Silent Songs

An uninformed observer could be forgiven for thinking that Solomon wasn't paying attention. He'd wandered a few meters away from the Inspector and was slowly surveying his surroundings: oily streets crowded by sheer duracrete walls, slick and glistening from the rain, pallets of crates stacked high and awaiting delivery behind a chain-link fence, the occasional load lifter and the curtain of fine spray its repulsorlifts raised from the saturated blacktop as it scudded through the yawning factory doors. There were Jedi who looked at such a place and despaired of finding the rhythm of the living Force in a canyon of concrete and steel, but Solomon had been born on Coruscant, and he knew better. The Force followed life, and that was as true in a city as in a wilderness.

"There are other ways to look into the past, Inspector," the preacher replied. "Some Jedi investigators had a skill called postcognition."

He turned to find her studying him with guarded interest. "Even those who are not sensitive to the Force leave their mark on it," Solomon said. "Mighty deeds and strong emotions may resonate in a place long after the people have passed on. That's why we speak of some places being strong with the Light Side or the Dark Side of the Force. I can sense something of the Dark here, now. If you'll permit me, Inspector, I might be able to guide you in listening for it."

If nothing else, she was grateful to the Jedi for continuing to address her as 'Inspector', instead of 'Inquisitor'. Despite her instincts telling her that he was being truthful and that there was no guile in his words, she continued to look at him guardedly.

"I would," she said finally; to learn a new skill like this would benefit her greatly, but why would he freely give her this knowledge? He could just as easily do what he was saying himself and direct the investigation from there. Why waste time and teach her a skill she would undoubtedly use against Jedi in the future and, possibly, against him?

"Show me zis 'postcognition'..." she paused, unwilling to say 'Jedi', but unsure of what else to call him. The collar he wore undoubtedly referenced his public persona, though she was unaware of its meaning and title. If he would be circumspect and not reference her true profession, she would do the same for him.