2385/Rendezvous

Rendezvous
Date of Scene:	05 June 2015
Location:	Bar and Grill at the Edge of the Multiverse
Synopsis:	Juno visits Toph at the Bar and Grill to talk about rebellion, loyalty, and looking forward.
Cast of Characters:	20, 428

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Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
When there's an astronomical price on your head, any kind of travel is risky... but the Bar and Grill is an exception to most rules. Aside from being designated neutral territory that even the strongest Elite were forced to honour, this place seems to have a unique mode of travel. One simply walks through a door while wanting food or a drink, and they wind up here. Sometimes. Nobody's quite sure how the whole thing works, and plenty of patrons found it unsettling the first time or two.

The earthbender had said they could meet in the first place they had met. That would be this very establishment, where Juno had donated some durasteel scrap to Toph to hone her metalbending against.

It's late at night, and Juno is seated at a table far away from the centre of the room. In fact, it's a big comfy two-person booth off along one wall, semi-private, with a nice stylish lamp hanging down over the table. She's looking a bit better than she did the previous night – less drugged, but still haggard and exhausted, with shadows under her eyes, and a brightness to her eyes themselves that speaks of too little sleep and too many stimulants. Her clothing is simple; a plain grey sweater over dark jeans, which look like they've been bought from a thrift store somewhere, and her trusty, scuffed combat boots. Her hair's been left loose, rather than its usual French twist or horsetail; a purposefully unusual look for her.

There's a menu set at Toph's place, waiting for her, and Juno leafs through hers, though her eyes dart to the room every time she sees something moving; unable to relax. There's a weary, haunted look to her – the look of a fugitive who knows they're on the run, and who knows that the slightest stumble means their end.

She promised, though, and Juno Eclipse keeps her promises, no matter what.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
It had been creepy to hear that Vader guy breathe on the radio channel, and it sounded like Juno did not like it either. So it's risky, but... it's also the best place to meet now. Both since no names needed to be said for them to know where to go. Also because it's easy to get there, as well as safe.

Like Juno, Toph too is clad in something simple. So the former Imperial pilot might not recognize the girl when she arrives, wearing a purple shirt with a cartoon bunny print on it as well as knee length pants, her satchel hanging off her shoulder. Her hair is also kind of messy, but the blind girl looks healthy, and she's smiling as she approaches Juno.

"Thought this was the best place to meet," she explains, then reaches out and offers a weak punch to Juno's arm before she sits down on the other side of the booth, opening her satchel to pull out what looks like a Stark tech glove that she puts on her left hand. "Gotten any rest since yesterday...?" she asks. Juno seems tense. And she sounds tired, just by listening to her voice, her breath... and her heart.

Toph's expression is calm however, and she keeps her voice low and natural when she speaks. No, she's not about to draw attention to them.

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
Considering she's only seen the earthbender a few times, the pilot does take a moment to recognise her friend. She squints for a second or two, before it seems to settle in that this is Toph Beifong, and not some random stranger who picked the wrong table.

The bright purple shirt is given a brief look of approval. Anything out of the ordinary right now that might help throw off appearances is a smart precaution to take; it's why she's left her hair down, which she ordinarily never really does – it's longer than it usually appears, down just a bit past her shoulders, and it seems to have a habit of falling into her face, which she answers with a habit of unconsciously swiping out of her eyes with a hand every so often.

"Probably." The punch is answered with a wan smile, and a half-hearted attempt to return the gesture with her left hand. There's not very much power in it; just enough to tap Toph's arm. "I'm still going to bolt if I see anybody come in that door I recognise." She lowers her voice, glancing to Toph. "Anyone who isn't Lowri or one of the Flotilla, anyway."

Juno considers the question, staring a little blearily. She certainly doesn't look like she's gotten much rest. "Not really, no." That much is probably obvious to the earthbender, with insights that most normal people will never have. Her breathing is fairly normal, considering, and her heart rate seems to oscillate between slower than normal, and the panicky stuttering of adrenaline whenever she looks to the doorway. There's also a tautness to her nerves that has nothing to do with her anxiety, and everything to do with too many stimulants.

Gesturing at the menu, Juno manages a slightly more sincere smile. "Get whatever you want. It's my treat. I did say I'd spoil you, and I'd fully expect you to hold me to it. I owe you one for that; if that ship reached Mustafar, I'd be as good as gone." Her expression falls. "It's where prisoners and Jedi go to disappear. It's a volcanic world, with a lot of open magma and other nasty surprises; things that have a way of conveniently devouring all the evidence... so believe me when I say this is the least I can do for you."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
Perhaps it might appear that this is a disguise. Then again, Toph has taken to wearing the random cute clothes that Pepper has bought her, and believe it or not... this is the type of clothes that the might earthbender wears on a daily basis.

She offers Juno a big grin. "And I'll slow them down, gotchya. Fighting isn't allowed, but that isn't the only thing I can use my bending for, which you've seen." It's only natural that Juno is jumpy, so Toph really can't blame her for wanting to run. "You'll draw less attention if you move slowly, though. Move as if you belong."

Okay, the lack of sleep is even audible, and Toph nods her head. Though when Juno says that she will be paying for everything she wants to get, Toph arches an eyebrow. "And foot me with the bill if you bolt?" she teases, but she does move her left hand over the menu, soft clicking sound coming from the peculiar metal glove. Most people might demand more for such a risky mission, for helping save a person from certain death... but this is hardly the first time Toph has risked her life to save somebody without expecting any reward.

"I'm glad you're okay though," Toph comments, her tone serious. "Lowri submitted a report earlier, and... well, we have been given permission to help you guys at our own discretion." She goes quiet, her expression pensive as the fingers of her left hand move over the text written on the menu. Hmmm, what to get...?

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
Most of the time, the pilot might have been seen wearing her uniform, or the mercenary-like clothing she favoured for jobs on the side of Confederate operations. These days, she's usually in that more mercenary outfit. Much like Galen, she prefers not to have any reminders of her Imperial life. It's a place she's happy not to revisit again, ever, if at all possible.

"Yeah." Those pale blue eyes dart to the door again, heart skipping a beat for a brief instant, but it's only another customer. Somewhat forcibly she turns her attention back to Toph. "I don't think you'll need to worry. I can sprint pretty well, for a pilot. I actually work out and keep myself in shape." She probably knows that already, though, since she can sense the pilot's vitals. "No need to trip the security systems. If someone recognises me, I haven't got any interest in fighting. I'll just run."

Oh, right. If she runs, she can't pay the bill, can she? Juno shrugs a little. "I guess I hadn't actually thought about that." Whoops. "If I have to run, we'll meet here again. I'll pay you back for it, but I'll see what I can do for staying put." She grins, tiredly. "At least long enough to pay the bill."

Of course, she'd give the girl anything she might ask for, if she actually did want something. Juno knows well the value of debts like these, and she's a generous enough person by nature.

"Mmm. I wouldn't be, if it wasn't for you and Lowri. You two saved my life, again." Juno stares at her menu without really seeing it, shaking her head. Drawing in a breath, she lets it go through her teeth, not quite hissing. It's more a tired sound than a tense one. "I see. So, you'll be acting in an official capacity, then, as Union representatives."

She glances towards the doorway again before looking back to Toph, pale blue eyes settling on the girl. "I probably shouldn't do this, but... the Union is alright. They've helped us now, twice, when they haven't had much of a reason to get involved. I owe you that much. If you need help, and Galen and I are in a position to provide it... we'll help you in any way we can, so long as it doesn't put us into danger."

"We have to be careful. If it were just the Empire, that would be one thing. But when I turned to Lowri for help, I didn't know she was part of the Union. As far as I knew, she hadn't been, when we last spoke a year ago." Juno shakes her head, even as she tries to decide on something from the menu. She's almost too tired to really comprehend what she's even reading, but she does want something. It's just a question of what.

"It's certainly a mess. Galen and I now have the Empire actively hunting us, and the Confederacy wants a piece of that pie, too. I'm to understand we have separate bounties on us, both from the Emperor, and the Field Marshal." Sighing, she sets her menu aside, rubbing at her face in a gesture of exhaustion. "I suppose there's nothing to be done for it but to rush onward, blindly onward."

A short pause.

"Oh... sorry."

There's another pause as she picks up her menu again, eyeing it blearily. She's silent for a long moment as she scans over the options, frowning. Several options are tempting, but she's so tired she can't even decide on what she wants.

"Ugh." Setting the menu aside again, she drops her face into her hands, running fingers through her hair. "I'm so tired I can't even think straight. I can't even decide on what to order." She laughs, slightly muffled from beneath her hands. "This place gives you too many options, doesn't it?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
"Yeah, I know you are in shape. I just meant I can create a distraction if necessary. And I will. We're just two random girls meeting up for a meal, auntie," Toph states as if it was a fact.

At least it sounds like Juno really appreciates what they went through to save her, huh? "There were more of us, though yeah, we were pretty awesome, weren't we? You sure seemed surprised when I bended the ceiling of your cell!" Somehow Toph appears to be pleased about that.

Yet her expression turns more serious when they begin talking about the factions. "I... am an Union officer, but I really went to help you and Galen because I felt like it. You weren't like the other Feds. Like... Kilik. People that I can't help but wonder why you even joined them in the first place."

Sure, speaking favourably of the Union might not be welcome when you're supposed to work with the Feds, but Toph lets out a huff as she pauses in reading through the text. "Of course the Union is all right. That's why I joined them in the first place." The offer for help whenever she needs it though? That earns a smirk! "Great, I'll let you know when I have some chores I don't want to do." Then she sobers up slightly. "You're hardly the only ones that owe me a favour or two. But yeah, I'll remember that. I do prefer doing stuff on my own though, it's part of my earthbender philosophy."

So both the Empire AND the Feds are going after Juno and Galen? The frown is only too easily seen on Toph's face. At least until Juno is worried about picking the wrong words. Toph snorts, snickering. "Good one, I didn't see that one coming!"

Hey, the blind girl seems to actually like making fun of her disability! Yep. Those Union kids are really crazy.

"Hey, if you have problems picking something to eat, I can always pick something for you. We can share or something."

For now Toph closes the menu, and she takes off the mechanical glove on her left hand. "Anyway... I don't really care if you're Union, Fed, whatever. What I care about is that you actually listen to your conscience. I have met too many people who don't. Doesn't matter if you've made mistakes before. What I do care about is how you had the guts to stand up for it." The girl signals for the waiter to come on over, and once he does Toph will begin rattling off a long order for the both of them.

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
Auntie. The false endearment at least earns a chuckle out of the pilot, as though she were genuinely amused by that. "Maybe. Your parents might be a little surprised to learn they've suddenly got hold of a sister where they didn't have one before, though. Besides, most people are going to assume blood relation, and we don't look alike at all."

She might explain the details of that, but there's no point. Toph has no frame of reference. She might be able to use her seismic sense to grasp differences in anatomy and facial anatomy, but not subtler details, like their differences in complexion. How do you explain that to somebody who has no context for it? So she shrugs, a little. What else can she do?

"I didn't know you could do that," she points out, in response to her surprise. "Also, I didn't know you were on the ship. Granted, I didn't know any of you were planning on intercepting the ship, but still. You just don't seem like a deep-space kind of person to me." Juno pauses again. "Also, I really wasn't expecting you to be able to rip through durasteel quite like that. I mean, most starship hulls are made of the same stuff I gave you, but..."

She laughs, quietly, a little self-conscious. "Well, I suppose I wasn't expecting you to make it look so easy. That's a lot of durasteel. Prison ships like that one are generally made tough, specifically to prevent prison breaks and other such, er, 'problems.'"

"Hm. Maybe." She rests an elbow on the table, cupping her chin in her hand and letting her eyes slide mostly closed. Her gaze still flicks toward the door every so often, though, keeping watch in spite of her fatigue. "Actually, I was hoping you'd pass that on to the Union at large. I'm willing to help you, so long as I don't need to be obvious about it. I can't afford too much Confederate attention. Fending off the Empire is already difficult. Having to fend off determined Confederate Elites is well beyond our abilities right now, I think."

"I'm beyond exhaustion, and Galen is in much worse shape than I am." She gestures vaguely, as though searching for words. "He... those prisoners... whatever they really were... I couldn't get a clear explanation out of him, but somehow they were connected to him, through the Force. Every single one. Every time one of them was killed, he... he felt it. And it hurt him. Maybe not physically, but he felt the deaths of every single one of them, even though it was probably the kindest thing that could've been done for them. He's... still recovering from the trauma of that."

To the matter of favours, she just eyes Toph for a moment, brow gradually furrowing. "Eh." It's a soft sound, both dismissive and weary. "Like I said. It's not that I feel I owe you. I want to do the right thing. And while I'm hesitant to issue any blanket statements, I feel that the Union, in most cases, tries to do the right thing." She looks hesitant for a moment, before looking back to Toph. "I don't suppose they have any reason to believe me, but I'd like you to pass that on. That I'm willing to help them, and that I bear them no ill will. The things I did as part of the Confederacy; the Empire..."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
"I did what I did because I had to. I did them because when I first became a pilot, I didn't know any other path. And when I met Galen..." She smiles, fondly, though the expression fades. "We didn't always get along, but we grew close. The Sith draw power from their rage and hatred. They're not supposed to love anyone or anything. It was a dangerous secret we kept, and we did what we had to do to keep that secret – both that we didn't fully believe in the Empire... and to keep the Empire from finding out about what we meant to one another. If anyone had found out either of those things, either he or I would have been executed; Galen, as a failure, or myself, so that my death might give him that last shove into the Dark Side of the Force." She pulls a scowl, looking away and shaking her head. "That's the kind of Empire we were a part of. But I think on some level, all along, we knew it wasn't right. And now we're free to act on that."

"We're free to do the right thing." She lifts her eyes to Toph again, expression one of misery. "We're free to... make it up to the people around us, in any way we can. I don't know that either of us can be redeemed for the things we've done, but... we're free to try, now, and to aspire to that."

Sighing, she lets it go, turning her attention back to the door again. So far, there aren't any familiar faces. Time doesn't mean as much in the multiverse, so it's not really crowded, but it's also not really empty. There's a steady stream of beings in and out of the restaurant, and she can't tear her eyes away from the door any more than she can walk back to the Empire of her own free will. Her survival instincts are strong, at least. They have to be, for her to have climbed so high and lasted so many years in Imperial service. A stormtrooper she is not.

"If you're alright with that, it's fine by me. I honestly can't decide." Setting her menu aside with a snort of disgust, she rests her elbows on the table, lacing her fingers and resting her chin over her joined fingers. She watches Toph as the earthbender gives her judgement, and frowns slightly, sighing. "Yeah. I do. Between you, me, and the bloody wall, I'm surprised it hasn't gotten me killed just yet, although I suppose this comes close enough for my liking."

"I only hope it doesn't." She smiles, the expression tired and bleak, and it fades as she studies Toph for a long moment. Her silence stretches until it might be uncomfortable; although Toph can't see the pilot studying her, she can probably sense how intent and still she is for a few moments. "Toph... I hate to ask more, after all you've done for me... I really do, but... could I ask you a favour? It's something I hope you won't need to do, but... you seem to have your head on straight, at least as far as I can see, and I'd feel better if I could..."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
Hey, she made Juno chuckle! Now that is good, considering how tired the woman is. She needs something to chuckle about. The talk about appearances though, that makes Toph shrug. "Not if you're married to my uncle or something. So you don't look Asian, huh." Toph asks, not too terribly surprised, it appears. As a matter of fact, Toph has a frame of refence since she was given one last year after some comments made by the media in the world she has taken up residence in. How people had talked about how the Stark and Potts powercouple had adopted a disabled Asian girl, leading to Tony explaining things. The concept of racism is still a bit silly to Toph, but then again... what do appearances really matter to a blind girl?

It's easier to talk about her bending and what they did in order to break Juno out. Toph visibly pales when they talk about deep space. "Next time I get to kick Lowri through space..." Not that she dislikes Lowri at all, and her tone and expression should make that clear. "If somebody had suggested that I do this before I mastered metalbending, I would have punched them so hard. But... I wasn't completely helpless since I could breathe and there was metal for me to bend." As for making it look easy? "Hey, honey..." Toph begins, arching an eyebrow. "Of course I make it look easy. It's because I am the greatest earthbender of all time. I can sense every fragment of earth around me, and I can sense it in the metal. If there's earth in anything, it has no choice but to bend when I tell it to. But I broke in through an airlock, going in through the hull could have killed you. What's the point of saving somebody and killing them in the process?"

The offer that Juno extends to the Union through her though, that seems to get her attention. There's an intent look on Toph's face as she listens, placing her hand on the table even as Juno leans on it. Her ears are sharp as she picks up the subtle tones in the woman's words, she listens closely to the breathing, her heartbeat which seems to have calmed down from before.

"I think the entire Union realizes that you need to lay low for now. I'll make a brief report about it when I get back home."

To hear about Galen's state is surprising though, and she blinks, eyes wide. He felt them die? Death is never pleasant, and most Feds should know that the earthbender is extremely non-violent despite her love of fighting. Her expression turns genuinely sympathetic, and she nods. "I hope he feels better soon... you talked with Kyra, can't she help him?" Kyra is a healer that she herself has worked with in the field, and she has kept her from going to medical several times.

The next part though makes Toph listen even more closely to Juno's words, as well as any telltale signs she has picked up through the years in order to discern whether somebody is lying or not.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
Juno is telling the complete truth.

As she explains her reasoning, what she feels, that she wants to do what is right. Pesky conscience and sense of morality, huh? Wanting to do something because it's the right thing is better than wanting to help out just because you might owe somebody something, isn't it? And this is why Toph had decided to help out Juno at first. The earthbender listens, that much Juno should be able to tell as she looks at her. Sure, it might not be a good explanation for why she fought the Union before. But Toph can understand being stuck in a situation without knowing what else there is to do. How many years hadn't she spent in her own childhood home without knowing where to go, without having the option of leaving her parents? Until the chance offered itself in the form of an Avatar that desperately needed her as a teacher. Perhaps Juno too just needs that chance. Like Zuko needed the chance to redeem himself.

Some people might get too stuck in the past, but what good is that? Especially when people are being completely honest about wanting to change and become better to make up for past mistakes.

It's easy to tell that there is something between Juno and Galen too. Heck, the way she talks about him, how she mentions love and how strong their bond is... that is no lie either. Heck, it's practically like listening to Tony and Pepper and the devotion those two feel. It's the same here.

"I believe you."

The words are simple, said without much flourish. "Most people dwell too much on the past if you ask me. You can't change it, but you can affect what happens in the future," Toph states firmly. Then decides to explain why she trusts her so. "I can tell when people are lying with my bending. And you have never lied to me. I like honest people." As she shrugs, Toph can't help but smile slightly. So yes, she will vouch for you.

The food is ordered, and Toph orders several small dishes with a lot of variation. At least they aren't going to starve, it sounds like. And Juno needs to eat and get her strength back up.

When Juno expresses her worry about being killed, Toph snorts. "You're not going to get killed. You have friends in case you didn't figure it out. And the Union is supposed to stand up to bullies and help those who need it. That's the reason I signed up for, anyway." Now they just need to wait for the food to arrive.

Toph cants her head just a bit when Juno asks her for a favour. Now what's this? But Toph nods. "Go ahead." She is rather curious now.

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
"That's true, though Galen might take exception to that." Juno chuckles again, apparently amused. "I hadn't really thought about that. And no. I don't know what Asians are supposed to look like, though. Different world, remember? I'm from a planet called Corulag, but most of the Core Worlds populations look more like me than like you. My complexion is lighter than yours; I probably sunburn a little more easily than you do."

The pilot's mouth twitches in a smile at Toph's sudden pallor, but it's a sympathetic expression. Space isn't for everyone, whether blind or sighted, and some people find the lack of solidity disconcerting. She herself hadn't minded, and she's well accustomed to living aboard ships – the lack of natural light or true day and night cycles doesn't bother her. "To be honest, I get the impression Lowri would have punched you right back. That just seems to be the kind of person she is." A little rough around the edges, but a good person, all the same.

"I can't do anything like that. I just fly ships, and work on them. I don't have any special powers, like you, or Galen, or Lowri," she comments on Toph's metalbending, "so that's pretty impressive, to me. And I'm glad you thought of the dangers of hull breaches, or we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Juno looks closely at Toph, even as the earthbender studies her, although she doesn't know that's what she's doing. She can still sense the girl's intensity, though; that singularity of purpose. Her head tilts. "How did you know I... oh, that's right, she's part of the Union, isn't she? I don't remember her telling me outright, but I'd gotten that impression."

"Yeah." At the meniton of Galen, she looks a little worried, and it reflects in what the earthbender can sense. "I talked to Kyra, but I don't know if there's anything she can do for him. It's not... it wasn't physical. He felt them through the Force. It's more... the trauma of it, I think. He's either meditating or resting right now, and I'll check on him when I get back to him." She pauses. "Jedi meditate to focus or calm themselves," she explains. "Sith do it to focus, too. Galen does it to calm himself." She smiles, but the expression is a little troubled. "He used to do it after missions, when we were still part of the Imperial Inquisition. To keep himself sane, I think."

Easing back in her booth, she lays her hands on the table, head bowing in exhaustion and sighing; a great breath of relief.

"I'm relieved. I... thank you. Thank you, Toph."

That, too, is genuine truth. Apparently she had expected to have to defend herself and Galen, and plead her case. Knowing that she doesn't need to, and knowing that belief is genuine, seems to come as a great relief to her.

"Maybe. But the Confederacy, the Empire... it's not an issue of being bullied, although I suppose that's what it boils down to, really. No. It's this looking over our shoulders, this... paranoia. It's exhausting. I'm exhausted. So is Galen. We're at our limits, and sooner or later, we're going to slip. And that, more than any other thing, is what I think they're waiting for." Selecting a dish, she takes a moment to push the mystery course around on the plate. "For us to slip, so that they can be there to seize us when we do. One careless mistake; one lucky comm signal... and they'll figure out where we're hiding."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
Sighing, she shakes her head. "Like I said, what I'm going to ask you... I don't think you'll need to do it. I really hope you won't. But I want to ask it anyway."

"In the event that the Empire and the Confederacy do get lucky again, and in the event that they actually succeed in shipping me off to Mustafar again... will you do something for me? Will you look after Galen?" She's absolutely serious about this, reflected in every vital sign Toph can sense; there's a stillness about her that lends weight to it. "If anything happens to me... there won't be anything stopping him from giving himself to the Dark Side. But I... can't stand the thought of him letting himself go like that. Even if something happens to me, if he lets himself fall like that... Vader will have won. And we can't let Vader win. Not after how far we've come."

She looks down, and then back up to Toph again. "Like I said, I'm hoping it isn't necessary, but... if anything happens to me, I want to know that there are still people who will look out for him, and who will care. He's a good person, even if he's done terrible things. The same can be said of me. He was taken from his home as a child and twisted by Vader for the rest of his days up until now. I believe he can still become whoever it was he was meant to be, now that we've broken free of Vader's influence. And I think that person is fundamentally good. I don't know about a Jedi, but..." She shrugs. "I guess what I'm saying is that if something does happen... don't hold it against him."

"He and I... for a long time, now, the other is all we've had to hold onto. He means a lot to me, just as I mean a lot to him. He'll... he'll do terrible things, if the Empire manages to do anything to me. He would lose himself, I think. I need someone to make sure that he remembers the good inside him; that it isn't swept away and snuffed out. I don't think I could bear that."

She takes a stab at some her food with a fork, shrugging. "Like I said. I'm hoping it won't be necessary, but I'd feel better for it."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
"I'm Asian," Toph says with a shrug. "At least that's what Goldie says. People thought he and Pepper had an agenda when they adopted me last year, just because we look different. And I know, my eyes are almond shaped, my features are finer, and my hair is black. I don't really care what people look like, it's not like I even know what I look like myself." Enough about that topic.

"I might not know much about spaceships, but it would probably be worse than tearing open the hull of a ship in water," Toph says with a shudder. No, she had planned her entry well, all to make sure they would be able to escape. All of them.

Toph nods at the mention of Lowri being in the Union. "I don't know her all that well, but I hitched a ride with her for both missions. First to get the parts, then to save you."

Mental pain can be as real as physical pain, Toph is only too aware of it. And her expression is sympathetic when Juno explains Galen's current state. "Heh, I do it to focus myself. Meditation is something anybody can do to clear their mind and focus on what actually matters. Then it becomes easier to focus and stay calm during battles too, really." It does seem like Galen is troubled. And that he has not been a complete pawn even when he was serving the Empire.

That Juno relaxes and is relieved when she is believed is easily noticed. "Eh," Toph says and raises her hand, waving it off. "I think that there are people who should be thanking you for defying orders. It's too easy to follow orders instead of thinking for yourself and having the guts to be unpopular."

It's never a fun feeling know that there are people on your trail. Not that Toph had to handle it for long back during her time with Aang and when three dangerous Fire Nation girls were on their trail, but... Toph's expression is serious as she listens to Juno, nodding. Of course the Empire is watching their every single step, that much is clear since they got proof that Vader himself was listening on the open channels. That guy really seems to want to get his hands on Galen and Juno, huh?

The request is a hard one, and Toph inhales through her nose, crossing her arms across her chest as she listens. The Dark Side is that thing that makes Jedi lose control of themselves and become ruthless, right? And Juno is what keeps Galen focused on the Light. Just being near him, listening to him as he talks about her... it's clear that he would do anything for her. And most likely that Vader guy knows. He knows and he will try to take advantage of this. If he really did take Galen when he was a child and twisted him... ugh.

"I don't know Galen too well," Toph says finally, her voice quiet. "But I consider myself a pretty good judge of character. If you want me to make sure he doesn't lose control... you are aware that my methods aren't considered gentle, right? And that if I had to, I would not go easy on him? Though it would be easier if I knew him more. Tell you what... tell him to meet me when he can. Somewhere quiet..." Toph closes her eyes as she thinks. Where would be a safe place to meet Galen that nobody else would think about? Somewhere neutral, a place to be lost. Of course...

"I got it."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
"I've seen a few people with an appearance like yours, but we don't really call them anything. They're human," Juno says, shrugging. "I guess the people of my corner of the multiverse don't bother with such narrow focus. Not when we're dealing with an entire galaxy. Now, the difference between a human and, say, a Rodian, or a Wookiee? Yeah, that's pretty obvious. But humans and other humans... there's not really much point, you know?"

She smiles, a little regretfully. "Still... I wish that didn't matter, either. The Empire doesn't really make it official, but it's obvious that they have really human-centric policies. There aren't very many aliens in their ranks, and the ones that are don't generally go very far. Even women don't usually rise very high in the ranks, so my case was a little unusual. I guess my service record got Vader's attention, or otherwise I'd still be a TIE pilot grunt, serving aboard the I.N.S. Retribution."

Wait, wasn't that the ship that had attacked them in the first place? She doesn't comment, though. Maybe she already knows, or figured it was some kind of gambit of Vader's.

"Yeah. I think that's why it's not something Galen had ever gotten into any trouble for doing. Even the Sith meditate, although they tend to use that to work themselves up into even more of an emotional state. On the other hand, from what little I understand, the Jedi prefer to behave calmly and rationally." She shrugs. "I really don't know that much about them. They're considered criminals in the Empire, to be reported immediately, or killed on sight."

Poking at her food, she at least makes some token effort to eat it, listening to Toph as she does. She waves her fork in response to Toph's thanks, scowling just a little. "The people of Callos would beg to differ on that point," she retorts, something almost approaching anger colouring her tone – but the signs Toph can read speak more of what seems like... guilt. Overwhelming guilt, and shame. Whatever Callos entails, it's something that carries serious weight with the pilot. "I'm fairly certain the Callosians would have wished I'd come to my senses much sooner than I did."

To the request, though, she bows her head a little, setting the fork down.

"Thanks. And I know that. I wouldn't ask you to go easy on him – he's powerful, and I don't think he always realises how powerful he is. I'm not saying you wouldn't be a match for him, since I've seen what you can do, but I don't think he'd necessarily think not to hurt an ally or a friend if he were having to deal with something like that." She tilts her head faintly, studying Toph. "You passed near him on the ship, and I'm sure you could feel how single-minded he was about getting me off that ship."

A meeting?

"That sounds like a better idea. Understanding how someone works is a little like flying," she adds, gesturing with her fork. "I could tell you about it, but I could never get you to feel what I feel when I'm at the controls. There's just no substitute for first-hand experience. I think the same is true for understanding people. Second-hand information only carries you so far. Galen would probably want to meet you, anyway, since you've helped us so much. I want him to rest, for now, and to recuperate, and we want to keep a low profile for the time being... but I'll let you know when he's feeling better, and maybe up to that."

She arches a brow. "Oh? Where did you have in mind...?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
"People in the world I live now are really hooked on up ethnicities, it seems. And being caucasian is sort of the norm, it seems," Toph says with a shrug. Like she cares. It's a bit easier to understand when people are different species, like humans, droids, neuroi, shinki, lizards, dragons... "Seems that it's true many places huh? People who doubt us just because we're girls. And people call me blind," Toph snorts. Juno is an excellent pilot, and she herself is the greatest earthbender of all time. Of course they know better. Also with the Jedi. "Sounds to me like the Empire just don't like people who actually have a shred of empathy, huh?" Toph sniffs the air when the food is served, and she picks up some of the finger food and begins munching on it.

Juno... feels guilty. That much is clear. Toph's expression mellows out, and she listens while nodding her head once. "What's done is done. But you are willing to do what's right, and that's what will make up for us saving you, right? If I had left home sooner I could have done even more, but what's done is done. We won't save more lives by dwelling on past mistakes," Toph says calmly, not without some sympathy though. Sure, she won't coddle Juno, but she hears the pain there. So she won't be too cold either. Not when Juno was sensitive to her own pain earlier.

"Love can make people do crazy things, it seems... and if he has been twisted by Vader, then..." It might be all too easy for him to lose control if he's really unlucky. "And yeah, I felt that. When you were taken he really reacted to, I was next to him."

A meeting could be the best option for now, indeed. It's not like they got to talk much during the missions. Juno speaks sense, and Toph nods. "And just like bending the earth. You can be told that sand is different from rock, but you never know until you touch them both. You can be told and told about something, but unless you do it for yourself, it's never the same." Here Toph's expression turns more serious. "Earthbending requires control. If Galen wants, I can knock some earthbending focus into him."

As for where to meet?

"I was told about a swamp in my world, in the western Earth Kingdom. It's huge, spanning across a whole area. It's very spiritual mumbo jumbo according to the guy who told me about it, and there are only a few local swampbenders who stay there. If you want to meet somewhere safe, then that place is perfect. Few people, earth and trees all around..."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
"I think they just don't want people who think for themselves." Juno pokes at her food with the fork, settling on a few half-hearted bites before she continues. "People who might challenge what Vader or the Emperor are doing, or speak up when they think that what they're doing is wrong. People who can question their control over the galaxy... people like the Rebel Alliance." She smiles, coldly. "At first, I just wanted to be left alone after I got away from them. But the idea of finding them, of talking to them and fighting back... it's gotten a little more attractive, I have to admit."

Looking to the door again, she watches a trio of alien-looking beings walk in. They look bizarre and they probably feel bizarre to Toph, having no clear bone structure and a lot of tentacles, but they just roll up to a distant table and seem to be just fine. In fact, somewhere on their shapeless bodies, two of them are wearing what look like Starfleet communicator pins.

Takes all kinds, in the multiverse, doesn't it?

Evidently deciding they're no threat, Juno looks back to the earthbender, apparently weighing up the answer she's given. For a long moment she seems to mull over her words, and she almost seems like she might protest, but eventually she only shakes her head. It seems to be an agreement despite the motion, or more accurately, a gesture of resignation. "Yeah. I guess it'll keep us from falling into those patterns again."

"Were you? I'm sorry. That must have been intense for you to feel through your earthbending. I could hear him over the Rogue Shadow's frequency, and I can safely say I've never heard him so angry before." Her smile is a little apologetic. "Galen can be pretty focused, but we're both shaken right now. I think some earthbending discipline would do him good. I'd be willing to learn, too, if there's anything you could teach me."

She titls her head, at mention of a swamp, and Toph probably senses her dubiousness before she can even say it. "A swamp? I'm not so sure about that... but if it's a place nobody's going to go, I suppose it's as safe as anywhere else. If there are a lot of metals beneath it, it might play havoc with ship sensors, too... that sounds perfect. Good, then. I'll let you know when he's up to a meeting; I think, for right now, it might be better if we took some time to rest and recover." She shrugs, gesturing nebulously with her fork. "We haven't really had the opportunity to do that since fleeing the Empire, to be honest."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
"Tyrants always fear people who can think for themselves," Toph points out. "But in the end, people won't stand for injustice, and they will do what they can to be free. And without freedom you truly can't be happy, at least that's my experience." She seems to have a healthier appetite than Juno does, eating happily and seemingly rather relaxed. Even the weird aliens doesn't seem to disturb her, as she can sense that they are not focused on her and Juno. "I understand what you mean," she adds, her mouth full of food. "I didn't care much about the war at first in my world, but... man, it felt good to contribute to it ending. Sure, it's not entirely peaceful all over, but... it's way better. And people are free." It's a good thing, really. That Juno wants to help out. Evan's report did mention that the other Juno she met had joined the rebels, so... perhaps this one will too? But it better be of her own will. It's better to support her and Galen, to keep them safe and allow them to fight back against the Empire. Especially since Toph feels she doesn't know enough about that world.

What matters is that they want to fight for what's right and to help people in trouble.

"I don't blame him. I... was pretty upset when Goldie died." Losing somebody close to you, whether it be family, friends... it's never easy, is it? Toph nods her head. "Everybody can learn from earthbending, even if you're not a bender. Though I doooooo think that I can't throw boulders at you like I have done to my previous students, huh?" Toph says with a mischievous grin. "Galen can handle it, but then again he can use the Force, right?"

What? Why the dubiousness? "A swamp is perfect! It's dense, there's tons of life around so it's harder to pick out a single human being. It's dark, few people wander around it, most people prefer to hide in places less dangerous. Though you'll be with me and Galen, so you'll be perfectly safe. And I'll be able to track everything going on around us." Indeed, it is perfect. Besides, it's an unlikely place to meet too!

It is better that they both rest up before they go there, Toph is in full agreement with that. Besides, if she's going to teach Galen then he needs to be up for it! "Yeah, get your beauty sleep, rest up and take a breather. You need it. When you're ready for a meeting, then... hmmm. Have somebody you know sing a stupid song on the open channel or something. Then I'll go and meet you there."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
"They do, and Vader and the Emperor are no different." Juno's expression turns troubled, as though something were bothering her, and her gaze slides away. "My mother died when I was very young. I had always accepted the reports that she was caught in crossfire between rebels and Imperial guardsmen. I'd always suspected something was wrong, but now I wonder if the Empire didn't simply have her assassinated." She sighs, stabbing at a bit of food with her fork. "I usually like knowing I'm correct, but not this time."

"That's the kind of people they are, though, and the sorts of things they do. And I guess that's why I can't just leave it be. Other people don't necessarily get a chance like I have. The people of Callos didn't, and the people on that station... how many other Imperials are ordered to attack places like that, where the Imperials don't know what they're attacking? Or they don't have the wherewithal to stand up to their orders?" Juno shrugs, somewhat helplessly.

Throwing boulders? Juno swallows, a little. "Um. Probably not. I don't think it would be too much of a problem for Galen, but I don't have any Force-sensitivity." She holds up her arm, rolling her wrist a little. "All it takes to put me down is a pair of electromagnetic cuffs. My wrists are still a little raw. I'm pretty sure a boulder would kill me." There are awesome space wizard monks and wondrous aliens and high technology in her world, and she is... just a squishy mortal. Anticlimactic, huh?

"I know." Juno manages a sympathetic smile. "I felt the same when my mother was killed. It's never easy to lose someone you care about, and anybody that tells you it is... they're lying. But I suppose you know the difference better than most people, don't you?" Being able to hear someone's vital signs is an enormously useful knack. It's more reliable than most people with working eyes. Only the most skillful of liars could slip past senses like those.

She rubs her jaw thoughtfully at mention of the swamp. "I guess you're right. As long as we stay under the foliage, any starships passing by shouldn't be able to pick us out from so many life signs. At least, that's my hope. Alright, then. I'll trust you in that." Her fingers drum on the table as her eyes flick to the door again, but she's thinking more than she's watching the restaurant's foot traffic. "Mm. That works. I'll, uh, be sure to ask someone who's not completely tone-deaf." She grins, finally. "I imagine you rely on your hearing more than most people, so I'll make sure they're not torturing you."

"In the meantime, if you need to get ahold of me, you can ask for... hmm. Ask for 'Annafel.' I'll meet you here if you ask for that name. It'll take the Imperials some digging to find that name in the records." By the sound of it, it's something specific enough that it'll get her attention well. There's a flicker of regret at that, a fleeting glimpse Toph might have that whatever it is, it's something personal. "I'll know it's you, and only you."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
To hear that Juno's mother was most likely killed... that does sober Toph up a fair bit, and she looks genuinely sympathetic where she sits, biting the inside of her lower lip. "I'm sorry to hear that." To lose a parent when you're really young must be hard.

All in all it's clear that the Empire must be stopped. Heck, they are in the Feds for a reason, and by choice. Not all Feds are bad, but... people who kill innocents without feeling bad about it are not people she is going to root for. But the ones who genuinely want to be good people, to help those in need...

"Don't worry, I'll just babble your head full instead," Toph shrugs. Worst of all, it appears that she is serious about that too. Because Toph Beifong loves yelling and bossing people around. Her ego does rival that of Tony Stark, after all.

Toph picks up a hefty spring roll and bites into it, nodding her head as she listens to Juno. "I can stomach a little off-key singing. It's worse with loud noises, believe me. Like fireworks and crap. Anyway, uh... what song to pick..." Toph looks pensive, then she takes a deep breath... and sings.

"Whoooo lives in a pineapple under the sea? Spongebob Squarepants! Absorbant and yellow and porous is he! SpongeBob SquarePants! ♪"

At least she isn't singing loudly, and while a few people glance over, nobody seems bothered by a little girl singing.

"If nautical nonsense is something you wish... SpongeBob SquarePants! Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish! SpongeBob Squarepants! ♪" Then Toph has a completely serious look on her face and offers an explanation. "It's a stupid cartoon with a silly song. Like hell anybody is going to sing that at random."

It's good to have another way to contact Juno too, to ask her to meet her here without alerting others. The name does make Toph blink, though she nods once in understanding. "Got it. I'll only ask you to come here if it's important. You should focus on staying safe for now."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
"Thanks, but it's okay." The woman shrugs, the gesture more resigned than anything else. Her sigh is short and seems to carry just as much resignation as the rise and fall of her shoulders. "It was a long time ago. I was only four or five years old, so it isn't like the pain is fresh; I don't really remember much of my childhood from before she was gone."

Juno Eclipse is a terrible liar. It still hurts, although she doesn't specify why, but it's definitely something Toph could sense.

She dips her head a little, laughing softly. "It won't bother me. I probably endured worse in the Imperial Academy. I've had my fair share of drill sergeants and stuffed shirts barking orders at me, or assuming I didn't understand half of what they were talking about, when I could probably fly circles around them." The pilot grins, although it fades as she listens to the song Toph decides on.

Well, that's definitely specific. It won't be mistaken for anything else, that's for sure, and nobody on the broadband will have a chance at figuring out what it means. Juno nods her approval, apparently satisfied. "Good. No one's going to know what you're on about. I won't respond, either, at least not publicly. I'll go straight to the coordinates you provide if I hear that. And if you call for Annafel, I'll come to the Bar and Grill straight away."

Resting her chin on her hand, elbow leaned against the table, she considers her empty plate – a few of them, in fact; she must have been more hungry than she had anticipated. It happens when you're living looking over your shoulder, with barely a thought spared to proper maintenance of one's own body. Juno half-smiles before pushing herself to her feet, a little unsteady; too tired to balance properly. "Well, I should probably go. It's not safe for me to stay in any one place for too long. Here's payment," she adds, sliding what looks like a high-tech card along the table to Toph. "That should cover the bill and the tip. And dessert, if you wanted anything else." Like delicious ice cream. "I'll keep in touch, somehow."

She takes a wary look at the crowds, before taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Be calm, and act like you belong – it's harder to do when she feels so uncomfortable out in the open. One last glance is spared to Toph, and a faint smile. "Thanks. And thank your Union friends for me, too, if you'd be so kind."

But she walks away with her back straight, her head held high, and a measured pace to the front door.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
RToph's expression remains sympathetic, and she sighs slightly. "So that's what you sound like when you are lying..."

But Juno is tough, that is clear. Even if she doesn't have any powers or anything. Heck, even Sokka is stronger than most benders when it comes to resolve and wits. Yet Toph can't help but grin. "Sure, you could handle Imperial officers. But that doesn't mean you can handle me!" It's a good thing that Toph isn't a sadistic person, huh? And that she actually likes Juno.

Plans are being made, and Toph nods in agreement. "No responding on the radio, that would be too risky. Heck, you even took one hell of a chance earlier when you spoke up! That takes guts." Guts that are hopefully filled up with delicious food for now. The blind girl has a decent appetite too, and she has eaten her fair share of the food. Heck, she might even get dessert too! But Juno is right, it's dangerous to stay in one place too long. Even a neutral place like this. "Heh, thanks," Toph replies when she's given the card.

A grin is what Juno gets in return for the thanks. "I'll let them know what we've talked about, though I'll keep our meeting places secret. The fewer who know, the safer for you and Galen." Poor Juno is still nervous, it seems. But she does seem to catch the idea. Walk like you own the place.