The Awakening (March Catch-All)

[hadthehighground]

Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi and YOU
Date: All of March
Location: Keeliai and Hatal
Situation: Earthquake, Force Awakening, Boga, etc!
Warnings/Rating: F for the Force!


Throughout the month of March, Obi-Wan can again be seen all over the place. He's frequently going in and out of Hatal. In fact, he's there on the Lorn level when the earthquake hits on the 13th. For a couple of days after that, he's thoroughly involved with cleaning up the rubble and helping the Kin'nal.

Earlier in the month he felt a disturbance in the Force, the beginning of the awakening of many new Force users in Keeliai. Those who notice anything strange are encouraged to come to him about it. Obi-Wan will be available to talk to anyone at any time.

Also, not long after his network announcement, Obi-Wan hears rumor of a strange creature on the outskirts of Keeliai. A Rakenga without wings or some such. Deciding that this is certainly out of the ordinary, he goes to investigate. What he finds is an old friend. He finds Boga unharmed and still with her saddle and bridle intact.

Throughout the month Obi-Wan can be seen riding this giant shrieking lizard around both cities, after he gets the permits to in Hatal of course. Plus he starts allowing people to ride her and borrow her as a beast of burden. There is a fee of course, as keeping a large animal like a Varactyl around will have expenses. And it's a nice little source of money for the Jedi.

Feel free to find him wherever. He can even be found trying out his new lightsaber prototype built around one of those little crystals found in Hatal. You know, the ones that started the truth virus.

Comments

[littlelightofmine]

The Force was mocking him. This was the only explanation. After the aftermath of the earthquake, Kylo had been going out of his way to avoid Obi-Wan, because of their previous conversations and the fact that Obi-Wan was a Jedi and Kylo was the Jedi Killer. If the Supreme Leader was here, Kylo knew that he would be urging Kylo to kill him and the others here, consequences be damned. Thus it was safer for everyone involved if Kylo just stayed away from all of those who called themselves Jedi so he wouldn't be tempted to try to kill any of them.

Of course, it was not that simple, since as previously stated, the Force was mocking him. Wherever he went, he saw signs of the others, whether it be through the Force itself or Obi-Wan riding whatever that thing was across both cities. Eventually he stumbled upon Obi-Wan not riding that beast, but still having it nearby and curiosity could not stop him from coming up to them and staring at the large lizard bird...thing.

"What is that," he said flatly, not so much poised as a question by the way he spoke. He was pretty good at that. "And why do you have it with you."

[hadthehighground]

Boga had just been returned to him after a Kedan had borrowed the creature to do some work for him. Being perhaps the largest animal on the turtle, aside from the turtle itself of course, was certainly an advantage in many ways. It's after Obi-Wan received payment that he noticed Kylo Ren approaching. Boga herself inclined and tilted her head to look at the man as he drew near. A certain intelligence shown in her eyes. While not sentient, she's a clever creature.

"A Varactyl, native to Utapau," Obi-Wan explains. "She's an old friend. I happened to find her on the outskirts of town. Though I have no idea how she managed end up here in the first place."

[littlelightofmine]

Kylo couldn't help but just stare at the creature while Obi-Wan spoke. While he had traveled to many places across the galaxy for the Supreme Leader and the First Order, he didn't have much experience with animals native to different planets since he was more focused on dealing with the sentient inhabitants of those planets. He doesn't try to pet it, keeping a respectable distance from the creature before finally turning his attention to Obi-Wan.

"Perhaps it arrived the same way we did," he said. That was what made the most sense, after all. He had no idea why someone would bring a Varactyl to this place, but it was only a theory after all. "I've noticed the two of you running around. I was curious as to what it was."

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan gives Kylo Ren a curious look.

"Her name is Boga. ... Would you like to take a ride?"

It's okay to admit you like her Kylo. She is pretty cool. And Boga just keeps looking at Mr. Ren expectantly.

[littlelightofmine]

At both Obi-Wan and Boga, Kylo scowls at them to put off an air of definitely not wanting to ride the strange beast. There was a part of him that was filled with the childish desire to want to ride Boga around and see if it was as thrilling as it had appeared from a distance. Not that Kylo would ever admit it to anyone, especially to Obi-Wan, the one person he was going to keep his walls up around.

"I don't think she'd be as good as riding a speeder," he said in a judging tone. Of course Kylo was going to not trust a living creature when he could rely on a speeder or ship to transport him wherever he need. "Being forced to live on the back of this massive creature is good enough for me."

[hadthehighground]

"You won't find a speeder here," Obi-Wan points out. "She's faster than a kirin, and much more maneuverable than those little carts the Kedan like to pull around. Traveling by Varacytl is far superior to anything else around."

The Jedi then turned to look up at his companion, who perhaps looked a little bit indignant at Kylo's comment. But it was Kylo's loss really. Adjusting the Varactyl's saddle a bit, he then climbed onto her back. Boga obediently remained perfectly still as her rider mounted and took up the reigns.

"I promise she doesn't bite," Obi-Wan says with a bit of a grin.

[littlelightofmine]

"If I had the parts, I could build one," he responded, scowl still on his face. He was both a Skywalker and a Solo, it was a coin flip whether or not he could build something that actually worked without possibility of blowing up, though his lightsaber indicated that anything he built might possibility blow up at some point.

"I'm not worried about her biting," Kylo said with a tone like he was taking this whole thing as a challenge. He had zero problems with this giant lizardbird Varactyl creature, oh no, and he was going to prove it by getting up on Boga's back behind Obi-Wan and just glaring at him as if to dare him to say anything. "Go on then, prove your point."

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan just watched amusedly as Kylo took his bait and climbed up on Boga's back. Once Kylo was settled, the Jedi wasn't doing a very good job hiding that triumphant smile.

"You might want to hold on," he then points out before giving Boga the signal.

And with that the Varactyl lurched forward. The creature's shrill cry filling the air as she bolted with her pair of riders. Legs easily and swiftly carrying them through the streets and towards the outskirts of town. There's no denying that she's fast. The crested reptile sprinted across the landscape with ease, the wind rushing past their ears.

[littlelightofmine]

Seeing Obi-Wan's triumphant smile only made Kylo scowl, but that was short lived as the varactyl set off. He gripped hard onto the saddle, not even thinking of grabbing hold of the Jedi instead. There was so much Kylo would allow, but showing a sign of weakness in front of Obi-Wan was definitely not one of them. It was definitely an exhilarating ride, all things considered, but he was going to admit that.

"Kriffing Jedi," he muttered as he kept a tight hold of the saddle, expression one of annoyance as he looked at the landscape passing them by. He would have definitely preferred a speeder or even his shuttle, machines that you knew would work exactly the way you wanted them to and not connected to the mind of a wild animal. He decided to raise his voice enough for Obi-Wan finally hear properly when he next spoke. "Where are you taking us?"

[hadthehighground]

Kylo's sour mood and grumbling only served to amuse Obi-Wan all the more. The gloomy fellow really did need to lighten up a bit. And what better way than a Varactyl joy ride? Besides, Kylo was now his captive audience.

Farmland and trees rushed by as Boga took them outside the city. The mountains of the land beyond in full view. It wasn't long before they came to the edge of the shell. It was then that Boga decided to rear up on her hind legs. The Jedi holding tight to the reigns but also using one hand to point towards Tavimbi and the city nestled in rocky terrain.

"To Hatal," he replied simply. Obi-Wan did make often trips there. Boga then leaped off the shell, carrying them sailing and sliding to the coast below. Once they landed, the large lizard clambered over the rocks, pausing to inspect some of the ones that were covered in algae. "Come now, Boga. You can have a snack later." Thus they continued on.

"So, you can build a speeder? You certainly take after Anakin."

[littlelightofmine]

There was absolutely no way that Kylo was going to cheer up. It was impossible, especially since riding a varactyl wasn't exactly high up on his list of things that would make him happy. Talking to his grandfather, fighting someone that was a proper challenge that he could defeat, now those were things he enjoyed. This? Not so much.

The further he went, the more he was sure he didn't like this and it was confirmed completely once Obi-Wan started talking properly. Yes, he had been compared to Anakin before, but that was by people who knew his relation to the man and he was sure the man in front of him didn't know. He had been trying to keep that quiet, after all.

"I've never built one before, but I've been around enough to at least try to," he admitted with no real problems. It was true, Kylo had never built a speeder before, mostly because he had busy with other things. "Take after Anakin Skywalker? How can I do that if I've never met the man?"

[hadthehighground]

Steering the Varactyl to run along the rocks, he then allowed her to scale a cliff face. He wasn't making a straight line towards the city. No, the Jedi is taking the scenic route for sure. It is quite a view though when the reach the top of the cliff. Allowing them to more easily see part of the massive turtle.

"Because you're his grandson," Obi-Wan stated.

Sorry Kylo, but you were definitely mistaken. This Jedi had figured it out when he had spoken with Padme. Perhaps you need to guard your secrets a little more carefully.

"You're the son of Leia Organa. Or am I mistaken?"

[littlelightofmine]

For Kylo's part, he didn't look nearly as surprised as he felt and he thought back to everyone he had spoken to in this place that could have told him of his relation to Leia. There was only one and Kylo's surprise faded away as he realized just how obvious it had been in hindsight. He really shouldn't have told her who he was, even as indirectly as it was to not let her know the whole truth.

"You spoke to the Senator," he stated evenly. Of course he did, considering that Padme was in some sort of relationship with Obi-Wan's former Padawan. There was no denial of the facts since he wasn't ashamed of who he was related to, despite his issues with the majority of his family. "She is the woman who gave birth to me, yes."

And the woman who stopped being a mother to him the day she left him with Luke to train him to be a Jedi. Not that he'd say that, not if he didn't have to. "What are you going to do with this information, now that you know?"

[hadthehighground]

"She is a dear friend," Obi-Wan confirmed as Boga continued to run along the cliff's edge. He really did prefer this mode of travel over flying. The rhythmic pounding of the Varactyl's feet constantly letting him know that they were still on solid ground. As far as Padme though, there had been nothing hidden between them when they last spoke. Quite literally.

As he listened to Kylo speak though, his expression fell a little bit. "The woman who-" he started to repeat but cut himself off. "I see." Obviously not all was well in that family. How unfortunate. Though Obi-Wan's brows now rose at the next question.

"Nothing."
What could he possibly do with that information even if he wanted to?

[littlelightofmine]

"I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised by that information," he admitted. Obi-Wan was close to Anakin, so it was no real surprise that he'd be friends with Padme as well. Kylo's study of Vader's life was mostly focused on the Vader part, not so much on the times before his fall. What little he knew of before was from his family, unreliable and biased sources at best.

"Leia Organa was better suited to be a leader and a fighter than a mother," Kylo said in way of explanation, even though some part of him knew that wasn't true, that she had been there when he was so young, blocking him from the whispers that plagued his life. "I no longer carry the name she gave me for that reason, among others."

There was a long moment of silence as Kylo thought on this. Of course Obi-Wan wouldn't say anything. That information was a threat to Anakin and Padme, letting them know about their children and that he, someone who had also fallen from the light, was their grandson. It didn't surprise him because it was an influence, though towards the Light or the Dark was still something he couldn't parse.

"You don't want them to know." That was a fact. He didn't even need to ask. "My father always said there was too much Vader in me. It's likely that you think the same thing."

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan had only known Leia as a baby, and from the few glimpses he'd seen of her in Galen's mind. He can't say one way or another if Kylo is right or not, so he doesn't comment. But he can feel the underlying pain in those words. It was tragic, and Obi-Wan felt a bit sorry for Kylo Ren. Though he knew better than to let that show in front of the man.

"No, not at all. I'm afraid you misunderstand." There's a pause as Obi-Wan focused on directing his steed towards the entrance of the city. It wasn't long before Boga carried them back down the cliff and towards the gates. By now the locals were used to seeing them and merely cleared a path when they heard them coming.

"I kept nothing from Padme when I spoke to her. Though I will leave it up to her to tell Anakin." But there was something a bit more important than that. "I can sense the turmoil inside you, but I would not assume to compare you to Darth Vader. Whatever darkness you have inside you is not because of him. It's a result of the path you have chosen for yourself. Whatever that may be."