Well, he already thinks I talk behind his back...

(( This is the beginning of a plot arc that I’m involved in; part of  which includes Taz’hezyst messes with a Jedi’s head just because he can via “wanting to defect”. Gevi likes to torture her characters, apparently.))

The asteroid was barren, like most asteroids were ought to be, minus a rather gaudy-green painted defender-class corvette that sat near a crafter in the surface. 

In the ship, the Jedi Knight Geviana paced around the flight deck, hands on her lightsabers. She kept looking out the window, waiting for signs of this Sith she was supposed to meet, or a fleet, if this was all a ruse. Thankfully the ship was fast enough to get out if anything were to happen, at least, she hoped.

“No signs of anything yet, Elthree,” The Jedi said to the Astromech at her side, who was painted the same green as the ship, “Keep running those scans, report any com signals you may pick up, okay?” The droid beeped an affirmative as Gevi looked at her datapad. 

“He should have been here by now. Either he’s being strung up by some Sith and getting lightning down his throat or this is a trap.” 

An asteroid. He should have figured, why would she make this easier and just meet on Corellia, after all? And this ship! This ship he’d borrowed for the ‘secret’ meeting was enough to keep his mood rather dour. Small, dingy, sluggish controls—at least it played its part well. It wouldn’t do at all to show up as a supposed refugee in a late model, well maintained Fury class Interceptor, after all. 

Taz’hezyst scowled at his own reflection.

He turned on heel, leaving what passed for quarters and returning to the bridge. That stupid woman would likely still be waiting for him, despite the fact that he was late.  

“Might as well throw her a bone.” 

A long, clawed, blue finger lazily ran over a few random communication switches, bringing them back online. No need to send a message that would mean anything if intercepted, and it wasn’t as though he was currently in Imperial or Republic space, but the channels were, if nothing else, open again.

The ship itself touched down moments later in a manner that would either suggest a pilot who was hopelessly inept or in a massive, panicked hurry. Prior to exiting the ship, the Twi’lek made certain to remove many of the trappings on his robes, leaving them a plain, dull mix of muted violet and black.  Taz’hezyst wasn’t stupid enough to leave his lightsaber behind, but he had taken some care to add a hidden pocket for it in his right robe sleeve. He took some amount of care to slouch a bit, drain the confidence from his steps, and scurried off of the ship, darting glances behind him, up into open space, and finally over to Geviana’s ship. 

Recognizing the gaudy thing as a fairly standard Republic vessel, he  made his way toward it.

Geviana had found herself distracted in something on her datapad when the droid beeped loudly and curiously, nudging her knee as he did so. She looked up to see the ship, the dingy little thing the Twi’lek had come in and winced. A Corellian knew a good ship when she saw one and this thing was barely fit to fly as bait.

“Well, Elthree, looks like this is it. Keep the Flame running, okay and keep scanning for com signals. If there is any chatter on Imp channels, you let me know.” The Jedi hopped over the railing that separated the bridge and the stairs leading to the exit, using the Force to pull a few pieces of metal into her hand as she did so. 

She looked at the pile of cybernetics in her hand and put them on quickly, wincing as the electronics connected to her flesh and brainwaves. She placed the eyepatch on her left eye and hit a button on the side, letting the screen power up. “Everything okay, Elthree?” The droid flashed an answer on the screen and Gevi opened the hatch, stepping down the runway and standing at the edge, waiting for the Sith to come closer. Her hands twitched over the sabers on her side, but she quickly moved her hands to clasp at the small of her back. 

Taz’hezyst inched closer, keep his head low, stopping occasionally to glance behind him. He stopped a short distance in front of Gevi and appeared to be paying more attention to the ramp leading up to her ship than to her.

“Apologies,” the word came out as little more than a squeak, and Taz’hezyst cleared his throat, “Apologies for that as well. It’s—more difficult to get out of Imperial space than one might think. Intelligence doesn’t watch me, but my Master certainly keeps a short leash.”

Reaching back, he pulled one of his lekku forward, absently twisting it between his fingers, “I didn’t—I half expected to see him come out of the ship, you know.”

Every little noise, perceived or actually present, seemed to cause the Sith to jump, “Are you—you’re not, I mean, there aren’t Sith hiding on your ship or anything, correct?”

Geviana blinked a few times at the sniveling Sith before her, quirking an eyebrow. She studied him over for a few seconds, placing her hands on her hips, fingers brushing the hilt of her sabers. She could end this Sith here and now, rid the galaxy of one more monster, but he was timid, weak. Nothing like a Sith would be. It could be a ploy, an act, but what act would willingly seem weak in front of a Jedi? She placed her hands back behind her back.

“Don’t worry, I don’t have Sith aboard my ship. If I did, you can rest assured they wouldn’t be jumping out of the cargo holds any time soon.” She cracked a smile at the Twi’lek, trying to give off a sense of warmth and friendliness which she hoped he could sense in some way. If a Sith could sense anger and fear, surely he could sense friendship and love…even if it was slightly forced. “And you have nothing to worry about, friend. My droid is currently running scans of com signals and life signs on this asteroid and around it. If he sees something, he’ll let us know,” She tapped the eyepatch, “and we’ll be able to get off and into hyperspace before they can even see this rock.”

She stepped forward, bowing before the Sith. “We don’t have much time, though. People will begin to wonder where I’ve run off to if I don’t return to Corellia soon.” 

Taz’hezyst seemed to sense Gevi’s intial (if fleeting) thought that accompanied her reaching for her lightsabers, and he cringed, raising his hands up, “I’m not armed!”

Quickly he clapped his hands over his mouth and murmured an apology. As she stepped forward toward him, Taz’hezyst shrunk back; the  movement itself so well practiced that it may have seemed instinctual.

“I don’t mean to be jumpy—or—or necessarily doubtful. Yes, doubtful, I think is the word.” He glanced back over his shoulder again, “I know I shouldn’t be suspicious of the motives of a Jedi, it’s just—”

Sighing, Taz’hezyst rubbed his temples, “You get used to expecting an attack at any time, you know?” His hand reached for a lekku again to resume absent twisting, “And I know—I do, I mean, I know Jedi aren’t the deceptive sorts. You said you’d be alone and I don’t have any legitimate reason to think otherwise, yes?”

He offered her what he hoped would pass for a tentative smile, “I—do appreciate it, really—that you came out here and all. Don’t leav—” Taz’hezyst snapped his mouth shut and shook his head, “Don’t let me keep you from returning to your post.  Getting yourself in trouble wouldn’t help either of much, would it?”

Geviana actually felt bad for the Sith, which surprised her and that surprise was shown on her face for a moment. “I understand you being nervous about this. Trust me, I am as well. If Kerem knew I was meeting a Sith on my own, without taking you to an Republic spaceport and keeping you locked up, he’d most likely lecture me until my ears fell off.”

She reached out carefully to grasp his shoulder in a friendly manner, squeezing it lightly. She leaned down to try to look at him in the eyes, giving him a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, you’re going to be gone from those wicked people soon, I promise you.”

The Jedi reached down to her pocket, pulling out a small comm unit. “Here, this is linked to my own personal one and it’s been encrypted several times. It doesn’t allow recordings and anyone who happens to get the frequency is going to hear nothing but gibberish.” She placed it in the Twi’lek’s hand and smiled once more. 

“You’re going to be safe now, Taz’hezyst. I won’t let the Sith brainwash another one of your kind into thinking their way is the correct one. I won’t allow this anymore.” Anger flashed in Gevi’s eyes for a moment and she glared at the Sith standing before her. “But right now, you’re still a Sith and I still do not trust you.”

She took a step back, pulled out a saber and ignited it, bringing it forward to stare at Taz’hezyst, inches away from his face. “And I will not hesitate to destroy you should I get the chance and the knowledge you have betrayed my trust.” She stared at him for a moment before letting the saber extinguish itself, placing it back on her hip. She gave him another friendly smile, the anger but washing away from her, being replaced with kindness. “But until that time comes, I will try and treat you with the respect you deserve.” 

“That comm unit will help us stay in touch. I’ll get with you later this evening about our next meeting, but I must leave now. Kerem is hailing me on the ship.”  She bowed before the Sith and walked backwards up the ramp to her ship. 

“Keep it opened, don’t worry. I’ve made sure no one else can mess with it! Corellian’s Honor!” She flashed a bright grin at the Sith and made her way into her ship.