Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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A Blessing and a Curse

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

The thrill of the chase. That was what drew Phylis ever onwards. The Jedi Master cared little for the Byzantine politics of the Jedi Council and the Republic. Where she worked was in the open, helping people, never staying too long in any one place.

And now she was on Naboo, a place recently added to the growing Omega Protectorate. She had permission to be there, to be in the Palace's library and archive. She was on the trail of something, and she wouldn't stop until it was found...or proved to be just another phantom.

"Hmmph, no no no. Timing is all wrong. Three hundred cycles is five-hundred-seventy standard years. Too late," she muttered, making notes on a datapad, quite oblivious to what was going on around her.
 
Libraries and dusty archives were not the usual haunts of Siobhan Kerrigan. She was a straight-forward woman who could not be accused of intellectual interests, drawn to battlefields and seedy bars. Given the fact that she tended to attract trouble magnet wherever she went, it was probably a good idea to keep away from places that housed such priceless tomes!

However, as chance would have it she was on Naboo as well. She had been dealing with military matters, Omega Pyre was liaising with the Naboo royal army to better coordinate strikes against pirates and Bando Gora. This meant that more modern equipment would be provided for the locals, at the same time some veteran Naboo guardsmen would be recruited. Unfortunately for Siobhan, no pirates or mysterious assassins had seen fit to pester the locals.

By the time the talks and the inspection of a new military base were over, Siobhan was reminded once again of her dislike of paperwork, though she kept on the job. She had heard in passing that a Jedi...a Master Phylis Alince, was on the planet, deep in the bowels of the archives.

While Siobhan thought most Jedi foolish and naive, she felt no hostility towards them. She had never met this Phylis, though had heard a few tales about her, for she had acquired quite a reputation.

With nothing better to do at this juncture, she headed down into the palace archives. Her plans for the evening had already been determined anyway: get friendly with handmaidens and happily drunk.

So it was that the distinctive clacking of Siobhan's heavy boots on the stone archive floor was heard while Phylis was jotting down notes, ironically enough with the same single-mindedness Siobhan applied to fighting. It said quite a bit about Phylis' dedication that she seemed oblivious to Siobhan treading across the ground, considering the ex-Jedi had little sense of stealth.

"You know, if back in the day the librarians had been this pretty, I might've actually learned something!" Siobhan quipped cornily, as she laid eyes upon Phylis, passing a shelf stacked with tomes and a bust of Qui Gon-Jinn, apparently made in gratitutde of his heroism and martyr's death during the liberation of Naboo almost a milennia before her time.
 
Phylis looked up from her notes briefly, then back down. "Hmmph, I very much doubt that, @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]. As I remember it, the only time you would pick up a book would be to club someone with it. Still, there are cases where that's needed. Take this, for instance." She held up a hefty tome with the Force. "Lestrade's Peerage and Geneology. A first edition too. Well over eight hundred years old, and apart from the binding, utterly worthless except if you want to know who Queen Amai's eight generation descendant is. As it turns out, I don't."

She lowered the book. "So, I guess asking you what you're doing here is redundant, hmm? This planet is now the property of the Glorious People's Republic of Omega. Or whatever you are now. Still, you're actually just the woman I was interested in talking to. Your Master was Adril Tythorin, yes? One of only three Eldorai who have ever become Jedi. Hmm...interesting."
 
"Maybe, but if the right teacher motivated me enough and made sure I kept on task," Siobhan said with a chuckle, winking at her as she stepped forward to look over her shoulder. Unfortunately, as seemed the habit of the modest Jedi, Phylis was wearing very concealing robes.

"Oh, yeah. We assumed direct control. Or extended our protection against all the evil things down south, as we call it. Seems to be kinda in fashion now. Like the Republic included Hapes," she said sardonically, her lips curving into a smile at the mention of the planet. She really had to visit it again at some point,

"Yes. Adril. A great woman. Conjured up amazing fireballs," Her mood turned serious for a moment. As was well-known, Siobhan looked upon her master with rose-tinted glasse, partly because of repressed guilt about her death. So, if the subject came up, saying bad things about Adril was very unwise. On the flip side, while Siobhan angsted about many things, she didn't have Carth Syndrom!

However, Siobhan soon seemed to get her snark back. "So what brings you here to this beautiful world? How's the Glorious Order of Jedi Crusaders doing? I've been hearing all sorts of wild stories! Some senator demanding some dumb act, Jedi screaming they're being enslaved and about to go protest about how they want senate seats. It all looks very confusing from down. Should we prepare for Jedi refugees?"
 
Phylis looked up, raised an eyebrow, and then looked back at her book. "Hmmph, one shouldn't have to have sex with one's students to get them to learn. In any case, they tend to learn the entirely wrong things. Still, it worked out well for you in the end." The irony of other realities of Phylis is not lost on this writer.

"The Jedi are having, what might be politely called, a 'moment'. Sadly, this moment has lasted several months and reduced the Order and the Senate to gridlock. Well now, I can't do anything about that, so I go and do my job and hope eventually they will do theirs. Sadly it seems that this new and glorious dawn has started to look like the old and inglorious ones before. As a historian all I can say is 'told you so'. Hmm, not that it helps us much."

"As for what I am doing on Naboo? Well, I am following a lead. A lead where you could be very helpful. Your Master, or Mistress, or whatever, was an Eldorai. Did she ever talk much about her home? Did she ever teach you any of the language? You see, I am looking for an Eldorai artefact, and it's very difficult for me to understand how some things work with them."
 
The irony is not lost on this one either. "You'd be surprised how motivating it can be. Carrot and stick, but whatever rocks your boat!" Siobhan said happily. "Things have worked out for me, yeah. Who knew private enterprise could be such fun!"

She listened to Phylis' snarky response to her question about the Jedi and the senate. "Well, it's said history moves in cycles," she said with a shrug. "Cool to see you're doing your job. I saw the Chancellor on Hapes, tough woman. Bit of a shame to see things that way," she said sincerely. On a purely practical level, the Republic and the Jedi were useful to keep the Empire at bay.

She frowned a bit at Phylis' question. "She talked about Kaeshana a bit, here and there, taught me some words. She was once Captain of the Guard. But she was pretty private about her past. Oh, and we meet the Crown Princess once. Silaqui!" At that a grin appeared on her lips.
 
"Who knew indeed? Still, I'm glad you've found stimulating and rewarding things to do...and whatever you do in the day as well," Phylis quipped.

"Yes, the Chancellor. The woman most likely to win an award for the largest pole inserted up her dress. Hmm, well at least she's not married to the Dark Jedi leader of the Echani like our Vice-Chancellor."

"Hmmph, I'm sure you did meet her. Well, do you know of any Eldorai I can speak to about these matters? And if I do find what I expect, would you like to come to Kaeshana with me?"
 
"Topple warlords, fight zombies, ravish comely maidens. Yeah, very rewarding!" Siobhan said with a smile. For some reason she found herself liking Phylis. Perhaps because Siobhan always appreciated some snark!

She broke into an all-out laugh at Phylis' description of Chancellor Saelari. "Oh, yeah, she does like to hear herself talk, doesn't she? Still, she's got guts. That Echani guy is a twit though," she added.

Admittedly this impression was solely based on the fact that he had wanted to go to war against the Mandalorians and tried to get Omega embroiled into it by sending a Sith as his emissary, but that seemed reason enough!

"Met and made a lasting impression on her! Hmm. I wouldn't mind visiting Kaeshana. But since I'm a greedy mercenary, oh, wait, private contractor, who's only out for herself, what would be in it for me? Payment is negotiable!" she joked with a wink. "And what for a fascinating artefact that would undoubtedly be devastating in the wrong hands are you looking for?"

She turned a bit thoughtful, more serious. "You're aware that the Eldorai aren't that keen on foreigners, particularly humans? Sure, they trade with 'em and are eager to get their tech, but they keep 'em at arm's length. Even Omega's just at the start of building relations with them. Offworlders searching for powerful artefacts of their people can cause issues," she said.

Yes, as surprising as this probably was even to her, Siobhan was trying to take larger considerations into account. The job seemed like a good adventure and it aroused her interest, but she knew how the Eldorai were and they were the Protectorate's neighbours.
 
Phylis raised an eyebrow. "Hmmph, well payment may be negotiable to you, but you'll have to survive with just credits from me. After all, Jedi are supposed to follow rules in that regard, even if most of them don't. Still, I'm glad that our noble and long-winded Chancellor fills you with mirth. All you have is Lady Protector Cira to deal with, and she's much less fond of making grandiloquent speeches."

"You have a point about the Eldorai not exactly being friendly to outsiders. Still, the object isn't actually on Kaeshana, I believe, but I believe the next step of the puzzle is there. I have dealings with some of their leaders, so I should be able to get us access to examine their records."

She looked at Siobhan intently. "Let's hope it's a positive impression, Siobhan."

It might be noticed that she hadn't mentioned what the item actually was....
 
"Rules...I thought they were more like guidelines!" Credits would work as well, as much as Siobhan would have relished liberating Phylis from her robes. Really, it was way too hot for them at this time of the year! "Cira's pretty great," Siobhan said honestly, smiling a bit. Of course, much to Siobhan's considerable sorrow, the Lady Protector had not allowed her to play with her wings, but the ex-Jedi was fond of her.

She shrugged when Phylis outlined the situation. "Swell. You got the connections and do the research. I'm just the immensely talented hired muscle. Hope for the best, plan for the worst, that's what my experience says. They got their own corps of force-users, Angelii," she said with a nonchalant smile. She was not being doubtful. If Phylis had contact with senior Eldorai she trusted, then she'd take her at her word. She would just be prepared in case the situation hit the fan, as usual. Moreover, the prospect of a visit to Kaeshana intrigued her.

She crossed her arms over her chest, incidentally pushing up her already considerable bust. "You know, you haven't actually told me what you're looking for," she stated seriously. "It's not gonna suddenly make us go bonkers and hear voices, is it?" This writer is aware of the devastating turn events took after a different Phylis found an artefact!
 
"Yes, the Angelii...seems like they'd be your favourite people, seeing as you have a liking for crazy pointy eared women. I've been in contact with the Queen's Chief Minister, and she will provide us with an escort, translator and spy...probably all in one person. We find what we need and go from there."

Phylis stood and paced a few steps in silence. "Well, no, not as far as I know. Hmm, this isn't that sort of artefact. What I am looking for is merely a stepping stone to something which probably is your generic doomsday device. What I am looking for is Arithdae Codex, which was once located on Kaeshana, but was stolen centuries ago. I need to find out about it so I can try and locate it. Maybe I can't, and this is all in vain, but...maybe it can be found. Either way, if we find the codex you don't need to come with me on the next stage if you don't want to."
 
"Little bit of craziness makes the Galaxy go round. Sweet of her to be so helpful. Maybe the watcher will conduct deep infiltration!" Siobhan joked. She had encountered the Angelii only briefly when she and Adril made sure the Princess had a night to remember, but they were pretty tough, able to give even Jedi a run for their money.

She listened as Phylis paced and then elaborated on the artefact she sought. If Siobhan were honest with herself, artefacts and arcana did not unnerve her a bit. Evildoers and beasts that could be fought with weapons she could deal with, potentially losing her mind because an arcane power was bending it to its will was something different. But she had already decided to go.

She could see Phylis' evident dedication, her willingness to follow the trail even though it might just be a wild bantha chase. She knew that Cira had a passion for recovering the lost knowledge of fringe force-using groups.

"Ah, chickening out before the real prize would be so anticlimatic," she said. "So the Arithdae Codex then. How soon do you plan on leaving here? I gotta deal with some OP business and check in with HQ."

Omega did, after all, have a chain of command and so the battalion she was responsible for on Fondor would have to be appraised of her absence. Besides, Tegaea would need to know that she would have to do without Siobhan's services a little longer.
 
If this writer was unkind, they would say that Siobhan's services that would be most missed by Tegaea were those after hours....

Phylis meanwhile shook her head. "I've never met a woman so obsessed with sex. You're as bad as a man!" she accused. Amongst the Eldorai this was one of the most devastating insults, so maybe Phylis was just getting into the spirit.

"Well, since I've picked you up for the ride, I suppose I'm waiting on you. When will you be ready to leave? We'll head to Eriadu first, then Thyferra, finally Kaeshana. We'll go on my ship, Siobhan, there's plenty of room for two. You have a separate room," Phylis said pointedly.
 
Siobhan made a face then laughed. "No, a man doesn't have my wicked skills and can't go for even half as long!" she insisted. "And you shouldn't knock it till you try it."

Besides, better a sex-obsessed nympho than a wet hen!

She looked at Phylis, sizing her up or rather undressing her with her eyes. Those bloody robes were so concealing, she could really stand to be liberated from them and Siobhan was hungry. Darn. Separate Room.

"Separate room, huh? You know I'd never try to corrupt your Jedi virtue....much. Your halo is perfectly safe," she joked. "Give me an hour, gotta handle some OP business and fill Tegs in."


In the subsequent time span Siobhan dealt with the last bureaucratic matters related to the OP presence on Naboo, which by now could be dealt with by subordinates. Moreover, she stocked up on weapons i the OP armour, then sent a comm message to the Fondor battalion, using the holo-communicator in the palace.

Subsequently she sent a comm message to @[member="Tegaea Alcori"]. If her boss and lover wanted to respond to that, then she could.
 
"Who's to say I haven't tried it, just not with you, hmm?" Phylis said primly. "I'm not afraid of you corrupting or seducing me, I just don't like sharing rooms. Had to share a room with my sister and brother when I was younger. Not fun."

And so Siobhan departed. Phylis gathered up her notes and headed to her ship. She was therefore ready when her travelling companion finally returned from her meeting with the Exarch.
 
While Phylis finalised her preparations for the great quest, which hopefully would not result in anyone hearing voices and craving galactic domination and subsequently making heroic sacrifices, Siobhan used the palace's holoprojector to get in touch with Tegs' office on Fondor.

"Siobhan here. I've landed us a job with a Jedi Master called Phylis Alince. She's going on a quest to look for an artefact called the Arithdae Codex, claims it's the lead to some arcane device. Last estimates place it on Kaeshana. She says the Star Queen's Chief Minister has agreed to her coming. I've been hired to accompany her."
 
It was none other than Anya who took the call. There was silence. "The Codex...but...why is this Yedai looking for it?" Anya demanded. "I should come with me. You'll do it all wrong!" she said, sounding rather animated for once.

Tegaea came to see what the noise was, and was filled in about what was going on. "Siobhan, I'm not sure about this. I don't want us jeopardising our position on Kaeshana by some Jedi rustling up trouble." Implicit in this was the feeling that Siobhan would cause trouble simply by being there.
 
Siobhan frowned a bit, Anya sounded unusually heated. "Slow down a bit. Simple human here. What's so important about this codex?" she asked. It clearly seemed quite significant to the Eldorai.

Then Tegs joined them. Admittedly it had not been that long since Siobhan almost gone berserk on Naboo, so she tried to keep annoyance at the implied snub down. "I told her that the Eldorai don't take kindly to outsiders and we don't want to jeopardise our relations with them," she responded. "If you say it'll cause issues I'll decline her offer. But I know Alince by reputation, she's not the hothead sort. Besides, it seems like she's gonna go anyway, so if I go with we've got some control. If you want to assign someone else, I'd get that."
 
Anya suddenly burst out. "It's the most important historical text of my entire people. If it's found it must be returned to us. It must be!"

Tegaea seemed surprised that the normally unflappable Eldorai was so vocal. "Siobhan, I trust you...but watch the Jedi and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. I want the Eldorai on side, and if returning this Codex to them helps, then make sure it's done. Understand?"

Still a bit miffed, Anya muttered something in her own language.
 
Well, Tegs did say she could get commanding, Siobhan thought to herself, surprised at Anya's unexpected outburst. Somehow she could not help feeling slightly turned on by it. "It'll be returned, Anya. No Yedai or human male monkeigh will sneak away with it."

"Heard loud and clear. I understand," Siobhan said after Tegs had given her orders. "We'll return the Codex. I'll keep an eye on her," she promised her, tone serious. "Hmm. I always wanted to see Kaeshana. Maybe if I have the chance I'll buy you a Jester, my dear laestra."
 

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