While relieved to be out of that MESS, it dawned on the smuggler just how much he now owed the man in front of him ( not a rarity ——— he owed a lot of peoplea lot of things). Dry lips parted, knowing full well the two words he needed to say — thank you. But, Han Solo was never too good at it, && apologizes went by even worse. “Well …y’need anything done ?? I can’t just get by without givin’ ya something. You uh — helped.” More like saved his life, but to this man, the two meant the same thing.
Nihrik’s calm smile dissolved into a frown as he remembered the events of what came before the Empire. It rushed back in waves, key points in his life and during the war flashing back.
The various battles he’d been in. The clones he’d commanded, and how they had died protecting him, murdered by their brothers. The bombed out crumbling ruins of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, his leg– he had to stop himself there, willing himself to shake free of the thought.
“It definitely was not. I’ve been running for the last several decades. I had forgotten what it was like to feel safe.”
If the man was who he truly said to be (&& really, what proof did the smuggler have to disagree other than his own recalcitrance??) then he could only imagine what the other had been through, SEEN. The life of a smuggler was never p r e t t y; but Order 66?? The history alone sent a shiver down his spine. WAR was cruel, && as much as he liked to pretend it wasn’t happening, it was now impossible to ignore. After all, some would now go as far as to call him a REBEL.
Han cleared his throat, his discomfort palpable. “Well unfortunately, things around here have only gotten worse I’m afraid.” Hazel orbs fall to his lap, calloused hands brushing against his pants — always needing something to do. “The Empire — they’re gaining more && more control. With Vader ‘round … it’s hard t’say what they’ll do next.”
Nihrik ‘looked’ down at the human as he withdrew his hand, replacing it in his voluminous sleeves. He listened to the smuggler – he was seemingly bewildered, but most people were at this day and age. The Force had become something of legend, rather than a common every day tool.
“I’m called Nihrik. In a time long ago, I used to be a Jedi Master.”
One would think he’d at least look around to make sure no one was looking when he did this (in actuality he already had probed around with the Force), but apparently without hesitation, he pulled out his lightsaber, holding it a safe distance away from the human. “I imagine you’ve seen one of these before.” He levitated the weapon up into the air with the Force, and spun it around before quickly replacing it in his sleeve.
“The Empire had nearly eradicated us, but now that it’s gone, it’s safe to reveal ourselves … for now.”
The Empire made sure that all Jedi were eradicated (or well, they tried to considering Obi Wan was once still around,the old coot.But no one heard of them besides him … there couldn’t be any more ?!?). That being said, they still didn’t have the SANEST of reputations. Despite all the ‘proof’ of the force that Han had seen (and even having the sense of knowing where to shoot, where to pilot the Falcon) he couldn’t believe in it still. As a smuggler who used any means to achieve his ends, believing in some outside thing that people could control, that could even alter one’s ‘destiny’ was just unheard of. To be frank, there was just too much shit in the gal –
Thoughts stopped. Brows furrowed, Han leaned in closer, slowly widening hazel hues taking in the lightsaber. Now that he certainly knew of. It was a rare sight, and he only knew of two people with one. Gaze moving between the weapon and the other, he carefully leaned back; a bit more serious than he had been this entire conversation.
“Well we’ve been tryin’ to make it SAFE again. There’s always gonna be supporters but, it’s better.” He murmured, trying to see if he could place him, if he had seen him around base or if he was just coming back from who knows where. Either way, to go under the Empire’s radar was rather impressive, Han could admit. “It wasn’t easy y’know, all of it.” He added grimly, sucking in a breath as the memories came flooding back.
“It most certainly is possible. You may have found yourself wondering how I’m able to see despite being blind … the Force guides us all. I sense it even in you, stranger. What is your name?” the Chaulis asked, extending a bandaged hand in a formal greeting. The bandages were clean white linen, but the hands underneath were savagely scarred.
While c u r i o u s, Han would never say it was the Force (even if he questioned how it could be anything else). However, the moment the other mentioned sensing it HIM?? A smuggler who just hoped to survive day by day?? That’s when he knew his previous suspicions on the whole thing had to be TRUE. The thought alone almost made him laugh. Clearing his throat, he shakes the other’s hand. “Han Solo – Captain of the Millennium Falcon. –And you?? I gotta say, while doubtful, at least ya have some proof as to how this could all work. Some manage to hit a target and they’re practically made into a Jedi Knight.”
Han had known about the SPECULATIONS of the Force his whole life (had even seen it in some instances). But to the stubborn male, it was all a game of l u c k. Obi-Wan had never been rumored to be the sanest, and with Luke … he couldn’t even take care of himself. He’d like to see the kid do that before even claiming to be a Jedi Knight.
Deep down though, he knew the truth. Han just wouldn’t ever admit it.
Han stared at the
Chaulis in disbelief, a huff of a sigh breaking apart his lips as he shook his head. “Please don’t tell me this was all cause of that Force mumbo jumbo. I’ve heard it all before. It ain’t possible.”
