Private The In-Law

[Alicio Organa]

Jedi Temple Hangar
Coruscant​

Tension grew within the command structures of the Alliance.

Alicio could practically taste it in the air, the bonds between worlds growing taut and strained. With some dark successor to the Maw growing within it's borders, it seemed all it would take was the slightest graze of a knife to snap the connections, and undo decades of progress.

They all had to do their part, to keep the Alliance together. Today, that task fell to him.

The Gift of Peace touched down within the Hangar of the Jedi Temple, alighting like a graceful waterfowl. It's exit ramp kissed the ground, letting the crew disembark, and refuel one last time before their mission. Alicio was last down the steps, his movements calm, his face severe.

As usual, the Senator was expected to have a Jedi escort, especially since this meeting would bring him close to Dark Empire space. He trusted his own guards, of course, but Alicio always appreciated having an extra warrior, and an extra diplomat, along for negotiations. Usually, he was given a heads up as to which Jedi would be accompanying him, usually one of the Nobles, or Amani, if he was lucky. But not today. And when he tried to peek ahead, the Future was vague at best, though it was... weighted with meaning.

Whatever that meant.

The King of Alderaan, dressed in simple, elegant blacks, tossed his cape over his shoulder, and observed the hangar. He supposed his Jedi attaché would simply have to be a surprise.

- Ran Serys -

 

[Ran Serys]

A return to Galactic Alliance space meant a return to the duties of a Jedi Knight, so when Ran was assigned to be the Jedi Security Escort to the Senator of Alderaan she wasn't all that surprised. Her experience as a soldier and as a Jedi made her a good choice for security detail, especially one that would so closely brush up against non-friendly territory, but Ran did have her detractors. Her absence from core space was a big one. Two years was a long time to be out of the information loop and for someone with such a glaring gap in knowledge of worlds affairs and because of the delicacy of this mission Ran's debriefing was extensive. Her debriefing was so extensive that she had to engage in her own independent research, so she engaged in that research until she had reached the threshold of the Hanger.

She stopped her reading and stowed her datapad as the crew deboarded The Gift of Peace. "That is one fine starship." She said to a nearby technician that only half heard her words before he was off to some other task. She grimaced and shifted trying to shrug the awkward encounter from her synth-leathers. Once she recovered she could see the man she was to secure, Senator and King of Alderaan, Alicio Organa.

Ran approached intently. The crew watched her. She glanced at them with a small smile. They seemed a loyal and capable group. "Senator. Your Majesty," She greeted Alicio formally. "I am Ran Serys, Jedi Knight, and I have been assigned to your detail." She said in a matter-of-fact way.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

The senator saw a flash of green skin from the future, and tasted a vaguely familiar presence. Alicio smiled warmly, turning his head to the side, fully prepared to greet Amani.

Instead, he saw a different Mirialan. Alicio blinked once, then found a small, but warm smile as she approached. He offered her a short bow as she used his titles. "Master Jedi. Alicio is fine."

He could have sworn he'd sensed...

"I am Ran Serys, Jedi Knight, and I have been assigned to your detail."

Well, there was no masking that shock. The nobleman's usually-restless mind went blank as he processed the collection of words, the familiar presence. But, with all the grace of a politician, he somehow managed to claw himself from his stupor, his grey eyes suddenly alighting with understanding. "Ah, thank you... Knight Serys. Your help is greatly appreciated."

"We're almost ready to embark." Alicio nodded towards the ship, inviting the Jedi aboard. He turned, and began to walk back up the ramp, careful to keep step with Ran. "I can brief you about the mission inside." The walkways in the vessel were swooping and elegant, the small crew preparing for take-off.

"First, I have to ask... do you happen to know an Amani?" Alicio studied the Serys, looking for recognition, as they walked side-by-side.

- Ran Serys -

 

[Ran Serys]

Ran blinked at the Senator. She thought him polite, helpful, and not immediately haughty or cavalier. Her thoughts on the galaxy's dignitaries were not favorable. Ran thought Alicio may be able to change that.

"Excellent." She responded as she walked beside the man and into the Gift of Peace. The starship was just as magnificent on the inside as it was out. Ran was immediately taken with it but she still preferred her Voidhuntress-Class Elite. Compact and Lethal was and would always be more her speed.

As he guided her through the elegant craft she could feel a curious thought from Alicio before he spoke.

"First, I have to ask... do you happen to know an Amani?"

She looked at Senator Organa with a quizzical look. "Amani?" She questioned. "I have a cousin named Amani. I have not seen her in two years, but I hear a lot has changed for her- for the better." She said proudly. When she had last seen Amani, her younger cousin was struggling with her place in the galaxy. Now she was a member in good standing on the Jedi Council. The world had changed while Ran had been gone, and in so many amazing ways. "Do you know her?" She asked excitedly but of course he did, he had inquired about her. "What do you know of Amani, Senator Organa?" Ran beamed.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio led Ran to a small briefing room in the Gift. It had a few chairs, a table, a holoprojector, and a small station for beverages. Alicio neglected all but a chair, which he eased into, a hand elegantly tossing his cape to the side as he sat, and observed Ran.

"Amani? I have a cousin named Amani. I have not seen her in two years, but I hear a lot has changed for her- for the better."

"Mmm-hmm. So I hear." Alicio couldn't keep his mischievous smile down. "She's become a Jedi Master. And she's gotten married, and has children now, I hear."

Of course, Ran wanted to know more. Alicio's grey eyes were practically sparkling. "I first met her when we were working at the same refugee camp. She was medical staff, I was managing. We met one night, and... kept meeting, after that. We're... very close." He'd probably given himself away.

Oh well. The game was fun while it lasted.

Alicio paused, his expression warm, to see if she understood.

- Ran Serys -

 

[Ran Serys]

"Wait!" Ran smiled. "Is this-" She hesitated unsure if what she was about to ask was too silly. "Are you telling me that-" She paused again but it was there. There was no mistaking it. His words, the glittery but coy look in his eyes, and the brilliantly bright look on his face.

"You are! You are Amani's husband? That is correct! Yes?" She waited for his confirmation. It was a shock. What a spectacular coincidence or was it? That another Serys would be assigned as an escort to the Royal Senator who also happened to be Family. Ran wasn't used to the word. She only spent a few hours total with Amani in their few run-ins with each other. But still she felt it. She felt the bond of family. In this moment she could feel it in her excitement. "Congratulations on it all, Senator- Sorry, Alicio," She corrected herself. "Congratulations on the marriage, the children, everything." She hugged the Senator. She had not hugged many people in her life. But she would have one ready for Alicio, Amani, and their children, whenever she was lucky enough to see them.

What was once her only living relative had multiplied into relatives. It was an honor to know it. An honor and a wonder. Ran thought of her few years traveling the unknown parts of the galaxy and felt that she had some time to make up in the core. Time she would've used spending time with family and maybe throwing down some roots of her own. She committed the idea to her memory and let go of her bear-like grip on Alicio.

"I would like to meet the children, whenever possible, and see my cousin more than anything. We will arrange that soon, but I suppose now we should take heed of our assignment." Ran composed and focused herself. "We can talk more about personal matters on the quieter parts of our journey though." She snuck in just before Alicio could explain more about their appointment, and before Alicio's men had joined them.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

It was equal parts hilarious and elating to see the wheels turning in Ran's head, as she pieced together exactly what he'd meant. Despite the mission they were about to embark on, Alicio couldn't keep the easy smile from steadily growing on his face.

"You are! You are Amani's husband? That is correct! Yes?"

The jig was up. Alicio's grin strengthened. "Yes, I am." The former Count stood up tall, sensing a hug in his future, and despite his usual aversions to hugging strangers- he supposed Ran wasn't really a stranger- he indulged her, feeling the air squeezed from his lungs, and wrapping his arms around her lightly in return.

"It is really good to meet you. Amani mentioned you, on one of our first dates. I imagine she'd be delighted to see you again, Ran." Alicio sat back down, producing a datapad, and tapping on it for a few moments, before displaying it's contents.

It was a photo, of a happy little family. Alicio, with his characteristic, distantly sad smile. Amani, beaming brightly. And two children in their arms, a cauldron mix of their parents' features, down to their splotched skin tone- both partially green like their mother, and fair like their father. The young boy had more prominent mixing, with Amani's clear sky blue eyes, while the girl was mostly muted green, with Alicio's rainy day grey irises.

"Liana and August," he said, passing the datapad off to Ran, should she want to inspect it closer. "We were... blessed... with twins. Lia likes stuffed animals, and Auggie won't stop talking about starships." They were, in his opinion, the two most wonderful things in the galaxy. Of course he would take the opportunity to show them off.

Finally, Alicio's security detail entered the room. They were four dark, armored forms, moving with a fluidity and grace that seemed ethereal, unnatural. The King nodded gratefully to them, before turning his attention back to his cousin-in-law. "Alright, I suppose we should take care of business."

"Would you prefer the long version, or something more concise?"

- Ran Serys -

 

[Ran Serys]

Ran took in the faces of the children. Liana and August. She committed their names to memory before she gave the datapad back. She could see how the children looked like Alicio, and still she saw Amani's face in them too. She saw her cousin's face in her memories. She wondered how Amani had changed since the last time they met. Ran didn't wonder for long though, as the sweet familial moment was soon interrupted by Alicio's personal guard.

In their armor, the guard reminded Ran of wraiths. The beings made of shadows in the dark that some cultures used to spook misbehaving children. It uneased Ran, but she thought if she knew more she would relax. She took a mental note, and would ask Alicio about his guard sometime later.

For now, she would worry about their mission. "Spare no detail, Alicio." She smiled warmly. The surprise of her family having grown in her absence still had not faded, neither had the feelings of happiness.

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio took back the datapad, and replaced it on his hip, a smile still shadowing his face. They would have time later to talk about their family. Family was deeply important to the nobleman, after all. By marriage or not, Ran was his kin, now.

He had so few, these days. Every one had to be cherished.

But it was time for the briefing now. Alicio gathered his thoughts. "We're going to a station, in the heart of Alliance space. We're mediating a... gathering of worlds, ringing Tython and Empress Teta. Anaxes, Foerost, Had Abaddon... Governors, senators, representatives and leaders of frightened populations. Fear threatens to break the Alliance apart from the inside, and I hope this meeting will keep us together. For just a little longer."

"The meeting is secret, invitations were only sent to a few, and the location of the ship we're docking with is heavily guarded, so... there shouldn't be trouble. But... I can't shake the feeling..." Alicio bit his tongue, tasting ash from the Future. It could have been nothing, his vision of what was to come was hardly perfect. But, as the old adage went, it was better to be safe than sorry. "Regardless, I wanted a Jedi along to help smoothen negotiations, and make sure everyone is safe."

"And... for what it's worth, I'm glad that Jedi happened to be you, Ran."

"Questions?" Alicio felt the rumblings of the ship beneath him. They had taken off.

- Ran Serys -