Aftermath

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Board of Control was a very ironic...and yet fitting name. It was an instrument of control, for Siobhan. The six members of the board were not equals or even colleagues. They were minions who served at her pleasure. She was not just a CEO. She was an absolute monarch with the power to hire and fire them as she pleased. This, combined with her at times capricious personality, resulted in a rather stiffling atmosphere. Why challenge the Queen when it was more comfortable to follow the party line, fawn over her...and keep her bed warm when she made sexual advances?


"Lady Kerrigan, you look majestic as usual."


"Lady Kerrigan, I absolutely love your shoes. They're from Trada, right?"


"Countess, is it true you pulled a Star Destroyer down?"

"Your Highness, you really taught those Cadalthors a lesson. They won't ever dare oppose you again." That came from the token manling. His position was the most expendable, since he was mostly there to avoid the impression of Firemane being misandrist.


Regardless, she was showered with various compliments of a similar nature. Siobhan did not seem to notice Tegaea's subtle disgust. Indeed, she seemed radiant and best of spirits. She joked with some of the board members, but above all, soaked up the attention.


"Alright, my ministers. Let's get started. We have a lot of ground to cover. My wife has joined us for this occasion. She has a very special presentation to give," Siobhan said jovially. There was a round of applause, more fawning and so on.


Siobhan settled down in her throne-like chair. It was an unspoken rule that she got the biggest chair. Only Tegaea was allowed to have an equally larger one. Lady Kerrigan had a thing about her rather average height. "We shall start with infrastructure and healthcare, then move on to military matters. Kana, do begin."


"Gladly, my Lady," the business executive said with a rather adoring look in her eyes, "under your wise guidance, our efforts on the maglev project have..." and so the meeting began at last. The actual business stuff was mostly productive. While almost every executive saw the need to add references to the wisdom and indomitable will of the infallible Lady Kerrigan, they talked about factual matters. By and large, Siobhan let them say their piece, here and there interjecting with sharp questions, demanding updates and urging them to double their efforts.


Tygara and Arkas were supposed to be modernised. Freetown would be expanded to house refugees from Kaeshana, with a second settlement on the way. Further economic development would provide job opportunities for the locals. A new outpost had been opened on Alderaan to work more closely with the Free Worlds Coalition and expand Firemane's reach.


One board member expressed wariness of the Galactic Alliance, due to rumblings about a 'return to the old values'. This motivated Siobhan to make a wry comment about how the 'true crusaders' had only beaten the One Sith when the latter were already on their last legs. Finally, the discussion turned to healthcare. Some unenlightened spirits had whined about Firemane creating 'death panels' and forcing its employees into 'the slavery that is socialised medicine'. Veterans' care was a big part of it, but it also applied to employees' families.


"I dismiss these claims. don't care what money-lending rabble thinks of the issue. Firemane looks out for its employees. So we're passing the revised healthcare plan. And I'm afraid they can't recall and repeal it...because they don't get a vote," Siobhan finished at last, causing some chuckles. It was common for Siobhan to sum things up at the end...which also allowed her to control matters.


"Furthermore, we shall expand into the tourism business. We can make a lot of money through hotels, luxury resorts and cruise ships and export some culture along the way. Furthermore, we shall make advancements in communications tech by building on the success with quantum communicators. The first worldship will be operational in a month. It will be the first of several. Likewise, we will be arming the Tygaran Sepoys, starting with the Qadiri battalions since they're the most reliable. We have no need to play coy with the Eldorai anymore. This brings us to the next issue on the agenda, military matters."


Now there was fervour in her tone. Her expression became grave. "The traitorous vipers in our midst might have been wiped out, but make no mistake, we're at war. Kaeshana must be avenged. Eye for an eye, blood for blood. And the Sith have risen again, thanks to Jedi ineptitude. Our girls and boys, undefeated in the field, deserve the best weapons our researchers can design. I will spare no expenses. We need the best ships, guns and vehicles - and we need them now." What followed was a series of presentations and discussions about how to make Firemane's armed forces even greater.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tegaea watched all of this flattery with a mixture of embarrassment and shock. She now remembered why she had stopped coming to these meetings. She loved Siobhan dearly, but she did not indulge her ego in that way. Siobhan deserved a lot of respect and she would listen and follow her advice…but she would never be anyone’s toady.

Seeing this spineless group of lackeys made her feel sick. It did not pass her notice that Siobhan, far from dissuading them, tacitly encouraged it.
However, like a good politician she kept her face composed, blank, not letting even the suggestion of a frown cross her features.

She let the majority of the real business pass over her head. She’d presented what she had to Siobhan, and her wife was ably presenting it.

When Siobhan made her conclusion Tegaea clapped with the others, but she did so generously. For all the flattery, Siobhan still seemed in the same world, and for that she was grateful.

It was when Kana Farden turned to her that she knew her time had come. “Lady Alcori, Countess Kerrigan said you had a special presentation, and I am so excited to hear the wisdom you’ll share!”

Tegaea wondered idly as she fought down the urge to slap the toady, would she have done any different were she in the other woman’s place? She liked to think she had morals and code, but if she was young and pretty again and earning hundreds of thousands of credits a year, would she fawn and kow-tow for a couple of years to be set for life?
It was a question she could never know the answer to.

“Thank you, Ms Farden, I shall endeavour to provide the wisdom you seek,” she said dryly.

“My friends, thank you for your warm reception. I have been absent from this boardroom more than I’d like, however, I come here to offer my new path forward. As you have all seen, my wife has shown that she has a clear vision forward for this company. Her attention to detail, battlefield experience and personal characteristics have combined to make her an excellent leader for this company.”
There was no snark in this, Tegaea genuinely believed all of it.

“It is because of this therefore that I am announcing my resignation from the Board of Control, and joint CEO of Firemane. In time a Vice President to assist Siobhan in her vision leading the company forward.”

There was murmuring at this point, but before they could speak Tegaea held up her hand.

“I am also announcing that this is my time to move into a new subsidiary of Firemane which will take my personal vision forward. I have always been fascinated with the stars, exploring and finding the unknown. Therefore, once the transition for the board is complete I will be creating a new subsidiary which will explore, catalogue and survey the unknown regions. My goal is to find new worlds to settle, new resources to exploit and new species to interact with. This will have advantages not just for Firemane but the galaxy as a whole.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


So this was the moment. In a way, it only confirmed a state of affairs that had existed for a while. Nonetheless, it was difficult for Siobhan not to get emotional in this moment.


There was more murmuring from the board. Various members wanted to express their gratitude for all Tegs had done - and perhaps in some cases gain brownie points because they wanted to be the new 2IC. But Siobhan beckoned them to be silent. Kana's eyes had lit up, but alas she could not fawn over her former boss yet!


"My wife built this company with her own blood, sweat, tears, wisdom and energy." No fawning here, Siobhan was being honest. "We're all here because she pulled us together. Thanks to her, Firemane has become a force to be reckoned. More than that, it's a family. It's our baby and I'm very happy about how it has grown.


Though Tegaea is stepping down from the Board to focus on a new and exciting project, she'll remain honorary CEO and will continue to receive transcripts of Board meetings. Furthermore, from this moment on her birthday willl be a company-wide holiday. Her new project has my full support and I expect the same from everyone else in this room." Her eyes wandered across the table, falling upon all six members in turn.


"As for myself, I will assume the position of Executive CEO. I will not be accepting applications regarding the Vice President. Someone suitable will be chosen by Tegs and myself. Then she wil be called in for an interview." There was a note of sternness in her tone.


"Whoever is chosen will be the prime minister to my queen. We will lead Firemane into a new future. We have been tested and will be so again, but we will emerge triumphant. Nothing will stand in our way."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
The eyes of the five women lit up somewhat at the mention of a selection process. The maleling probably knew he had no chance so didn’t even look disappointed.
Kana though looked positively radiant. She thought very highly indeed of her chances, and to her mind had been carefully laying the groundwork for some time.
And so she clapped at Siobhan finished. “Your inspiring words have filled us all with a renewed feeling of vigour and purpose.”

Tegaea had to clench her hands together to conceal her urge to beat the woman around the head with something. Whatever happened, she was determined that Kana would not be the new VP.

“A wise move, Siobhan,” Tegaea said instead. “We will deliberate on this matter. Now, is there anything else on the agenda?” she asked the room at large.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


"I'm certain, Kana, that I can stimulate your vigour and purpose even more in the days to come," Siobhan said cornily. What were the odds she'd introduce her own Little Red Book? It was best not to give her ideas.


"It will, as always, be an honour to study at your feet, Your Highness," Kana said sycophantically, giving the Countess her most adoring look. She might have been playing footsie with her throughout the meeting. Or at least a good portion of it.


Siobhan chuckled slightly and glanced to Tegs. "I believe we can draw this meeting to a close. Later today, I will be discussing matters with our military commanders. I expect progress reports from all of you. Kaylah, I'm assigning the resettlement of Eldorai and Kar'zun refugees to you. Get in touch with Heartbeat, Salacia and other allied companies. And I want to see progress on the Titan."


"Sure. I'll get it done ASAP, m'Lady," though she'd done her share of fawning, she'd been less sycophantic than the rest.


"The VP announcement will be made later this week," Siobhan added as she arose. Immediately, every board member got to their feet. It was an unspoken rule that even after the meeting had been finished, no one was allowed to leave the room until the boss had left. Depending on her mood, this was a good moment for some last minute fawning.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Suffice to say, Tegaea had a very specific view of who should not be the new VP. When she rose and headed for the door, hand in hand with her wife she maintained a regal and dignified air.

When they were safely alone she looked at Siobhan. “Whoever it is, I don’t want Kana,” she said flatly. She was a little concerned by what she’d seen, whether Siobhan had been seduced by the fawning upstart. It wasn’t hard to guess that the two had been sleeping together, no.

“If I were to give my pick it’d be Kaylah Danton. She’s been with us for ten years, she seems stable, sober and consciencious.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Siobhan gave her wife a look. "You think I'm so easily manipulated by a pretty face, do you? Kana knows her place - beneath my heel. Or between my legs. Her ambition outstrips her ability. I like her right where she is now. If she gets uppity, I'll replace her and find another fawning airhead who thinks licking my boots - literally - will make me value her a lot," she replied in that haughty tone of hers.


Like many a dictator, she deliberately surrounded herself with toadies. She craved their fawning...but at the same time held them in contempt because they were spineless toadies, even though it was her own leadership style that created a such an environment.


"I'll consider Kaylah. She's a bit too independent, but still loyal, hard-working and able to work autonomously without me holding her hand." She was younger than Siobhan, but closer in age than the other board members. Recently, the Countess had tried to recruit new blood to make the board more dynamic. However, the results had been mixed. None of the new principals knew Siobhan from the old days. They only knew the queen, whose authority was unquestioned.


A servant girl entered the room and poured them some coffee. Siobhan helped herself to a cup and took a sip. All playfulness had vanished from her expression. Slowly, reality had caught up with her again. The bubble of protection could not last.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“I didn’t think you were, but I had to be sure. It’s easy to let the fawning to go to your head, but I see you’ve not. I think Danton will provide you what you need as far as a counterbalancing opinion. A VP can be overridden was will, but should provide an alternate view if necessary. Those are important for everyone,” Tegaea advised.

“I leave the decision entirely to you, naturally, since you have to work with them. I’m going to push our R&D to extend weapon and defence developments until the VP is chosen and in place. After that, I’ll focus on my new endeavour.”

She took come coffee. “Is there anything else we need to discuss for business?”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


"No, I don't think so. I've got to handle some...Kaeshana fallout," she said grimly. "It's our biggest defeat. I've got to raise morale and push forward. Ever, ever onward. There can be no doubt that Firemane is not shattered. Our troops are undefeated in the field, let down by cowards and traitors." It sounded like she was preparing for a speech.


"I've got wounded to visit, got an appointment with our officers...and an interview with an annoying journalist." It was not Diana Allers, who was easily distracted by the majestic sight of Siobhan's truly regal cleavage. "You're welcome to accompany me if you want," she added.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Sure. I can handle the journalist if you want. I know you’ve had, uhh, mixed experiences with the press.”
Mixed between lecturing, punching, seducing and suing them!

“If that finishes quickly I can join up with you at the hospital and meet the officers then. How’s that sound?”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


"Concerned I'll punch the gad fly if she makes disingenious assertions?" Siobhan raised an eyebrow at that. She always got high approval ratings among the Firemane grunt when she put annoying journalists in their place. "You can handle the press if you want. You know what my thoughts are on the campaign. It's that annoying, pompous queen Khalisat something. Leaving aside the fact that she's a total ignoramus, her fashion sense is dreadful. Presumably she'll harp on about the gang of cowards who stabbed us in the back. And maybe about me killing a peer."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Concerned? Not especially, but we still get angry letters from the Denon Solar Times after you choked their journalist. Though she did deserve it for making unsubstantiated contentions.”

And so off she went. Along the way she stopped in to pick up a Firemane trooper to escort her. One couldn’t be too careful after all! She chose her favourite of her bodyguards, a very imposing Dahomian woman named Simoom. She’d wondered about the name and how it was unlike any other Dahomian ‘outsider’ name she’d heard before. It turns out that she just didn’t know what a simoom was! Turns out it was pretty close to a hurricane…but with more dust.

As she entered the meeting room a pretty, if poorly dressed, woman was waiting for her. She had a droid with a large backpack on its back complete with a small lizard inside.
“Oh, Ms Alcori, I was expecting your wife. I had agreed to talk with the CEO,” she said haughtily.
Tegaea restrained the urge to smack the woman. “I am still joint CEO of this company, though as of today it is now honorary. You can talk to me, my wife is busy visiting the wounded.”
“Very well. I am Khalisia tel Shanai, Galactic Star News. Shall we begin?”
Tegaea glanced at the droid. “Came prepared, I see?” she said wryly.
“In my business it pays to not let those with magical powers overawe you. I expect it’s not something you worry about,” she added pompously.
Tegaea just stared placidly at the other woman until she got uncomfortable and set the cameras running.
“Most of the questions I had concerned your wife. After all, she seems to be the one with the most public presence.”
“Ask me,” Tegaea said softly.
“Very well. I am getting reports in that there was an incident on the floor of the Eldorai Council today. I believe that Duchess Tarissa Cadalthor was murdered by your wife.”
“Executed for treason.”
“There was no trial.”
“Eldorai law does not require one. The Queen as absolute sovereignty to dispense justice.”
“It was not the Queen who killed the Duchess though.”
“Does the Supreme Leader execute all First Order dissidents personally? Unlikely, or he’d be doing nothing else all day.”
“You seem remarkably blasé about casual ‘executions’.”
“Tarissa betrayed us and her people, she was in league with reactionaries to cause a coup and install herself as Queen. My people died down there, lynched by mobs stirred up by this traitor. You seem remarkably defensive about someone whose goal was to murder or expel all humans.”
“I ask the questions that others don’t,” Khalisia declared grandly.
“Then ask yourself this; would you like to see all humans expelled from Tygara for no fault of our own? Kaeshana was lost, but not through any deficiency on Firemane or the Eldorai’s part.”
“And what about the criticism that Firemane is becoming as dictatorial as the enemies it claims to fight?”
Tegaea sighed. This was going to take a while, and might just end up with a black eyed reporter.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


While Tegaea was dealing with the press, Siobhhan paid the Firemane medical ward a visit. She did not go there right away though. First she headed to their suite to change. For once, she did not do so out of vanity. Clothes make the woman: It would be inappropriate for her to visit her wounded soldiers while wearing a fancy women's business suit, stockings, high heels and jewellry. Thus she slipped out of her expensive clothing and donned a uniform instead. She kept it simple, eschewing all valorous decorations except the Star of Ashira.

When she arrived, the hospital room was filled with wounded. Some had sustained minor injuries and would be discharged, but many others had been injured severely and suffered maimings. A number of those had signed up for the cybernetic augmentation programme that Firemane was pursuing in cooperation with [member="HK-36"] and ARGH. Here and there, the wounded were being visited by their loved ones or spiritual counsellors.

Despite the number of patients, Siobhan spared a few minutes for each of them. An encouraging word here, a joke there, a pat on the back for a kid or a spouse there. Her attitude was subdued, but comparatively relaxed. Around these women and men, she had nothing to prove. Here and there, she was greeted with 'ma'am, 'General' or 'Auntie Kerrigan'. The last tended to be used by soldiers who'd been with Firemane for a long while.

"Hey, it's Auntie Kerrigan," a black skinned soldier raised his head when he saw her and called out to his boss. He was in a bad way. Half of his face was covered by a bandage.
"Blade, right, heard you blew up a tank," she spoke when she approached the Dahomian soldier. This one was a man and had suffered some nasty injuries.
"Mucked up its treads with a shattercannon, then dropped a thermal down the hatch. Imps kept throwing tanks at us like candy," the soldier grunted, wincing slightly. It seemed the painkillers were wearing off. "Then I just had to walk over a damn mine. Who the hell mines their only base entrance?"
"Fascists, apparently," Siobhan said dryly. She patted the soldier's remaining hand, noting the deep scars on his face. "Look on the bright side, I hear the ladies dig the scars."
"You too, ma'am?" the soldier asked a bit cheekily. "You do realise I'm a married man?"
"Don't tell the wife I said anything. I know Dahomian women are...fierce."
"Sure. I definitely won't tell her that the woman who pulls down SDs is intimated by her." There was a pause. "Signed up for the aug gig. I don't fancy being a bot, but no way am I letting the Imps keep me down."
"That's the spirit, Corporal. We'll get payback. Get well, soldier."
"Yes, ma'am."

Siobhan patted the man's hand, then left the room. Having exited it, she ran into a little black girl. The child looked at her with a wide-eyed expression, appearing a bit shy. She was clutching an Ewok plushie. "Hey there, I'm Sio," Siobhan said softly. "Are you Blade's daughter?"
"Yes," the girl said a bit shyly. "Is Dad gonna be ok?"
Siobhan bent down and knelt so that she was on the same level as the girl. "Your Dad was hurt pretty bad, but he'll be ok. We'll heal him up." Her tone was soft and gentle. She gave the kid an encouraging smile and looked at the toy. "That's a nice friend you have. What's his name?"
The girl looked a bit more relaxed. She hugged the Ewok close to her and glanced into the room, where a nurse was tending to her father. "Donnny. You're Daddy's boss? I saw you on all the posters. Did you really pull down a Star Destroyer?"
"Well, I had some help. But yeah, I did. Wanna go say hi to your father, sweetie? I can ask someone to get you a hot chocolate and some biscuits." How much of Siobhan's empathy was faked and how much of it was genuine was another question. Presumably it was a bit of both.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Whilst Siobhan ministered to the fallen, the interview was not going well.
The problem was that Tegaea was acting calmly, rationally, and despite the provocation offered by the journalist she was not biting.
“So are you saying that the Galactic Alliance are no longer friends of Firemane after Kaeshana?”
“That is what you’re saying, not what I am saying,” Tegaea replied placidly. “The Galactic Alliance continues to be our allies, and should they ask us for aid we will support them.”
As would later be shown at Hoth and Bespin.

It was clear that the journalist was not used to this sort of calm and even tone, and possibly even liked being assaulted by Siobhan so that she could claim the martyrdom card.
“And what about you, Ms Alcori? Your recent absence from the limelight has left some to believe that you are on the way out for your views. Your absence at Kaeshana has also been noticed.”
Tegaea knew it was supposed to annoy her, make her react. Despite how hard it was, she showed nothing but a small smile. “I’m sure my absence did not make a huge difference considering my wife pulled down a Star Destroyer by herself. I voluntarily stepped down as full chairwoman of Firemane to pursue other interests. My wife is perfectly capable of running the day to day operations of this company without me, as she’s shown for many years.”
“And what is this new interest?”
“Exploration. It’s been an interest of mine for many years and now it will be undertaken.”
“Will you cooperate with groups such as the Order of the Silver Lotus to ensure fair treatment to any natives and resources encountered?”
Tegaea’s eye twitched slightly. “We will not be doing that, no.”
“And why is that?”
‘Because the Order of Sith Lackeys has no moral high ground to tell us what to do, nor does any Jedi or self-righteous ‘Light Sider’’ she said in her head.
“The areas explored will be far out of any nation’s sphere of influence. We will have scientists and academics along to record what we find. I think that’s good enough for anyone.”
Clearly disappointed, the reporter relented.
“Thank you for your time, Ms Alcori. I’m pleased we could discuss things like civilised people without resorting to brutish thuggery.”
“I could if you wanted. Simoon….”
The look on the woman’s face was priceless as a 185cm woman built like a bodybuilder towered over her.
Tegaea laughed. “Come along, Sergeant. I anticipate in this spirit of civilised press relations that I will receive a full editing copy of this publication before it goes public?”
“Yes, alright,” the journalist muttered.
“Excellent. I shall await this with great expectations.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Unfortunately, not every encounter at the hospital was friendly. Not all injuries could be healed. Not all of the maimed would again. Not all of the fallen would survive to live another day, or see their loved ones again. At least not in this world. Sometimes there were no miracles.


Siobhan's jaw tightened while she watched the scene, standing just outside a hospital room. Inside, monitors beeped loudly. A doctor and some nurses had surrounded a soldier and were trying to resuscitate her.


"All clear," the doctor said.


"No," Siobhan said to herself, almost in a whisper.


"Still no pulse," a nurse reported. Knowing that the boss was standing only a few metres away, she looked more than a little nervous, but tried to conceal any anxiety she was probably feeling. After all, she had a patient to look out for.


"Okay, let's go again. 360," the doctor ordered. The beeping intensified.


"Come on, Mercy," Siobhan grunted, stepping into the room.


"Ma'am, you should not be here," a nurse insisted


Siobhan did not even bother respond to the woman. "You're gonna get up again. Your hear me?" On impulse, she took the comatose woman's hand, holding on to it tightly. Death was written all over the black woman's features. "Come on. Come on."


"I'm sorry, ma'am. We lost her," the doctor spoke solemnly. Sighing slightly, she made an arcane gesture of some sort with her fingers, perhaps wishing the woman's departed soul well in whatever awaited her in the afterlife. Siobhan's hands were balled into fists while she kept staring at the dead body. Her features hardened as a surge of anger overcame her. There was a loud commotion outside.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Tegaea’s return to the hospital was one where she had considerable thought.
“Went better than you thought, ma’am?” Simoon asked, breaking the silence.
“I didn’t end up hitting her, so I guess so.”
“You have better patience than I, ma’am,” the Dahomian said with a chuckle.
“One gets used to that sort of person,” she said absently. This was not at all going to be dramatic irony.

As she came in to land and headed towards where her wife would be waiting, Tegaea was suddenly aware of a commotion. A Jedi of all people was trying to persuade an orderly to let them through.
“What’s going on here?” Tegaea asked, walking forward.
“As I was trying to convey to this well-meaning but mistaken person, I am Jedi Cygnia Bass, and I have come to provide ministering to the wounded and sick. It is the duty of the Order of the Mystic Orchid to tend all sides in the conflict.” The Jedi was about 18 and had somehow become a Jedi Knight in that time, and was probably on her way to masterhood as an 18th birthday present.
Tegaea narrowed her eyes. “I’ve never heard of you before.”
“We came about due to the 17th Convocation of the Orders. It was decided that other groups lacked sufficient neutrality to properly ensure that all the wounded and sick in war were being cared for.”
“Well, thank you for coming, but we’re well supplied with doctors and healers.”
“Would you not have my aid?” the Jedi asked. “Surely you would not turn aside such assistance for mere pride? Think of your comrades who lay hurt!”
“Your offer is generous, but we do not require any further assistance.”
“Very well, I suspected you would say this. It does not surprise me that the intimate companion of a Dark Jedi would refuse the aid of the Light.”
Tegaea’s eyes became narrow slits. Her hands went to her hips, she took a deep breath. Unfortunately no one there knew well the signs of an imminent firemane explosion.
“What did you call me?” she asked softly.
The Jedi puffed herself up. “I do not beg forgiveness for pointing out what is clearly apparent. You are ‘married’ to a fallen Jedi, a corrupted and stained woman. I implore you to see the error of your ways and leave her wicked temptations and come to the Light!”
Tegaea was speechless for a moment. Then she moved with speed even the Jedi might find impressive and grabbed the woman’s robe, pulling her angrily cloaser.
“I’m asking you to leave right now, Little Miss Jedi, before you say anything else stupid which makes you get hurt. Dark Side, Light Side, I’d rather take the former than the self-righteous judgement of the latter. You, and all your kind disgust me for your arrogance, your high-handedness and your inability to see the world as anyone else does. Now get off my station,” she said, not knowing that Siobhan had just emerged to see the end of the confrontation.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Siobhan was pissed off. That was putting it lightly. Her present mood was...volcanic. As it were, she was close to explosion. Unfortunately, she just happened to reach her wife while she was dealing with a Jedi who was doing her best to make anyone reasonable lose faith in the so called Light-Side.


"Miss Alcori, you cannot truly believe that. I am only thinking of your wellbeing. You have fallen under the spell of a warmongering Dark Jedi. I implore you to leave her...and for Firemane to give peace a chance. Good people have suffered on both sides because of warmongering...but you...aaargh." Further words could not leave the woman's lips, for without warning Siobhan raised her hand, the fingers squeezing the air between them.


The other woman's windpipe closed, denying her the air she needed to speak. All that emerged was the sound of desperate choking, while she tried to fight off Siobhan's telekinetic grip. "Leave my wife alone. How dare you judge me? Us? You disgust me. You condemn me...and dare demand I should go cap in hand to fascists?" Hatred and disdain rolled off Siobhan's tongue. She made a gesture with her hand and the Jedi was lifted off her feet and slammed into the wall.


"Barbarian, you are a tool of darkness. I abhorr violence, but you leave me no choice," the Jedi called out and raised her hands. A blast of Force Light rippled from her hand. It looked impressive and cool as it washed over Siobhan...and did little but tickle her and give her a slight tan, for it was impotent. "What? How could my powers fail me? I am a pure servant of the Light."


"You're a fascist stooge. You are no true Jedi. You have no faith, only idiocy and hypocrisy. That is where you and I differ. I know what I am. Let me show you," Siobhan spat in disgust. In turn, yellowish-orange tendrils of Force Drain leapt from her hands and the Jedi cried out in agony when the Countess began to drain her life force away like a vampiric leech.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
As Tegaea watched the Jedi’s vain attempt and Siobhan’s retaliation she had an unpleasant realisation. It was not Siobhan’s actions, or at least not specifically.
It was that Siobhan or the Jedi, or anyone with the Force could unleash these powers at any time without needing a physical weapon on hand. They were a weapon. It put things into perspective, it was like every Force user carried an extra gun on them which regular people did not have. That was why they rose to the top.

When the Jedi was screaming and thrashing, she went to her wife and laid a hand on her shoulder.
“That’s enough for now, love. People are staring. We don’t need an incident with the Alliance…this won’t help our cause even if this girl is a shrill wet hen.”
She said it calmly, but she didn’t want all the doctors and nurses to see Siobhan straight up murder a Jedi Knight. The optics were, to put it lightly, not the best.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


If every Force-user was a loaded gun, then Siobhan was probably a cruise missile. It really put in perspective why 0.01% of the galactic population had commandeered 99% of the Galaxy's top jobs. The Jedi was in pain. Good. She deserved to suffer. Finally, Siobhan relented when Tegs' hand touched her shoulder, though she felt no remorse for her actions. "Alright. Take her away. She will be extradited. Put her in a cell till we can sort things out. It will give her time to...reflect," she ordered Simoon loudly.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Simoon picked up the Jedi like she was a toy and carried her away easily.
In the aftermath Tegaea clapped her hands. “Alright, back to work everyone, show’s over. Direct all questions regarding this to myself or Lady Kerrigan.”

She detected no surprise or unhappiness from those around her. They seemed pretty amused that some Jedi had come to try and take on their boss.
Tegaea shared their view. Whilst she could be considered morally quite ‘good’ she felt no empathy for the Jedi. Had Siobhan attacked the Jedi without provocation or had they been on Voss for instance…different story.

As they were now alone Tegaea raised an eyebrow. “Holding the Jedi will be difficult. We’re best dropping her off on the closest Silver Jedi planet.”
She probably had not considered Siobhan’s ideas for ‘persuasion’.