. "But if the Spectre is responsible...
"Where is she getting the... strength... the power... to do it?"
"Remember, though, the Blade is you. Your Force was used to attune it. It doesn't have to read anything. It's also the same reason it comes through with you in the Force, same as your Abbatar." JK stands and walks around the room.
"We're a bit far from the vergence itself. So don't think the Tree is doing it. We're not on top of another vergence here. Judging by the structure this building was a vehicle depot before it got converted to housing. Don't think there's much here, certainly don't feel anything. So who else could be near when you're asleep feeding it power?" She finishes, looking at Tia.
Tia blinks. "Don't look at me - I'm hardly ever around when he's actually sleeping." She frowns, looking doubtful. "Unless being in my apartment across the way counts."
She seems to consider, and her expression suddenly blanks. Slowly, she turns to look at Velayna's door. "Sabbath... Have you ever had one of those nightmares when Velayna wasn't around?"
He had to think for a moment. As he did, his eyes grew wide.
"No," he said, shooting an annoyed look toward his room, his commlink buzzing. He ignored it.
"You don't think...?" he looked at Jayanna with dread. "Was it using her to...."
Tia's comm went off.
Tia looks down at her comm with a frown. "Sorry - just in case it's T again..." She picks up the call.
“Tia!” Velayna shouted in a panic and she was sobbing hysterically. “Wake up Sabbath. Come get me! I need help! Please!”
JK stands up. "Where?"
"V - what's going on? Are you at your dad's?"
Tia jumps to her feet, then looks at Sabbath. "Do you know where that is?"
“Tia!” she cried out again. “I hurt him! I was sleeping on the couch... he woke me up... I hurt him!
“Tia!” Velayna was almost incoherent. “Please!
“They’re not Sabbath’s nightmares!” she was practically screaming. “They’re MINE!!”
They all heard that.
“I know where they are,” Sabbath said as he moved toward the door. “Let’s go!”
"V, we're on our way. Just stay on the line with me, k?" Tia hurries after Sabbath. "Just breathe. We'll be there soon."
"Mine ain't built for more than one, so shoot me the location and I'll head over." JK explains.
Sabbath turned, almost bumped Tia, evaded, then ran to his room and snatched up his commlink. He was already punching the address in as he ran out the door behind her. No sooner did he send the data, he was already punching the number for emergency services. He got a response as they got to the Vondell.
“I need an ambulance at C314-71, second floor,” he was almost shouting to impress upon them his urgency. “Tag Rangers BAD666.”
He got into the speeder and looked at Tia as she got in, straining to hear the voice on her comm.
::... daddy, please wake up....,:: he heard Velayna crying. ::... I’m so sorry... I’m so sorry... I’m so sorry... please wake up....::
Sabbath closed his eyes and shook his head in denial. When he opened them again, he looked at Tia. He was holding back tears. He took a deep breath and steeled himself. This was no time to wallow in guilt. All that mattered now was Velayna and her father.
The speeder boom was all that could be made out from the swoop as it ascended. It took a second to realize it was JK's as neither Sabbath nor Tia could recall seeing her move past them to even get on the aircraft.
Behind them, T-3PO exits the O'Mandalorio apartment, quickly entering a speeder and discreetly pursuing them at a distance. Though he tries repeatedly to contact Tia, her comm remains busy.
Tia's full attention is focused on the commlink and Velayna's frantic voice as she keeps up a steady stream of words. "V, listen to me. Sabbath and I are heading over right now. JK, too. An ambulance is on its way. We're getting help there as fast as we can, but there's something you can do to help now. Come on, V - take a deep breath and find your center. Another one. Listen to the sound of my voice. You know we've been through a lot together - I've seen you hold it together through a hell of a lot of pressure, and I know you can do this now. This is important - is there anything we can tell the med team about what to expect when they get there? The more you can tell us, the faster they'll be able to help him. That's it, V, deep breaths. I'm right here."
There was silence on the other end for a short span, then a shuddering drawing of breath.
::... I pushed him...,” she almost sobbed again, but controlled herself. ::... he fell and hit his head.... he’s bleeding...::
They heard a gasp, then the sound of the device on the other end being dropped.
::... don’t move, Daddy... don’t move...,” they heard Velayna say, then another voice, lower and deeper. Sabbath knew it was Werner Marus.
::... ‘Layna... are you alright....?” His voice was confused.
::... oh, Daddy...,:: they heard Velayna begin to cry again. ::... I’m so sorry... I’m so, so sorr...::
Suddenly, they heard a whining boom and Velayna cried out in alarm. Sabbath leaned forward to talk into Tia’s comm.
“That’s just Jayanna, Vel,” he tried to calm her with a soothing voice. He had also been startled from a dead sleep by her craft not an hour ago. “You know JK. We’re right behind her. We’re almost there.”
He looked at Tia and she could see the relief in his eyes at the sound of her father’s voice. Not a minute later, they were speeding up the street. They could already see Jayanna’s craft. In the near distance of the still night, they heard sirens.
Parking right behind JK, they got out of the vehicle and ran inside the already open door and up the stairs.
As she notices T-3PO enter behind her, Tia urgently motions him to go back outside.
Sabbath had been here twice before and knew exactly where he was going. They entered the next open door they came to and found Jayanna already inside. Velayna was on her knees beside her father, who was laying on his side while JK inspected the wound. Velayna saw Sabbath and tried to steel her eyes, but when she saw Tia she lost her resolve and began to cry again.
JK took a look at the wound, the dark color of the blood, and a glance at the foil pack in her hand. Flipping it over her shoulder she looks at Sabbath and says "Hang on, slick, this will sting."
JK reaches down and touches the side of the injured man's head, feels the skull fracture, then reaches out with her other hand to Sabbath. Immediately, a tether of Force connects all three. In a moment Sabbath weakens, as if not having eaten or slept for days, but in JK's other hand, the bone knits, the skin seals.
Just a second after it starts, it's over. "Just enough" JK says. "The two of you are fit for Stimpacks and adrenals now." She helps the man sit up. "You're gonna have a headache for a bit, but you're out of the woods."
She stands and moves out of the way. Pulling out a comlink, she starts checking in with C7 and steps into the adjoining room.
Tia immediately goes to Velayna, enfolding her in her arms and gently rocking her through her tears. She watches quietly as Velayna's father is healed, then gives the girl an encouraging smile, gently nudging her towards him.
Sabbath felt light headed for a moment, but recovered quickly. His head hurt and he was tired, but he moved to help Werner to sit on the couch. Then, he went into the kitchen. While there, he called off the ambulance. Then, he came back with a cup of water as Tia urged Velayna to sit with her father. Werner accepted the cup and drank it dry.
“What happened?,” Sabbath asked in a quiet, soothing voice. Velayna’s lip quivered, but her father took her hand and patted it comfortingly. The girl lowered her eyes.
“‘Layna was napping,” he explained, looking at the blanket next to him. “She must have been having a terrible dream. She was whimpering and crying.
“I shook her awake,” he looked so sad. Helpless. “Her eyes opened and she screamed. I felt a wave push me and I fell. Next I knew, I was lying on the floor and my poor little girl was.....”
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight, kissing the top of her head.
“I thought he was a Wookie,” she almost whispered, almost whimpered. “I don’t know why.”
Sabbath knew why, remembering a horrific crime scene from the day he met her.
He looked at Tia, then looked for JK. His track record for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time made him a little shy. But, Velayna was his responsibility. It was up to him. He got down on one knee and looked up at her.
“It’s not your fault, Vel,” he whispered, but loud enough to hear. “I don’t think you did this. I think it was done to you. The gh...
“My ‘guest’...,” he grimaced as his eyes wobbled fluidly. “I think it used you. It used you to get to me....
“Because you were... are... so close to me,” a tear leaked and he shook his head in frustration. “I am trying to get rid of it, but it is taking too much time.
“It isn’t your fault,” he almost begged her to believe him. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it could hurt you.”
He looked at Tia and then he closed his eyes. He turned back and looked up at Werner, showing the other man his regret.
Then, he got up and beckoned Tia into the hall outside. He looked at her and sighed. His hand touched at the Abbatar on his neck. He looked then at the small lump of dog tags beneath her shirt.
“She can’t stay with me until this is over,” he closed his eyes. “But I don’t know how far away is far enough? What should I do? I am going to ask Jayanna if the Vigil might... take her in... continue her training... they’re good people.
“But it’s too dangerous for her to stay near me.”
Tia watches Sabbath soberly. "I think talking to JK is a good idea. See what she has to say first - she knows way more about this than either of us do."
In the other room, JK is standing on the balcony of the apartment, looking skyward. They overhear, "Got him. On approach. Thanks, C7."
From the sky, a small probe droid descends, little more than a meter tall with spindly legs dropping from his disc-like body, he hovers over the balcony and chirps a series of odd humming tones.
"Nice work, Z24. First time out of the ship, right?" The droid chirps back with undertones and razzes. "Yeah, I think this whole city's an armpit too. Got my package?"
The droid withdraws a small black box from a central compartment. It hands it over to the pilot. She lifts the lid, smiles at the contents, then looks up at the droid.
"Excellent, Zed. Head on back to the ship, you're golden!" The droid whirrs happily, then seems to ask a question. JK responds "Absolutely! Those wild mynocks are constantly getting into the landing gear cabling. If you see that nest, blast the hell out of it. Vermin." The droid spins and lifts away.
Seeing Sabbath and Tia look at her, she shrugs and comments, "Called on the way over here. Thought I might need something."
She sits down on a chair and calls out, "Hey, V, got a minute?"
Velayna heard her name and Sabbath saw her slowly let go of her father and rise. His apprentice had not long ago asked him why he trusted JK so much, knowing that she might be the one to have to take him down one day. He had answered that his relationship with her was the most honest he had ever had with anyone. They each knew where they stood with the other. There was no pretense.
Velayna stepped up to her like a cadet, or an acolyte, submitting herself for inspection or indoctrination. She quickly wiped at her tears and squared her shoulders.
"Yes, ma'am," she said in a voice that was both soft but calm.
JK looks at the young woman. "So I take it Sabbath told you what I am, right?" She waits for Velayna to nod. "Just so you can take any anxiety off your shoulders, my pistols are on my bike, and my blades are on my ship. I'm not here to hunt anybody, arrest anybody, or do anything to you. Okay?"
The girl nods.
"What I am going to do is make everything around here quiet for a minute or two, so we can all think better." She closes her eyes and the constant hum of Nigita's many Vergences are pushed out of the room. Things become still.
JK opens the box. Within is a bracelet with a downward pointing starburst charm on it. "That is an Abbatar. One that we give our non-vanguard agents so they are warned when force powers are used to trick their minds. It doesn't stop the trick, or provide perfect protection, but it reminds you that something's going on." She points to the girl's head. "So you can at least doubt if something's really there. It should also help keep Sabbath's low rent house guest out of your dreams." JK Leans in and whispers, "I think the ghosts are offended by ugly jewelry." Then she smirks.
"What I need you to do is keep it with you. It isn't attuned like Sabbath's or mine. And it won't enhance or detract from your abilities in any way. It's a precaution." She takes the bracelet out of the box and hands it to Velayna.
Velayna looked at the bracelet, then up at JK with a look of hopeful wonder. She took it and placed it on her wrist, her eyes showing an awe that Sabbath had never seen in her. Then, she looked back at Jayanna and smiled in gratitude.
"Thank you," she said, the awe in her eyes was in her voice. "Does this mean... I am an... agent... of the Vigil?"
Sabbath was sure the girl grew two inches right before his eyes. He showed Jayanna his gratitude with a somber nod.
"It's better than that. You're someone we want to protect." She smirks again. The suppression bubble collapses and the weight of Nigita returns. For a second you see a look of disgust cross JK's face.
"Oh yeah, try not to sleep anywhere near that petrified monument to insanity in the center of the city." She jerks her head to the side, towards the center of the city. "It's the whole lobster thing, you know? Toss a lobster in a boiling pot, it'll thrash and scream. Put it in a cold one and bring it up by degrees and the lobster will swear it's the best ocean it ever swam in.
"The Force is a lot like that. Too much power all at once, and you know it's a bad thing. But give you an ounce of poison a week at a time and it's glorious." She stands and walks over to Tia and Sabbath.
"You've got this from here, right? I don't feel like talking to Ranger flunkies at this point. Been a lively enough night." She points a thumb at the window, "Just going to hop on my swoop and go the heck back to Hesperus, if you don't mind."
Sabbath could barely speak, but he swallowed the lump in his throat and managed.
"Thank you, Jayanna," he smiled fondly. "You are a good friend."
Then, he looked at Tia and she could see the relief in his eyes.
Tia gives Sabbath a small smile before turning to the older woman. "Yes - thank you, JK. I owe you one." Her voice is soft, but there's no mistaking the gratitude in her eyes.
Velayna walks up to Sabbath and gives him a tight hug which he accepts gratefully. Then, she moves to Tia and does the same, but she takes a while, whispering.
"... I know it was you who did all this...," she kisses Tia's cheek. "... thank you..."
Tia gives Velayna a gentle squeeze. Smiling softly, she wordlessly shakes her head before inclining it towards JK.
Velayna nodded sagely, but whispered again. "... but you called her..."
Then, the girl approached Jayanna and hugged her. "Thank you."
"Let's allow Mr. Marus some peace and quiet to rest," Sabbath suggested, nodding to Velayna's father. "It has been a long day. Let's go home."
"I'm going to stay with my dad tonight," Velayna sighed. "Just to make sure he's alright. And I want t to sleep in my old room. It's been a while."
"I understand, " Sabbath nodded. Then turned to Tia. "I know I've eaten twice in the last few hours, but whatever Jayanna did... I'm starving. Still have the fixings for more burritos.
"And," he added in a lower voice to Tia. "We'll have the place all to ourselves."
He tried to look and sound charming, but his exhaustion was evident in his eyes.
Tia hesitates, looking between Sabbath and Velayna. "Won't someone from the Rangers be along to file a report or something?" She smiles slightly. "Or is that going to be your paperwork to fill out tomorrow?"
Sabbath shook his head, keeping his voice low.
"When I was in the kitchen getting Werner something to drink, I called it all off," he shrugged, a shrewd smile barely touching his lips. "This never happened as far as anyone outside this room is concerned.
"Maybe this badge is good for something," his expression showed a hint of resignation. Then, he tried a smile. "Nothing to see here, Miss."
Tia faintly chuckles and nods, then turns towards Velayna. "You sure you're ok for us to go, V?" She places a hand on the young woman's arm, her expression gently concerned.
"Yeah," she nodded, showing Tia her bracelet and the Abbatar that dangled there. "I'm gonna be fine. I'll see you tomorrow. "
Tia gives her a small smile, then pulls her in for another quick hug. Turning to Velayna's father, she holds out one hand, then gives him a firm handshake.
"Mr. Marus. It was a pleasure to meet you, although I hope next time we see each other it will be under less... exciting circumstances. You've got a good kid, there. Sorry for the trouble - it wasn't her fault." She smiles softly, then looks between the two of them. "If either of you need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out, ok? V, you've already got my number," she pulls out her comm and pushes a button, "and now you should have it, too, Werner. We'll get out of your hair so you can both get some rest."
Werner accepted her hand and warmed it with both of his. He smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, Miss O'Mandalorio?" he looked at his daughter and Velayna nodded. "My 'Layna has told me much about you and I am glad she has such good friends.
"And thank you, Mr. Rune," he looked at Sabbath and nodded.
Sabbath lowered his head respectfully and turned to open the door for Tia.
The door opens on an unusual sight. One gold and white droid is standing with his rifle at-ease waiting for the door. Two others are standing in the stairwell, one above the floor, one below.
Protectee One, This unit is acting in response to a potential Code Black event being called in your vicinity. While Vanguard Korrs assures us the inside is currently secure, we must complete stand down protocol and return you to your designated safe room. - BX-917 Stands at attention, his optics scanning the room beyond.
The droid continues - Please allow this unit to escort Protectee One into the safety of our S80 Carryall. On board FX Unit will perform a comprehensive bioscan for your security.
Tia blinks at the droids, shooting an apologetic look at the Maruses before looking back towards the doorway.
"Hi, 917. I...see. Let's head downstairs, then, and let these two have some peace."
She gives one last reassuring smile and wave to Velayna and Werner, then follows the droids out.
As they head down the stairs, she glances back at Sabbath, giving a little shrug and a hesitant smile. "I'm sorry, slugger. I know this isn't exactly what you had in mind, but...well, they're just as duty-driven as...." She trails off, her expression pained, then swallows. "Just trust me. They're not gonna be ok until they get me back home, and I wouldn't feel right even asking them to go against that sense of duty. Just... Be careful getting home, and get some rest yourself, ok...?"
As they reach the bottom of the stairs, she turns, giving him a soft smile. "Probably best if I'm not there to distract you from finally getting some sleep, anyway. Hopefully now you'll actually be able to close your eyes without worrying about nightmares. No alcohol required."
Sabbath nodded, his expression equal parts shame, equal parts anger. He tried to subdue it, closing his eyes and shaking his head. At first, he was shocked and confused, but not anymore. Now, he knew who Protectee One was. And he also knew what... who... the Code Black was. And the protection that Lee had left behind for Tia was just doing its job. Everyone everywhere was just doing what they had to do to protect everyone. From him. No one was wrong. But it still hurt to be constantly reminded that, even though none of it was his fault, and no matter the pains and sacrifices he made to prove otherwise, he was the reason they had to do the job. He was the job.
With a force of will, he subdued it. He gave her the best smile he could muster.
"I trust you, Tia," he said in a low voice. "Good night."
Then, he slowly descended the stairs, waiting for the scene outside to quiet before he left. Then, he went home.