AGREEMENT
She had made the offer but to see both Uber, who gave his name as Jeff and Leet who asked to be called Mike show up at six in the morning. Skye was not so sure that either of them could keep up with her, but she had a plan if they were not up to running for at least an hour of time. Jeff had no problem keeping pace and as much as Leet struggled with how out of shape he was. Though he had a stronger will to not show how weak he really is, but Skye just filled him with the Force when he finally stopped, and they continued.
They were surprised she was doing this but with another suggestion they ignored it. She wondered as they ran why she had never done the same with anyone else? On several planets this would have been a good thing and at least once it might have saved lives, but the Force was reminding her of how tiring the fighting had been. This was different peaceful with plenty of rest. As they linked up with Taylor she nearly panicked as Skye with the two strange men came up behind her. Though once she saw that both were struggling, she was not feeling afraid in the Force.
It was when the four reached the Boardwalk and she saw a well-dressed young man that she left the group. Skye only hesitated a second before she felt he was the one who called himself Grue from the other night. She could have stopped as well, but he did not feel as welcoming to three others. Several minutes later she turned around and once she passed her again it was obvious that it was a private conversation. Though I felt a bit of surprise rolling off of him.
A few minutes earlier Brian had picked up the morning coffee and snacks for breakfast. He had just gotten to the railing when he spotted a group of runners. That Taylor suddenly turned up to stop next to him while she was desperately trying to catch her breath. He let his smile grow just before he greeted her.
"Hey, you're right on time." She held up a finger and then tried several times looking to reply but did not as she seemed to get in control of her breathing at the same time, she started to act shyer than before.
"Hey." He pointed to the bag as he got a few extras.
"I got donuts and croissants from the cafe over there. You could have a coffee too.
"I want." Was all she got out before opening the bag. His smile was not leaving his face and he resisted laughing. She was obviously trying to get into better shape, and he had been there in the past.
"Thanks." He continued to watch her as she really enjoyed her first bite.
"So good." Came out as she was licking the powdered sugar from the donut before she reached for one of the coffees.
Don't their coffees cost, like, fifteen dollars?" This caused him to finally chuckle she did have a point as they were a waste of money, but with the store coffee being poor quality and the cost of decent coffee just as high the cost was not too off the mark.
"We can afford it Taylor." She stopped to think about it, and he knew it would take her a bit to understand that. With the look that grew on her face she was figuring it out. He doubted she had even spent a single dollar that they had given her. They had wanted to give a bit to Skye as well, but she was most likely a hero who might not take such a thank you the right way. He looked at her arm.
"How's your arm? He watched as she tested her arm in front of him.
"Only hurts when I flex it." He nodded.
"We'll leave the stitches for a week. Probably can't take them out any sooner." He looked out on the water thinking what he could say. He hated how he had to treat Rachel at times. He just could not figure her out. Sometimes she would be fine and the next she was acting like the name she took. If she acted normal, he could understand or if she acted exactly like a dog he could deal, but she was both and neither at the same time and only thing she seemed to understand was violence.
They talked awhile about Rachel after he apologized. He explained as best as he could how she was and after last night and how well Taylor defended herself Rachel was not so negative about her joining. Though he had his doubts as he caught several negative facial expressions from Lisa. Whatever she saw she had not revealed to him, so it probably had nothing to do with the group. He smiled as she made some crabs do circles as she explained that she controlled worms too. He was about to suggest they should test out mice when the group she had run with came back the other way.
He had not seen really who they were, but he knew right away the platinum blonde was Skye. The one guy she was with was fairly fit near enough to his size, but the other guy looked like he was going to die and blow away with the wind. It was all he could do to kept up with her. That Taylor was running in the morning with Skye put doubts in his mind that she could not be fully on their side. He would have to take precautions, but it would be difficult to hide that from Lisa.
"I better get going. I still have school." This brought him to chuckle as that was something he was glad was over for himself, but something his sister still had to do.
"Ah ya so tomorrow same time?"
"Sure, I like that." He watched her stretch a bit and then she took off the way she came. He got rid of her cup as he nearly jumped as there was another person beside him.
"Sorry." He moved out of the way only to have the person remain close. He now looked as he was thinking of what his options were. That was until he recognized it was Skye from her hair. Then he froze as he felt what was most likely a barrel of a gun.
"You are a villain are you not?"
"Not so loud."
"But it is true?"
"Yes, but we have no beef with you."
"I believe you. I do wonder why you want to be criminals. Your heart shows me that it is not a path you would have chosen."
"Is that what you do as you threaten some one? Examine their heart?"
"When the Force tells me to trust one that is working against the law, yes. I also never threaten. That is a tactic to instill fear. A tactic a Jedi does not need. My lightsaber is a warning and a tool of defense."
"What do you want?"
"Taylor likes you." Brian was racking his brain trying to figure out what she wanted, and she just says the least likely thing.
"Um what?"
"She likes you, but she has not had the best year. She had ones who treated her as prey. If you are not careful, she will be hurt." He was a villain, and she was more worried about him hurting Taylor's feelings if he didn't treat her well? No, he would not lead her on he was not that much of an asshole, but a relationship was not something he was even thinking about. Better to show his confidence in Taylor.
"She is strong. I saw that when she took on Lung and when she fought back against Bitch."
"Her arm? Bitch caused that?" He winced not thinking that she would notice, but then again, they were running together.
"Ya, but they solved their issue."
"Good, and I will warn you that your group should think of going a different route. I will clean out the villains in this city. Just know I have other targets and so far, you are not on the list." The pressure on his side vanished as she did. He spun and it was as if she had turned invisible. Not a single soul was paying him any attention. So, he took his time getting to his car before driving back to the loft.
Skye would see Jeff and Mike later. As she was interested in his tinkertech and thy call it. Plus, there was a few things that she might be able to use or suggest he make. She could even donate some of the fund she had gained to them. She also did not want them to continue on their own. They were seen as fools at least and Sithspit at their worst. She had several ideas to have them serve a purpose and to change who they were viewed as. She rushed forward as hoped to catch up to Taylor before she got home. She smiled as she caught sight of Taylor. Stretching out with the Force she felt no one was looking as she sprinted using the Force.
"Hey Taylor." The girl jumped as she was just slowing down before she got to her home block.
"The fuck!" Skye was familiar with this word from the several gang members she had repeatedly surprised. Though its use was contradicting the meanings she got from the internet.
"My apologies, I did not want to startle you into using such expletive language." Taylor was breathing heaving and just nodded as she moved along the sidewalk holding her hips.
"So, um I don't think my dad would want you..."
"Your father has already gone to work has he not and though I do not intend to invade your domicile. I would like to do something that will require discretion."
"Are you sure you are not a stalker?"
"I am sure if I were to stalk you you would not see me until it was too late. I would like to heal your arm and it is better it is not done in public." Her worry turned and shifted her expression on her face as she looked around us to discover who might be watching. The Force was telling me no one had any interest higher than a glance.
"Okay, um, I guess."
"Good." Skye moved her hand and Taylor lead her to the house and the back door. Once in the kitchen Skye touched her shoulder to make Taylor turn. She then had her hand and Taylor hinted to pull away before her eyes widened. Skye pushed the Force up her arm and through her body much like she did the day they first met. The wound was healing, and she could sense the stitching that held the skin together. With a thought the bandage unwound from the wound revealing the red and scab encrusted cuts.
Taylor gasped as Skye's hand glowed as she told the cells to fix themselves restoring their original shape and purpose. The string that held the wound close pulled itself free as the cut closed with only a faint line leaving evidence of such a laceration. After the wound was closed, she purged the poisons from her run making her gasp again and nearly laugh.
"Oh wow. That feels so weird. My legs don't hurt."
"You still need to properly stretch to avoid cramping and your cycle is out of balance. I could recommend some herbs if I knew your world had them. You should be eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Nuts work too and ocean animals. Cooked in an oven not fried in the strange oils your world uses."
"Okay um, ya, but I really have to ready for school and thank you."
"It is what I have trained for. I do not need thanks your appreciation is felt through the Force. Take care and is school better?"
"Yes no one bothers me at all. A few have apologized since the Trio got arrested."
"Good and that useless teacher?"
"A few got fired, but most are still teaching. They have apologized as well. I think there was something else going on."
"Perhaps, but I feel you should know that one of them feels like you do."
"What do you mean?"
"Taylor capes feel different in the Force. It is as if there are two minds thinking together, but not the same."
"Should I be worried?"
"That is an odd question. I am unsure, but the Force urged me to tell you this. Caution is best. I should go now." Taylor walked to the door as Skye saw a pen and paper. She picked it up and wrote down two addresses.
"What is this?"
"I have access to your internet, but I do not have a phone I lack a proper ID. I doubt this will work with your authorities." A holo picture appeared over her wrist as Taylor had just thought the band was a bracelet as ornate as it was constructed.
"Um no I don't even think anyone could read that."
"I found that out. This is the lighthouse where I and a few ladies hand out meals to the homeless and this is the warehouse I live in."
"Oh, okay um not sure I should know this?"
"Are we not friends? I would like to think we are. Well, a beginning of a friendship perhaps?" Taylor did not know what to think from how introspective her face appeared. How she felt in the Force was much different as if she was arguing on the benefits of a friendship while being mixed in with mistrust and a good amount of fear.
"Only if you want Taylor. I did not save you in time, but I think I can help you realize what they did was of the dark side. I have few friends myself. Those I do have I hold dear and if we part ways, it will not turn into conflict out of spite."
"I will think about it." Skye smiled happy that she would do just that. She bowed to Taylor before leaving her house and breaking into another run. It was faster than she normally ran once she was away from her home. Then she pushed with the Force as she got near larger building running along the roof lines and jumping from building to building. The only place she did came back to the road was when she crossed the bridge. Food shopping and lunch making came after her shower.
The three ladies talked and cackled as not just Jeff walked in but Mike as well. Skye ignored them after she told them to lock up after the last meal was given away. She had made three lunches for this purpose and their ground speeder was a very nice car. One that was not used in their poorly chosen videos. It was fairly nice not to have to run everywhere or take the buses. Worse yet was one of the ladies driving her and the groceries to the lighthouse. This one drove with purpose and a bit of skill but then again, Uber was driving, and his power would be in play.
He would most likely be a deadly pilot once he had the training to add to his skill. Perhaps she should take him up in the fighter? It would be tight but manageable.