Shadows of Bankor

Even in the Slums there were areas that were good and bad. Or mediocre and abysmal to be more accurate. Xanna's apartment was definitely at the upper end of the least bad accommodation you could find. It had a functioning security door and fire escape. The turbolift opened at rather than between floors. It even had a Rodian who claimed to be the building manager (he was actually a low-level enforcer for some crime boss or other, but he seemed to really like the title). It suited her purposes, and her apartment was on the top floor overlooking a decent chunk of the edge of Rygor.

The assault on the Aznuri had been appalling. She had weathered the storm, and could console herself with having helped a few people, but the ferocity and destruction had been vile. It had seemed to take an age to get the blood and grime off her skin and out of her hair. Her memories of the Clone Wars resurfaced in response and she could not get the smell of burning flesh and battle droid out of her nostrils. The more she thought about it the more intense in got and for a moment she thought it might overwhelm her. Until an image of the cabin popped into her mind. Her new friends. Oraka's return.

What would Oraka do?

Well, that seemed obvious. She sat cross-legged on the floor and began to meditate.

OOC: Discipline check at Average.

Blocking out distracting thoughts she focused inwards. Her posture was good, her form was fine. She was looking for peace, but what would she find?

Day 3. Meditation? Average Discipline check.: 1eP+2eA+2eD 3 successes, 1 threat

She can feel amount of life around and the connections of the universe to her and all peoples but it is overwhelming and before she can find her peace she is struck with waves of pain and misery that the Aznuri have endured throughout day…

She can feel the anger and darkness that lingers in her close friends; Petrus and his deep seated fears, Sloan and his anger and attachment to his people and Sister Hulia, and the anger that lurks inside Liua and she can see a shadow behind the young woman and then the helmet of the Inquisitor as if he was pulling the strings.

For a moment she can see a Jedi in the darkness, a zabrak woman… All of these images give way to fire and bones and all is dominated by a dark shadow and deep breathing… an impending doom.

Her mind snaps out of the meditation.

Her eyes suddenly opened wide. "Kriff!" she pressed herself back against the wall, sweat feeling as though it was pouring off her. It took a few moments to remember to breathe, and a much longer time to bring it under control.

Shaking slightly she tipped her head back until she was looking up at the ceiling. All this darkness and despair. What did they think they were doing? How could they take on an Empire? The Inquisitors? Vader?

It would have been easy to give in right then. To curl up and cry. Oddly it was her mother's words that came back to her.

How do you think I learned to dance? One step at a time! Stupid girl.

"One step at a time."

Her friends were in danger. A Jedi was trapped in darkness. Slowly she forced herself onto her hands and knees. Then to her feet. There was work to be done. But first she was going to need another shower.