New kid on the block

[ezra_of_lothal]

WHO: Ezra and anyone, shipmates especially welcome
WHERE: Network and hangar
WHAT: Introductions and settling in
WHEN: Mid Feb/first few days after Ezra arrives
WARNINGS: Some discussion of violence and body horror

.
A. Network [Video]

So, I'm new. My name's Ezra Bridger. I'm from Lothal, if you know where that is.

Mr. Vanth recommended I go by the hangar, so I'll be doing that in a little while, if you want to say hello face to face. It looks like I'm assigned to the Vanquish. Whatever that means, in a practical sense.

I guess my first question is - what needs doing around here? I have some experience scavenging and setting up base in only sort of habitable spots, but this situation doesn't quite fit anything I've done before.

How are we doing on, oh, food?

B. Hangar

He can see why people might congregate here. It's a relatively enclosed, defendable space, and the ships have systems that are probably easier to maintain than the entire infrastructure of a mostly abandoned city. And it's familiar to him, too, sharing ships about this size with a handful of people.

On the other hand, before he joined the crew of the Ghost, he'd had an entire communications tower to himself. It had taken him a while to get used to sharing a cabin with Zeb, and adjusting to all the demands of being part of a crew.

He hasn't made up his mind, which living situation he's leaning towards, here and now. He plans to pitch in, regardless, that's nothing wrong with having some space to himself again.

Once he actually lets himself onto the Vanquish, he's very open about looking around, and a little more cautious about touching than he'd been years ago, the first time he really was on a ship. Years of Hera being particular about her ship have made their mark.

Anyone he come across, he tries to shoot them a friendly smile.

Comments

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Full on Sith. Goes with the Darth part, is my understanding." Maul had said 'formerly Darth', about himself. Although as far as Ezra could tell, in the end, all that meant was he had done awful things to serve his own ends rather than the Emperor's.

Then he nods. "Ahsoka Tano. As of a few days before I wound up here, she was alive."

[out_of_order]

"Guess he's been busy with other things to go after a random padawan," Cal sighs, relieved but no less concerned that someone like that is lurking somewhere. "Think I'd rather take my chances with the Second Sister."

News about Ahsoka being alive is also a relief. "I didn't know her personally, but I'm glad to hear it." It's always good to have that confirmation that there are others still alive out there.

[ezra_of_lothal]

"It's not just you," Ezra tries to reassure. He could talk about the older version of Master Kenobi on Tatooine, or talking to Master Yoda through the temple on Lothal, but between the a general caution about secrecy and not wanting to overwhelm Cal, that's not for right now, he decides.

"And people here - they know you're a Jedi, right?"

[out_of_order]

Those words mean a lot, especially coming from someone who's probably farther ahead in the future than he is. Cal may not remember it later, whenever the Agrii decide to send him home, but just the confirmation that there are others is encouraging. He swallows, looking grateful for that reassurance as he nods.

"...yeah. Well, those I've really gotten to know, anyway. I only got this finished recently." He clips the lightsaber back onto his belt. "I wasn't the first person who could use the Force, though. There were a couple of others here before me, but they've been sent back, I think."

[ezra_of_lothal]

"It almost sounds like someone's cycling through people to try to find the right skill set," Ezra muses.

[out_of_order]

"Maybe," Cal concedes with a shrug. There doesn't seem to be much rhyme nor reason for who leaves and who stays. "There used to be more from our galaxy. Some from a long time before even the Clone Wars." He chuckles a little. "It was also kind of strange that until I came here I'd never seen nor met a Chiss before, and here I've met three."

[ezra_of_lothal]

His eyes narrow a little. "Chiss. Blue skin and red eyes, right?"

[out_of_order]

Maybe they're not so rare as he thought? But it is a big galaxy, and who knows where Ezra's been. Cal nods. "Yeah. You've met one?"

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Just the one, and I don't think it's widely known what species he is." But Kallus, former IBS agent had known. "Grand Admiral Thrawn. He was in charge of the fleet blockading Lothal. We were kind of in the middle of a stand off when I got pulled here."

[out_of_order]

"...."

There's obvious recognition of the name for the look that crosses the padawan's face. "...he was here, him and another Imperial." Both had long since vanished, presumably deposited back to whatever timeline they'd come from.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra stares backs. "Uh. Are there Imperials here now?"

[out_of_order]

Cal raises his hands in placation. "Oh no, no- they've been gone for some time. A lot of the people that were from more familiar territory to us have... It was just me and a pilot named Poe Dameron for a good while. He's from further along than either of us."

[ezra_of_lothal]

He breathes out in relief. He wonders if Cal is deliberately not mentioning Master Kenobi being around.

"Still, that's...interesting I guess isn't the right word. Seems like the definition of hero is, um, flexible."

[out_of_order]

"With the Agrii who can really say. There's already been proof of communication issues," Cal admits with a shrug. "The other Chiss that had been here claimed to be a Sith. And then there was another person who didn't say he was a Sith but he wielded a red lightsaber. I guess there's little point in wondering now since they've all gone."

He scratches his head. "But I guess someone's figured our galaxy's a good one to fish around for people to pull in, because since then we've had quite a few show up in the recent...months?" Keeping track of days here is difficult.

[ezra_of_lothal]

"You've been here a while," Ezra observes. "More than a year, do you think?"

[out_of_order]

Cal winces at that, nodding. "At least," he admits.

It's not that being stuck here bothers him that much, strange as that might be. But to think that that much time has progressed and they haven't seemed to make any dents in figuring out how to help the Agrii or themselves in the process is a little discouraging.

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Hey," Ezra says gently. "You're surviving and helping other people when you can, right?"

[out_of_order]

"Yeah..." Surviving seems to be the main thing any of them can do, but there have been enough strange and dangerous things happening for him to acknowledge that it's been a definite accomplishment. "Yeah," Cal says again, managing a small smile at the reminder. "And everyone else has been helping me too. I kind of lost sight of what I was supposed to do. But the Jedi protect and assist those in need, so that's what I'm going to do."