thefinaljedi | 9th Transmission: Walking a mile in another Jedi's shoes [Action/Voice]

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9th Transmission: Walking a mile in another Jedi's shoes [Action/Voice]

Groaning, Luke Skywalker rolled over in the warm sun of an early morning. Sitting up, he squeezed the bridge of his nose, blinking all around him. He was out by the lake, and he was still in Luceti. All he could remember was being woken from sleep by a loud banging at his window, and then blackness. Something felt off, that was sure, but he wasn't sure what. Shakily, he got to his feet and dazedly made his way over to the lake.

As he...looked into the lake, her jaw dropped, eyes widening. A female face stared back with the same shocked look, clad in New Feather garb. A familiar face, that of Grandmaster Sunrider, greeted him. To his further surprise the reflection began to speak, echoing through his mind. When it finished, things were a lot clearer. And so was her mind. Turning away from the water, Nomi Sunrider stared at the journal on the ground in front of her. Deep in the back of their mind, Luke Skywalker nodded in agreement. There wasn't much else to be done, if Luke was to be in control it would tax both of them. He knew she'd slipped him into a trance to spare him the pain of experimentation, and now she was willing to take his responsibilities until whatever the Malnosso had done could be undone.

Taking the journal, Nomi opened it up and Luke sent out a message in a distinctly...female voice. They agreed that not everyone needed to know what was going on...at least right away.

[Voice]
"Greetings residents of Luceti. This is Luke Skywalker, and...I'm having a bit of a situation. I was taken by the Malnosso, and I'm feeling a little weak. I am out by the lake, and if anyone could bring a spare suit of clothing, some water, and some pain killers I would be in your debt."

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[Action]

Later that afternoon, and all week, Luke/Nomi can be found around the village. Its pretty weird, even for a Jedi, so...expect lots of confusion and mostly to be speaking to Nomi. Feel free to poke at them throughout the week, just denote a day.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hey, you guys deserve emotional support too!

[It was his argument, and one he was determined to hold to.]

But it was for everyone. I didn't want to be worried about anyone here when I was in the facility, so I needed to make sure that people would watch out for each other. Especially you and Luke, with everything you two have to carry...and Adele too, because she's been letting her fears and worries control her again. It's not healthy.

[He flashes her a grin at her exasperated word, amused by the familiarity of it.] We make no sense, right? It's the same in every world.

Emotional support?

[He sounds a bit silly, saying that]

It isn't healthy, no. And its good that you were able to put distractions from your mind. But burdening someone as unstable as Adele Leblanc? I'd question your wisdom there but I'm not as intimately familiar with her as you.

[and she shakes her head]

No, my husband made sense. But he was a Jedi, and that makes all the difference.

Everyone needs someone to lean on, Nomi. Even Jedi. But no, you're right. It probably wasn' smart to ask that...but I needed to ask someone. My girl, Fujiko. She would have skittered off quickly under the pressure of it. It's...not her type of deal.

[And she was, arguably, even more unstable than Adele.]

It was selfish, I know that. But, I was trying to get her to have a little faith in me. It only seemed fair that I show some faith in her. She's strong where she needs to be, anyway. When she's not denying everything.

[He manages a small smile for her.]

...Jedi are also a different sort of breed, so that would make a ton of difference.

Fujiko, yes, she doesn't seem the sort.

[And yes, definitely more unstable]

I'm not begrudging you anything for it, Lupin. Its endearing, and probably why Luke likes you as much as he does. For a scoundrel and a thief, you've got a good heart.

[He chuckled at the comment.]

It's the difference between a gentleman theif and a petty criminal, Nomi. You pay attention to your marks, and you do what you can to protect what's yours. Even if it doesn't amount to much here, I feel better knowing that I tried.

...You and Luke. You don't need to go it alone here.

I'm not alone, you know. And neither is he. I've had scoundrels for companions before too, you know.

[Nomi smiles wistfully, remembering Cay]

Luke and I, we've got one another. Ami, Leblanc, you, the young Avatar Aang, Billy Kaplan, and a host of others.

I did not say I didn't appreciate it, you know.

I'm just being sure. This place is wierd, and it makes people forget what they do have sometimes. I appreciate the companionship too.

I don't think, even if I wanted you to, that you'd leave me alone. And Ami, she is such a sweet girl, she wants to help so much.

You're right. I like Jedi too much...and Luke's become a friend. I don't let my friends down.

An admirable trait in any man.

[Nomi returns to her seat, finally seeming to have thought out what she needed to. With a wave of her fingers, two bottles of water drifted into the room from the kitchen and settled on the table between them]

So, you like Jedi? Why is that, Lupin?

[He nodded his thanks as he took one of the bottles and cracked it open to enjoy the clean, cool liquid with some relief. At least her Force abilities weren't drained too badly by the Malnosso.]

Well, that's a little odd to explain. [He paused for theatric effect and took a sip.] About twenty years ago the films about Luke's story during the Rebellion came out in my world, and they were a smash hit. Their influence was so great that my mentor and I challenged each other to steal the reels for the next film when it came out--he won, but we got to see Empire before the rest of Barcelona. It's neat honor.

It was Luke's actions in those films, and the similarity that the Jedi have to some orders of monks and the samurai of my world, that caught my attention. Though, on a thematic level, I always preferred Han or Lando, Luke was always an admirable hero to me.

So, you can only imagine how meeting him here would have been really cool, right? Then...well. That Shift happened, and it changed my perspective. From an insider's point of view of that era, the Jedi were a call back to a different time...and, perhaps, one not as heavily controlled as the Empire. I got to understand the ideas a little bit too in working with Luke...

Those goals and ideals are ones that everyone should strive toward, not just Jedi.

[Nomi listens, casually crossing and uncrossing her legs. She's not entirely comfortable in the positions Luke preferred, but muscle memory takes over. She knew of the films, and knew that they detailed the lives of the younger Jedi in Luceti. And she'd spoken to Red]

That's good, Lupin. Its not to say that scoundrels aren't worth emulating, either. From what I know of Han, he's more noble than many Jedi that I know of.

[She smiles, genuinely impressed with his answer]

I'm a thief, remember? [He grinned and winked playfully.] There's plenty of honor in the profession, if you just find the right people.

[Her discomfort, even when caught in the tangle of his own processing issues that were a secondary consequence to his Penalty, don't go unnoticed.] ...This must be very odd for you.

I must confess, it really is.

[She smiles ruefully, caught]

Luke's body wants to move like Luke is used to. But...I want to move like I move. This will take some getting used to.

[Keen observation skills were what kept him alive in his world, and they haven't gotten that rusty during his stay in Luceti. He holds back on nodding, but offers an understanding smile. It was a familiar quandary.]

It is going to take some time then. You want a little advice? Don't hold back, and do what feels natural. You'll fall back into your flow quick enough.

I'm sure, though hopefully this experiment won't last too long. Luke has things that he needs to accomplish, things that I can't do. As Adele so happily pointed out, I am not Luke Skywalker. And I think I frightened Doctor Mizuno a bit.

You're not Luke, but that doesn't make you any less a valuable asset. Adele...will just have to accept that for a while, and Ami? I don't know her well, but she's a kind and dedicated young woman. She doesn't strike me as the sort to abandon something out of fear.

Though it might be best if the Malnosso are 'kind' in this case and switch you two back. It's not good and it's not right. You shouldn't have to live like this.

Ahh, yes, Ami isn't the sort, no. But that doesn't make it any easier on her. I've got a feeling that she and Luke...well...

[She trails off]

In any event, we'll see what happens. In the mean time, I will do my level best to help the village as best I can. Are you hungry?

[Lupin didn't press; he had his suspicions, but it wasn't his business. He would tease, but it was something that needed to be brought to attention in jest. It was his way, but he would do no more.]

Any help you can offer is a boon, Nomi, and will be very appreciated. But...yeah, I am hungry.

[In truth, he had fallen back into his pattern of erratic sleeping and eating. Getting food was probably a good idea.]

What sort of meals do you like? I can prepare us something.

[She stands up and nods]

Your choice. I can eat most anything, so it doesn't need to be anything special...

[He watches her, curious about what she'll do.]

Thanks.

[Nomi strides into the kitchen and returns a few moments later with a pair of sandwiches, carefully cut and arranged on a plate. A pair of mugs float behind her, as she just doesn't have enough hands.]

Here you are, its not much but Luke and I are both quite partial to turkey.

Turkey, huh? [He gladly takes a plate and a mug, grinning.] It's not Sithy, is it?

Mmm, I should hope not. If there are Sith here then I have a lot of work to do.

[She winks]

[That earns a chuckle.]

Good thing there's not then--we don't need you working any harder than you have to right yet.