Jax nodded as he listened as Jek told him what he knew, which wasn’t much. It wasn’t a big deal, though, as he was used to An-Lok’s way of doing things nowadays, which tended to involve going in with little to no information and just winging it. If they had any information ahead of time, it was usually whatever Aeris shared with them. It didn’t really bother him to not have a lot of information going in, either way. He was adaptable enough to handle the surprises that often popped up. So whatever Jek could offer was good enough and would give him as least a little bit of an idea of what he was walking into.<br/><br/>He glanced at the other man when he shared his calm with him, trying to offer him some reassurance. “I know,” he sighed a little, “It’s just hard not to worry and wonder if I did something without realizing it. I know that it’ll work out, I just wish I knew what it was, and that I could do something to help,” he admitted. “At any rate, I am here because I know that this is where she needs me, even if it isn’t where I want to be,” he sighed a little once more.<br/><br/>“I guess you two knew what you were doing separating us, anyways. As much as I want to be with her right now, I don’t think I could have focused on the mission if she was the one sitting there,” he admitted, resigned to accept the situation, trying to see the reasoning as more than just An not wanting to be around him. He tried to take Jek’s words to heart, to trust in the Force, and in her, knowing that it would be fine in the end.<br/><br/>He followed the instructions Jek gave him and soon pulled up near a small house. He hopped out and began to walk towards the house, nodding to Jek’s suggestion that he take the lead on this one. “Sure,” he said, taking a deep breath and trying to clear his mind, to focus on the mission and nothing else as he headed to the front door and knocked heavily. He waited patiently for the door to open, revealing a young woman even smaller than An who had to tilt her head back a bit just to meet his gaze.<br/><br/>“Hello,” he greeted her with a neutral tone of voice. “Can I help you?” the woman asked, crossing her arms and giving him a look that said something like ‘I’m not afraid of you.’ He held back a smile and nodded, explaining to her why they were here. “Okay, so what’s in it for me?” she asked, narrowing her eyes just a little, as if to tell him to get to the point.<br/><br/>“Strength? Power? The ability to set straight anyone who judges you because of your size?” he offered, pausing briefly as he looked her in the eyes, seeing the wheels turning, knowing that she had taken the baited hook, he just needed to reel it in. “How about a chance to get away from this place? A change, a fresh start? Freedom from the boring monotony of this life you’re leading? Freedom go where you please and do what you wish?” he continued, seeing how her interest piqued more which each new offer. “All of that is possible if you are willing to do what it takes. The first step is to come with us.”<br/><br/>He gave her a few moments to digest what he had said before asking, “So, what’s it going to be?” he asked, waiting patiently for her answer. She pursed her lips slightly, her eyes narrowing as she thought. “Fine. I’ll come with you, but I swear, if either of you tries to lay a finger on me, you will lose it,” she warned, pointing her finger between the two and waiting for an indication that they understood. “Yeah. Not interested. I’m already taken,” he told her before turning to head back towards the speeder. “Pack your things. We’ll be waiting in the speeder,” he informed her as he walked away, never giving her so much as a second glance.<br/><br/>--<br/><br/>Aeris smiled when An-Lok grinned at her, apparently liking the idea that they could bring back more recruits than the boys could. The suggestion that they get another speeder coupled with a devious grin made Aeris laugh. A mischievous smirk crept onto her lips as the other woman continued, mentioning that they could easily take back eight recruits that way.<br/><br/>She was right, the boys were not likely to split up to bring more in. They would likely just pick up the three they could easily seat in their speeder and then head back to the shuttle. “I like the way you think,” she grinned as she continued to carry them towards their first destination. “We can probably pick up a second speeder at one of the transportation hubs. Perhaps once we pick up our first few recruits?” she offered.<br/><br/>One of the reasons she had chosen this direction was because there were quite a few potential recruits in a relatively small area. That gave them more options, more flexibility to choose which individuals they would pick up, but she also thought that An-Lok might like the distraction of a competition of sorts, so this gave them the ability to pick up more recruits easily. They could collect a few of the recruits, grab a new speeder, then either split up to collect those that remained, or stick together and convoy to the remaining destinations.<br/><br/>For now, she focused on their first destination, which was quickly approaching. This one, she thought, would be an easy sell. It was a young man with a thirst for adventure, bored of the life he was leading. She doubted he would take much convincing, which was fine by her. She liked a challenge every now and then, but she also liked an easy win from time to time, too.<br/><br/>“This first one should be pretty simple,” she told An as they neared the town and she slowed their speed a bit. “He’s not much younger than we are, bored with his life, ready for a change, itching for adventure,” she explained as she brought them to a stop outside of the young man’s home. “You want to take the lead on this one?” she asked as she hopped out and came around next to her, walking with her towards the front door.<br/><br/>She and Jek often took turns taking the lead with their recruits nowadays, so she had no problem allowing An to take the lead if she wished to. She slowed as they reached the door, stopping only a step or two behind An, off to her left side. She didn’t think the man would cause any problems, but she still remained on alert, unwilling to let her guard down and allow any harm to come to either of them.