Diamond in the Rough

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Dark hair brushed to either side, Torgeir focused on the fuel lines to the large engine that he was installing. Several days had been projected to the customer which apparently was some high-browed Naboo noble and though Torgeir hadn't met the man, the money that he was pouring into this yacht and the choices he made meant he knew what every two-bit salesman had been telling him. Researching no farther than the quarterly that he probably glanced through while waiting to get his manicure had been the foundation for putting these engines in this fine vessel. The more he thought about it the less he cared. Either way, he was getting paid for what he loved to do.

"How long you going to be sleeping under there," the voice echoed from beyond his boots, prompting Torgeir to smile at the fellow technician's sarcasm.

"Just finishing up with your girlfriend, be right out."

A chuckle from several of the other installers echoed through the large engineering area, giving him a moment to relax a bit more as he then reached for the safety wire and then secured the fitting. Once done, he gave one last scan of his work ensuring that everything was in place and looked the way it should. Pushing himself out, sliding across the polished, white floor, Torgeir emerged and sat up, placing his tools into the leather pouch on the right side of his belt.

"Ever going to tell us why you keep that glove on," another human in his early twenties and slightly younger than the Corellian.

Glancing to the black glove tucked underneath his olive green jacket, he mused on the day that he lost his whole left arm while working for the Corellian Engineering Corporation. A company that ruined his life. Steel-blue eyes looked up as he stood, "Already told you," he grinned and moved toward the next engine to finish up. "Saving a kid from a burning building and didn't realize till after that my hand was all messed up."

"There's this new fangled thing called prosthetics," the blonde smiled. "Might wanna look into it."

"You paying for it, then absolutely."

"Alright," the supervisor, a crusty, older man in his fifties that almost reminded Torgeir of his grandfather a bit. "Finish up here, then we'll turn it over to second shift," the older mechanic glanced up through the open hull paneling to the crane operator which still held the second engine in place. "Wes, go take a shower. It's Friday."

"Sweet," the teenager replied. "Get to wash my clothes too, then."

"No," Maury countered, the technician whose bulky, tall frame barely fit through most of the doorways on this ship. "Not the end of the month yet."

Torgeir and the other four laughed, then he gathered the rest of his things and made his way back to the cargo bay, the entry being the closest to the engineering area seeing as the owner wanted the mechanics to be in as little of the ship as possible. Hopping down, his boots pounded on the hangar's permacrete floor and the twenty-six year old glanced out through the hangar doors to the large vista that was Naboo. Green fields and verdant mountains in the distance seemed to go on forever on this world. Not too unlike his homeworld, in fact.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

The Naboo were sending shuttles to Ossus. Shuttles full of young, impressionable children, whom the Jedi could manipulate. It was as the Jedi had always done. Take them young, and mould them into great Jedi Knights. Have them renounce their families, their loves, their hopes and dreams before they can even form an opinion of their own.

Make them trust you with their whole heart. If these children were lucky, the Jedi would not betray that trust. Lilaena De'Ville did not believe in trusting to luck what she could change with her own two hands. She just needed to find out the exact schedule for the trip, and how many kids were being transported.

A certain nobleman, one Gregori Montebaum, had access to some of those records. His daughter, Chrysalis Montebaum, was ten and Force sensitive, and so he knew when the children were leaving Naboo. The route she and her associates would get elsewhere, but for now she needed to plant a virus into the personal computer systems
of Montebaum's yacht. Luckily, it was in the shop for repairs.

Lilaena pushed her oversized sunglasses up on her head as she walked into the big garage, looking to see if anyone was in sight.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Steel-blue eyes drifted from the vista as the afternoon sun slowly dipped lower in the sky, painting the puffy white clouds hovering overhead their purest, to a dark haired female whose attractive, smooth face would definitely catch anyone's attention which it did once the other mechanics began emerging from the open cargo bay.

"Wow, hello there," Maury greeted, his bellowing enough to frighten a pack of gundarks.

Turning to the large technician, Torgeir shook his head. "Dude, leave her alone. Drooling probably already gave her a bath."

"Just jealous that I said something instead of just stare at her like you were doing."

Younger and more energetic, the blonde mechanic moved to intercept the raven haired beauty. "Ignore those animals," he smiled. "My name's Braddon."

Glancing to the Naboo now making his move, Torgeir watched how this whole thing would fall out. Maybe this girl didn't need to be defended after all, he mused.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

De'Ville smiled at the gathering mechanics, her green eyes looking at them each in turn. There were more people present than she'd hoped, but her plan could stretch to accommodate them. "Hello Braddon, I was looking for someone to work on my ship for me - my cousin Gregori recommended your shop to me." She flipped her hair back, glossy black curls falling against her shoulders as she looked over their heads to the prominent yacht that dominated the hangar. "Is that his ship? Oh, I'm Lira, Lira Montebaum."

De'Ville put her hand forward for shaking, smiling as prettily as she could when the blond haired Braddon took it. "Could you show me some of your work on my cousin's ship? I'd like to see the quality before I commit, if that's all right."

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Without even asking for some sort of ident card, Braddon was all over this opportunity as the other three kept walking, seeing they had no chance now. Torgeir however, wasn't as eager to leave as something about this whole situation and her story just didn't smell right. He had seen the pic of Lira in the owner's stateroom, tracing an electrical issue and this girl, though attractive, wasn't who she said she was.

"Love to," Braddon smiled, turning toward the ship and started heading back toward it. "I've been supervising the installation of new engines, so most of our time's been spent in the engineering section, but I can take you there. Second shift's probably still getting their things together."

Torgeir smirked, knowing the novice who had only been with the company four months was still learning everything and knew eventually this kid was going to stick his foot in his mouth. Following them, remaining ten feet behind, the Corellian let them enter the cargo bay, joining them on the ramp as Braddon moved to push the button for the lift, noticing the third wheel. "What's up," he inquired, not wanting any company right now.

"Forgot something," Torgeir motioned with an upraised chin back into the yacht, glancing at "Lira" as the lift rose.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

She met the other mechanic's eyes, sensing his doubt in her cover story. She could reach out, change his mind, convince him to leave, but she was still testing the limits of her telepathic abilities. Accidentally turning his brain into goo wouldn't help her cause much, though it would be a great distraction. De'Ville's eyes sharpened a bit as she looked at him, but then she turned and smiled at Braddon as the life ride ended. "Engineering, then?"

She purposefully stumbled a bit as she walked off of the lift, allowing the blond mechanic to grab her arm to steady her as she smiled gratefully, inwardly hating the show she was putting on. "Oh, thank you," 'Lira' gasped, clutching him for support as she got her feet underneath her again. "I'm not usually so clumsy!"

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Still unaware of his own strength or potential in the Force, Torgeir watched the ebon haired beauty as they rose back into the starboard side cargo bay, then reached out to catch her as she stumbled, though wasn't as quick as he hoped as she grabbed onto Braddon. Following them as they walked toward the main door, he could already tell that Braddon actually thought he had a date for the night.

"Yeah, have to watch that little lip there on the lift," Braddon motioned to the edge, then placed his own left hand on hers, now gripped to his right arm. Touching the button to allow them access to the ship, the blonde mechanic led her into the clean and amazingly engineered vessel, the interior screaming money even in the lower areas. "So, surprised that your uncle hadn't let you aboard yet."

Torgeir intently listened to the conversation, though kept his distance several feet behind them as they all made their way to the engineering section. Cousin, you idiot.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

The second man was still following, which would make this awkward. One might have a believable accident, but two? At the same time? It would raise red flags. "My cousin," she smiled, knowing she looked younger than she actually was. "He's awfully precious about his ship. I figured just a little peak wouldn't hurt anything, though..?"

She squeezed Braddon's arm a bit as they walked into the engineering area, oohing and ahhing over everything he pointed out as being work he'd done, while she looked for an appropriate computer terminal to plug in the dataslip she carried. A carefully compiled computer virus would slice into the mainframe and slip into the Montebaum holonet accounts, providing her with a reliable way in so she could find the information she needed.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Once they entered the engineering area, the second shift supervisor now evaluating the last two engine mounts that had yet to support the Evader GT's, the older man turned to see the trio now entering the large, open room full of machinery and tech, as well as the main diagnostic station which also linked to the central computer. Torgeir evaded the eyes of the supervisor who no doubt was wondering what these three were doing in there, though apparently recognized the males. "Who's this," he queried, eyeing Lileana.

"Lira Montbaum," Braddon introduced. "Just wanted to look around her cousin's ship while we work on it," the blonde stated, perpetual smile on his face, then returned his attention to the female on his arm. "We've been working on these now for the past two days. Almost done, then you and your cousin'll be able to head out."

Torgeir continued over to the main tool box and crouched before it, opening the red lid as if searching for something as they talked.

"Oh," the supervisor interjected. "Welcome aboard. Though it's not necessarily safe for you to be in here while installation's going on, so might wanna make your visit brief. Crew should be here in a few."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"Of course, of course," she smiled, "Just a quick peek." Lilaena made a show of leaning toward the engine mounts to look them over, though her mind was occupied with the diagnostic station. As she walked around on Braddon's arm, she subtly moved him closer to the computer terminal. "It certainly appears your men do very good work," she praised the supervisor, who merely grunted (but looked slightly pleased).

She'd already palmed the dataslip, holding it between two of the fingers of her off hand, and as Braddon walked her by the diagnostic station she gave it a pat. "It's all so clean in here, too! I'm surprised, I would have thought it would be a bit more... greasy, with all the work being done." 'Lira' laughed, and grazed her hip on the edge of the console. "Ow!" She grimaced, rubbing her side and then pulling the edge of her shirt up just a bit, exposing her abdomen by her hip for a close inspection. "Did I scrape myself?" she worried, while her other hand pressed the dataslip into the terminal where it was already beginning it's work.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Braddon noticed her react to the brush with the diagnostic station's corner and moved around to take a look, giving her plenty of cover to the supervisor, but not to Torgeir who glanced their way himself. He noticed her hands, but not the intrusive spike that she installed. There was just too much to this whole situation that the Corellian couldn't figure out, though as he stood, the supervisor now interested in the potential accident waiting to happen, Torgeir moved slowly toward the couple.

"You really shouldn't be here in the engineering section," the older supervisor stated. "You get hurt in here and it's my ass."

Braddon turned to defend her, "No, it's alright. I'll escort her out."

From the cargo bay a male voice shouted for the blonde mechanic, "Braddon, your wife's on the com!"

His eyes closed as he mouthed an obscenity, prompting Torgeir to smile. "Don't worry, loverboy," the Corellian smiled. "I'll see that she's safely returned to the hangar."

Trying his best to play it off, the younger mechanic turned to 'Lira'. "Cousin loves pulling pranks, really."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

She had affected a surprised face when Braddon's marital status had been exposed (in truth or in jest, either way the mechanic had quickly detached her from his arm), and smiled at the other man who quickly stepped up. The suspicious one, De'Ville noted, his previous watchfulness had not gone unnoticed during her infiltration of the ship's engineering section. Braddon awkwardly excused himself, and she sighed, combing her fingers through a lock of her hair. "You don't mind showing me out of the ship? I didn't catch your name...?"

De'Ville could remember the way out, of course, but it wouldn't do for "Lira" to suddenly go striding out unaccompanied. She didn't want anyone nosing around the computer systems any time soon, looking for trouble.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

"Torgeir," he replied, noticing how she played with her hair, no doubt wishing to now get on his good side and with the present opportunity to get to know her a bit better as well, he motioned toward the entrance to the engineering area. "We should probably go," he stated, glancing toward the adjoining hallway and hearing the second shift crew now coming toward them, their banter and barbs with one another no doubt about to turn to the lone female in their midst.

"Pleasure meeting you, Miss Montbaum," the supervisor bid, his deeper voice echoing now toward the oncoming group of primarily male mechanics.

Torgeir glanced to the older man, then back as he now watched as the first three mechanics entered, two human males and one female Twi'lek, all in their coveralls and wearing tool belts. Once they had an opening, Torgeir moved to follow her out, unaware of the spike now running it's program for the intrusive, ebon haired female.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

She smiled her good-bye to the supervisor, who was already talking to the mechanics entering engineering, and slipped out past them into the hallway. Her new escort was right behind her, and she slowed down so he could catch up and show her out. "It's a beautiful ship," she said warmly. Even the bulkheads in the passages were finished in the style of the Naboo elite, all synthmarble and shiny chrome accents.

As De'Ville looked at Torgeir, she felt a faint sense of deja vu. Some sort of precognition? The telepathic abilities she'd torn from her former master were largely untested, as she had no one to teach her and was loathe to ask for help and perhaps appear weak to those who followed her. He looked at her and their eyes met as she covered her thoughts with a smile, and then she knew. He was an adept. He was intensely suspicious of her, he knew something about her, and she sensed his fledgling powers straining to figure her out.

She was holding his gaze, an intangible spark between them that he would not understand, and then she broke eye contact, looking at the lift. "Time to go, I guess," she said, quietly.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

A charge rushed through his muscled body, his prosthetic arm being the only barrier to the familiar feeling, but he dismissed the excitement about being in the presence of one so attractive. This was much different indeed. Her comments about the yacht allowed his mind some respite as he nodded. "Yeah, your cousin spared no expense on this thing," steel-blue eyes went from the interior as they walked toward the cargo bay and back to her. "Not sure how close you are to him, but I can't imagine someone with this kind of money not mentioning it to family." Though Torgeir had no idea on what the man did either.

The moment they shared seemed to linger longer than he normally intended, though she had no idea that he had been injured, the coveralls and glove on his left hand covering the chrome colored metal. Grinning sheepishly, he followed her into the starboard side cargo hold and stepped upon the ramp, now pushing the button to lower them back to the hangar floor. Glancing around once clear of the ship's interior he noticed they were alone finally. "You know, I couldn't help but notice that you seemed rather interested in the diag station which links to the central computer," he began, judging her reaction as he stepped from the ramp slowly. "What's really going on?"

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"Which one is the diag station?" she asked flippantly as she walked off the ramp. "Is that the one that I banged my hip on?" Torgeir didn't seem interested in her act, and it was too late to stop what she'd done, so she arched a brow at him. "Why so serious? It's not your ship, why do you care?"

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Rather defensive, he mused as they walked slowly back toward the hangar entrance. "It's our ship until he signs off on the repairs, so in that respect it is my business," he returned, his own personality now showing itself. Being Corellian, having a bit of an attitude seemed to be genetic, though the challenge was warranted.

"There's something else going on here," he began, tentatively. "Deeper. To be honest, I couldn't give a shit about the yacht. I know the engines we're installing are top notch and I've been doing this for eight years, so," he shrugged, hoping that if he eased off a bit perhaps she would too.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"You've probably heard that the Naboo are shipping off a group of youngsters to the Jedi." She kept her focus on him, her almond shaped green eyes sharp. "I just wanted to know when. Uncle wouldn't tell me when my niece is leaving."

De'Ville took a step back toward the shop doors, away from the engineer, her playful persona falling away. "But you know that I'm not really Lira Montebaum, don't you. Why did you let me inside the ship?"

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Brow furrowed at the news of the kids as his protective nature kicked in quickly. "No," he replied honestly, his tone and demeanor relaying the facts now rolling around in his mind. "Why would they be doing that aboard a yacht?" She then continued on with more and admitted what he already knew, nodding at her insight. "I saw a picture with her in his stateroom yesterday and had he not said her name in the vid, I wouldn't have known the difference. But, don't sweat it," he casually scanned around them to verify the hangar's vast interior was largely quiet and empty other than a few maintenance droids on the other end.

Steel-blue eyes returned to her, "Just curious I guess." His touch to the mysterious power in the universe had always intrigued him, even though for a Corellian who's ego wouldn't allow him to admit it openly. To this stranger it didn't seem that hard though. "I mentioned a moment ago about the deeper connection. Grandpa used to say that sort of thing was only for women, but I know more about the galaxy since leaving home." He judged her reaction, then continued. "I think you may have some answers," he stated, grinning. "Whatever your name is."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"I do," she said quietly, the last of 'Lira's' playful demeanor falling away. "I can teach you about that connection you feel - the Force is strong inside you. I sensed it earlier."

Lilaena looked around, and studied him seriously. "If you want to do more with your life than fixing up ships, if you want to make a real difference... then meet me tonight at the Abyssal Squid. Or you can turn around, and raise the alarm, and we'll see what happens." Her green eyes glittered dangerously, and a small smile crossed her lips before she turned her back on the mechanic and walked toward the door.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

He liked her spirit and as she turned and walked away from him, the chance that someone could finally open that door which had seemed to remain elusive was exciting and scary at the same time. Still not getting her name, it appeared that he was going to have to earn that privilege. "What time," he called out, taking a few steps toward her as she neared the opened doorway, the hangar doors open to allow in the cooler evening air.

His family back home never wanted him to leave, but having no other options and with what the Corellian Engineering Company had done to him, there was no other option. Now, he had a chance to join someone that had a goal which seemed just, especially if this story about kids being smuggled to the Jedi had any truth to it. It soon made sense that someone owning a yacht might be involved in something like that, especially if he had connections with the right people.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"After dark," she replied. "Ask for Lilaena." She would have told him her whole name, but she was still on the Empire's most wanted list, and even in Alliance territory a holonet search would no doubt turn up some unsavory news items. All years old, of course, but she didn't want to scare off Torgeir.

Not yet, anyway.

***

She was sitting in the back corner of the Abyssal Squid tavern, waiting on her meal to arrive while she looked out the window at the moonrise over the lakes. The dataslip had done it's work, and she now knew when the shipment of kids was going to happen, thanks to sifting through Montebaum's calendar. There was only one route from Naboo to Ossus, so with the timing worked out they could easily intercept the transport.

Just need an interdictor now, she mused, taking a sip of her tea.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Finally given a name, Torgeir grinned and continued outside, allowing her to drift away toward the exit to the starport as he made his way to his own apartment in Theed. Cleaning up after a long day, he changed into something more comfortable, though keeping the black glove and a rust colored, leather jacket on. Hair combed out, he soon left his apartment, locking up as he did so. Straddling his speeder bike, the Corellian slipped on a pair of dark glasses and took off, having gained the address for the tavern beforehand. Smirking at the name of the place, he was sure there was an interesting story behind that one.

Soon, his bike slowed as he noticed the name of the tavern on a sign hovering over the clean street, every avenue lined by homes decorated and newly painted, flowers both in boxes lining each window as well as plants and bushes on the ground level. At least it didn't smell like tabana gas and oil here. Turning off the ignition, Torgeir rose and entered the tavern, it's welcoming interior typical of Naboo architecture and pride in their city. Through the large windows along the back wall, the vista beyond was one to behold, green rolling hills and lakes which always calmed the nerves after a long day. Tearing his eyes from the view, he soon found the ebon haired infiltrator, prompting him to meander through the tables to hers.

Removing his glasses, he slid into an empty chair across from her, keying in the menu at a button in the center of the table. "Smells good," he commented as he glanced to her dish. "Didn't realize how hungry I was until now," he smirked and chose another meal for himself as well as a whiskey, then reclined in the chair, hands now in his lap as he studied her.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

The man had a relaxed way about him, and hadn't hesitated before ordering up a meal for himself. Bold too, then, like most Corellians. Lilaena cupped her hands around her tea, letting it warm her fingers while Torgeir openly studied her. Her hair was parted so that most of her left eye had been hiding behind it, including the thin scar that cut through her eyebrow and then her cheek below.

She reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear, clearing her vision, and smoothed her black tank top. She was wearing wide-legged linen pants as part of her socialite disguise, but with just the tank visible above the table, and the lighting accentuating the muscles of her slim frame, she was looking more like she meant business than she had earlier at the hangar. "I didn't think you'd actually show up," De'Ville said at last, taking another sip from her tea.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Their eyes seemed locked for a long moment and though in any other situation he would be admired for being seated with such an attractive woman, this was different. He was attracted, but the touch to the Force still bothered and intrigued him to no end. Steel-blue eyes followed her hand as she tucked her hair back and then to her tanktop, then rose again. The comment garnered a chuckle as the waitress arrived with his whiskey, setting it before the mechanic who nodded to her as he grabbed the glass.

"Order's on it's way," the younger blonde stated, then glanced to Lilaena before leaving.

Taking a sip of the tea colored liquid, he leaned in, hands around the glass. "Really? Figured the talk earlier about why we met would've stated that I had a need to learn more." His demeanor melted as he grew serious. "If he's doing what you said, then that needs to be taken care of." Leaving things vague enough as they weren't the only ones in the tavern, Torgeir hoped for at least some confirmation that he wasn't being toyed with. So far she seemed to be traveling alone, but he found that hard to believe also.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"You have questions, I do have answers," De'Ville said, placing a small circular device on the table and pressing the center to activate it. "No one can hear us now. And yes, Montebaum is sending his daughter with the other Force sensitive children on a transport to Ossus in a few weeks. It's a great honor to be chosen - that's what they're telling the kids. But they don't really know what they're getting into. Or that they won't be able to see their families again.

"I plan on offering them a choice, once we intercept the transport." She looked up through her lashes at Torgeir as she drank her tea. "I was a Jedi Padawan once. I know what they've been signed up for." De'Ville's eyes hardened for a moment, and then their meals arrived, placing an awkward pause in the conversation until everything was settled.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Mulling over the added information, he was about to reply when her eyes warned him of company as the waitress arrived with their dishes, backing with his glass as she set his before him. Nodding to her again as she smiled, turned and left, he took another sip of his whiskey, then returned the glass to the table. As Torgeir began cutting up the steak, "How can I help?"

Swirling the first bite into his potatoes and taking a bite, he glanced up to her. "I'm working on his ship. Delays do happen," his right brow raised with the insinuation, in case she needed more time to gain information or more trained help. His own knowledge in martial arts or weapons was limited and she had already suggested training him which was a great boost to his confidence. There were still things he didn't know, but her story seemed genuine and the Corellian had been around enough liars in the past to know the difference. Unless of course, she had the ability to screw with his mind without him knowing it.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"Unfortunately his ship being delayed means nothing to the government's plan. They will be using their own transport, guarded and sent off with fanfare from the capitol." De'Ville took a bite of the pan seared fish she'd ordered, savoring the flavor. "All I needed was access to his personal calendars, which I have already, thanks to Braddon." She smiled wryly.

"No, if you want to help, you need training in the Force. Training you can receive with me, and my people. Once you know how to use the Force, you can do, and be, just about anything you want." She leaned back a little, a smile tracing her lips once more, "Or you can remain a technician. I have a need for skilled workers as well, if you're interested."

[Torgeir DeHaan]

With knowing how and where the group would be leaving Naboo Torgeir realized that he had little else keeping him here. A quick call to the office would release him and he would be free to follow this girl to anywhere they had to go and finally be able to meet the others that she mentioned. Taking another bite, he set his fork down and shortly after swallowing, took another sip of his whiskey. "Sign me up," he grinned. "I'll let them know that I'm quitting in the morning and then I can help you out any way you want."

This would be another road that he wouldn't be able to tell his family about, unfortunately. But, as he saw it right now this was the right thing to do, especially if these kids were being tricked into this departure from their family and everything familiar. The Corellian couldn't imagine such a thing.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"Excellent," she said, smiling. She was smiling a lot today, it seemed. Torgeir was pleasant to look at, but that wasn't the reason. It was the fact that things were finally going her way. With this move the Jedi would be put on notice that they were not beyond the reach of those who would keep them in check if they over stepped. Not the Empire, and their mindless genocide, but her group. Her people. She was not the one led, or pointed in a direction and let loose, she was the one doing the leading.

And another one was joining her cause. De'Ville put down her fork, and reached halfway across the table, hand open. "We'll start training tomorrow, then."

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Taking her hand in gentlemanly fashion, he shook it, "Looking forward to it. Been needing some answers to the strange dreams and all that," he stated, releasing her hand and going back to his meal, now more eager than ever to get this started. "Grandma used to say it was just deja vu, everybody did it. But," he shook his head, steel-blue eyes focused on the next bite of his steak. "Finally leaving home and getting out into the galaxy has allowed me the chance to have my eyes opened a bit," he revealed, keeping his fork in his right hand, set against the plate. "And then I meet you," he smiled.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"Serendipitous," De'Ville said, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me about your dreams. Have you had any recently?"

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Grinning, he chuckled at her initial response and then thought on the most recent dreams that had him stumped, or at least seemed noteworthy as he continued to eat. "Other night I remember this one that had me in a house that I don't recognize, sitting around a table with people I've never met and then this blonde in a red and gold jacket sits down next to me and it's like I've met her somewhere, but can't recall," he grinned, eyes dipping to the remainder of his steak. "Most of them have a lot of symbolism in them, but all are pretty vivid. Full color," he glanced up again, motioning to the interior of the restaurant around them. "Just like this."

He pondered the events in the dream a bit more, "Wasn't sure if this girl's just wealthy or loves bright colors, or what. Nothing more happens other than us just all talking and don't even remember what we were talking about," he shrugged. "Weird, I know and not a lot to go on, but I do remember the interior of the house and what she looked like."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

She didn't have personal experience with visions, but she knew one when she heard it. "The Force can show us things - memories of the past, things happening in the present, and sometimes even events that have yet to come. I can teach you how to meditate, and how to open yourself up to the Force. It may not make your dreams any easier to interpet, but sometimes just knowing that what you're seeing is real can make a difference.

"The girl in red and gold may be important to your future. The Force rarely shows us things that we are not connected to, in some way. But the future is always in motion. All we can see through the Force are possible futures. It's entirely possible that by meeting me, and making the choices you make today and tomorrow, that the meeting with the girl in red may not come to pass." Lilaena raised her shoulders in a half-shrug. "If that makes sense. We have plenty of time to talk it over."

[Torgeir DeHaan]

The meeting with the blonde in that dream seemed to be harmless, but as she talked about the Force and how it worked, he listened intently. "You ever do that? Have a dream or whatever that came true later on?" Knowing that he now had someone to talk to about these things that didn't look at him like he was smoking stim was comforting.

"I remember this one dream I had years back," he began, steepling his fingers before him, elbows on the table. "I ended up having it happen and as my grandfather and dad were talking, I finished their conversation for them," he chuckled, shaking his head as his arms fell again to the table, grabbing his fork for the last bite. "They looked at me like I was nuts."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

She shook her head. "I have not been gifted with precognitive visions, no." Nightmares, perhaps. Had she not been plagued by memories or visions of her former master, A'na, before she had finally struck her down for good? It was not the same thing.

"You will not need to hide your gifts from me, or the others who are with me. You will be free to be who you really are."

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Steel-blue eyes rose to her with the promise and he grinned, "Be a nice change." Taking another bite, he ate for a moment as these past few hours had changed his life for good and he hoped for the better. "So, where do we go to meet them and then begin this training?" Knowing they also had to intercept a flight of children going to the Jedi, his training may be on hold for a short while until that could happen, unless she showed him the Force on the way.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

She pushed a piece of flimsy across the table toward him. "I'm leaving Naboo in the morning. Meet me at this slip number if you're coming with me, and your training will begin then." De'Ville checked her chrono, and took one last bite of her meal, leaving the rest.

Getting to her feet, she programmed a credit chit for the cost of their two meals and left it on the table, picking up her audio dampening device with the Force as she did so. "I trust I will see you then." She plucked the tech from the air and put it into her pocket, walking out of the restaurant. He'd be there in the morning, she was sure of it. And then the real fun would start.