Out of Nowhere

[Sanis Prent]

"Welcome back!" I managed to get out, still more than a bit shocked at her sudden appearance.

I quickly pulled up a chair to sit down.

"So, how are you?"

I almost cringed at the lameness of it, but how did you break the ice after such a long time away?

[James Prent]

"Uh, I'm okay," I replied, feeling a little squished with Cirr's heavy arm draped over my shoulders. "M' leg's pretty good, I don't hardly limp at all now... the Alliance took real good care o' me."

I picked up my tumbler and took a sip. "I ran into Lok at the market. Quite a coincidence." There was a little bit of bitterness in my tone. A little. If I hadn't gone shopping I never would have known they were in the City at all.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

A smile despite the minute bitterness in James' voice, and s'Il reached over to liberate one more uncoated piece of meat from Cirr's plate. It was good, as long as it was plain and not coated with that death sauce.

"It was fate," she grinned, popping her stolen food into her mouth.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Suddenly in good spirits, Cirr cast a wary eye at Lok's dinner-filching activities, and pulled his plate a little more toward himself.

"We'rre all verry glad to see you agajin, that's forr surre!"

Cirr nodded at Sanis, looking for an all-around approval by committee.

[Sanis Prent]

I barely winced at the barb she'd shot my way. More or less deserved.

"Yeah, it's been a crazy eight months."

Did I even want to get into the Urns debacle, or everything that came with that?

[James Prent]

I shrugged. "I know what you mean." Could we just pick up where we left off? Could Lok train me in the Force?

Could I become... a Jedi? I thought about Mu and Barton and the people I'd met on Cloud City, and my brain started making excuses about how I couldn't jus' leave my job without giving them notice. Which was nonsense. I didn't owe them anythin'. Except, I did.

I rubbed my forehead, feeling a migraine coming on. Looking over at Lok, who was smiling encouragingly, I was shocked to see her face transform into a snarling, angry visage. Jerking with surprise, I ended up nearly in Cirr's lap, who chuckled and pinched my side.

Blinking, I stared at Lok, who now just looked concerned. Yet I could see the horrible face overlaid over her. I shook my head, and rubbed at my eyes.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Furrowing her brow at James' sudden movement away, s'Il was silent for a short second. Now what was that all about? It wasn't a drastic movement, but it was enough to give the Lupine pause, and she set a curious gaze upon James.

Another moment, and she reached out to give a light touch to the other woman's arm.

"James?"