An Afternoon at the Vale [Yasha]

[Yasha Cadera]

A dainty smile pursed on Yasha’s lips as she watched [member="Fiolette Yvarro"] walk to [member="Taeli Raaf"]’s side. There were those who would tell her that Sith never loved. That Sith were devoid of such luxuries and pleasantries in life. In moments of calm, when Yasha witnessed the inner workings of Sith families and relationships, she wondered where such misinformation originated? Bad Jetise PR?

“You are far more talented than I. It took almost that long for me to master Mando’a, and I was surrounded by it on the daily.” Yasha still remembered Ra Vizsla’s annoyance at her stutter, his wolfish sighs and calls for tutors. Look, Ra! No stutters!

“Ah, then I apologize for impeding your work, Lady Raaf… and will give you my personal gratitude. When the Galactic Alliance fell, [member="Darth Carnifex"] gave me an indication of events. He also provided a dossier on the Sullustans and their system. One I believe came from you. We were able to raid the Jetise Training Centre and Sorosuub HQ, among the more militant targets. It was of great help to us. Thank you, I may have to impose upon the invitation more frequently, the Empress Salara is working on something to ensure my daughter’s health and it would be quite more comfortable here, than say, tripping over a young Sith Prince in the middle of his ho-oh!” Nodding her head, Yasha walked on, breath catching as they rounded the side of the house to the pond and gardens.

“Fio, the flowers! Are those Anaji Fire Lilies?! Ah! Sakuran Lotus! I’ve never seen any propagated outside of their homeworld before! However did you manage the protein content in the water!? Did they come with algae from Sakura? Do you propagate them for their medicinal uses, or their appearance?” On Yasha went, naming the various botanical names flora in the garden, as bright and gleaming grin on her face as any had ever seen. Mand’alor the Infernal was educated in many pursuits, a continuing scale of education to support her duties. “How do you not spend every moment of your day in this garden!? Pardon my enthusiasm. I've spent so long developing flora hybrids to withstand the consistent terraforming process on Mandalore, seeing a pristine and finished place is akin to paradise.”

Horticultural Biology was by far the young Epicanthix’s favourite.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

"Mr. Jephcots is the true mastermind, I must confess. He came through with a great recommendation and Mr. Carrington's seal of approval." Fiolette responded to Yasha's enthusiasm with a bit of laughter. "I will be sure to pass your praise along, and as to your question." How does Fiolette restrain herself? The Galidraani's hand quietly pulled for the Lorrdian's. Such questions answered themselves. The Fall of the Alliance notwithstanding but the significance of that event, was perhaps eclipsed by a singular private moment between the two women. "Mandalore will come into its own once more, after all, if Corellia could heal after its cataclysm then Mandalore too will heal."

The Archer's Pond now presented itself as the trio came toward the rear of the property, bath house and gaezbo were also now in full view. And the more Yasha was around the easier it would be to keep Lucy at bay from turning the nursery into her next project. Although Fiolette suspected that she may need to get Lucy a little more than just her own room. The thought was pushed aside as she walked with Taeli toward the pond. Quietness fell over the pair briefly as Yasha explored the gardens not too far away, and then it occured to Fiolette that Taeli meeting Adara... Goodness. Taeli holding an infant, such an image. "Oh Adara is such a darling, and so small." Fiolette gushed in a whisper to Taeli in an afterthought.

[member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Yasha Mantis"] [member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

It was true that Taeli had been rather thorough in preparing everything for the Alliance's destruction. To hear it had been useful, even if Coren had been the leader of the center on Sullust, she was glad. His pet Sentinels had been only partially infiltrated before the Endgame began, but the assault had been devastating to him all the same.

"He's had some help too dear, don't forget that," Taeli added in as Fiolette praised their groundskeeper. Taeli had shown the groundskeeper that Sith alchemy was not only just a means for twisting and creating horrifying monstrosities or Sith magics could only be used for... unnatural things. It could be used to create and cultivate beauty as well, all it would take was the will to shape something into something else. So part of their project had been experimenting with some of the most beautiful flowers and plants in the galaxy and making sure they could survive in the garden. She had learned a lot about plants from the man.

"If you ever require aid with helping rebuild Mandalore, you need only ask," she continued to the younger woman. "I am not without resources of my own and you would be surprised what one can do when they set their mind to the task they want to accomplish."

Something the young Mand'alor had said piqued her curiosity though.

"You said the Empress was creating something to help your daughter," she asked. "Does she suffer from some ailment or some such? I know we have just met, but as Fiolette can attest to, I'm rather... well versed in healing people."

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“He deserves every possible recommendation.” Yasha continued searching the plant life, drifting along the garden paths, and bending down to inspect leaves, buds, to sniff the fragrance of the fresh and pristine place.

“I am eternally proud of my engineers and corporate R&D in the matter of terraforming Manda’yaim. We made an uncanny amount of progress, and our ecosystems are rejuvenating themselves. Another few seasons, and the growth begun will create situations where one would have to search hard for any indication of a cataclysm at all. There is still the question of appropriately reintroducing flora and fauna so as not to tip any balances.” Standing up and dusting off her gloved hands, Yasha clasped them in front of her, sun shade umbrella in tow.

“Thank you, Lady Raaf. Mandalore is doing substantially better, to the point where we turn our eyes now to Kalevala, one of Mandalore’s sister planets. It’s a radioactive desert, but Clan Kvall still call it home and terraforming will begin there shortly. I am currently working on the hybridization of my own breed of sunflower, which will pull heavy metals and radioactive isotopes from the soil, and store them in the stems. I had some success on Mandalore with this method, and figured by combining a Corellian varietal with one from Ithor, I could expand the rate of particulate ingestion, and increase biomass of the flora themselves to store a greater amount… my apologies…” Yasha ducked her chin down, nibbling at her lower lip. “I do love botany a little too much.”

The Infernal’s chin ducked further down as [member="Taeli Raaf"] asked about Adara. While a flicker from [member="Fiolette Yvarro"] did not go unnoticed, Yasha unfurled the umbrella and busied herself with turning away from Taeli and Fiolette to look out at the pond.

The bath house in the distance, what sort of roof was that? What material? When Yasha turned back around to face Taeli and Fiolette, it was the staunch and hard face of Mand’alor which looked down from her seven foot height. Her shoulders squared and it was a hard thing to picture, that this commanding and dour presence had moments before been simply a twenty year old girl enjoying a garden.

“I bore her on Barataria, after being thrown through a building and captured for bait. The Silver Jetise kept my People from rescuing us, stalling with battle until it was too late. By the time my adopted father got us out, I couldn’t breathe. You try going through labour six weeks early with four broken ribs and a six inch piece of jagged shrapnel in your side. We rushed back to Mandalore, where it took four days for Adara to die.” There was no chill in Yasha’s eyes, instead her amber irises seemed to ignite with the ill will of the wrongful dead, soaked in the fury earned in her younger years.

“There was one by her bedside. He refused her death, and in a singular act of the Dark Side of the Force, he willed Adara back to life. It would be hard enough for a premature infant to develop, I am now discovering my child has need of this… mystic quandary you call the Force… something she has little access to on Mandalore. The Empress Salara is creating a formula based on what the Royal Family feeds their own, something to sustain her while we attempt to decipher how best to proceed with Adara’s development. I refuse to lose my daughter twice. If you did wish to visit Adara, Aiya can bring her to you, I believe she’s napping. Bastion seems to agree with her, I can never get her down to sleep without a struggle.”

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette interjected an apology, "indeed Mr. Jephcots had help in the design of our gardens. Taeli is quite the scientist and healer." Fond memories of working the gardens seem to come to mind. Although on her part it was mostly digging with a shovel. The botany and pedology of it all she left to Taeli and Mr. Jephcots, still she could concur that the beauty of the place was quite mesmirizing. "Of course." She said in acknowledgment when Yasha mentioned reintroducing flor and fauna. When the subjected turned to more detailed sciences the Galidraani did her best to keep up. The redhead was more than certian that her beloved Taeli was more than able to keep up and would more or less recap the conversation later to her.

"No, no, it's quite alright. You are more than free to gush about what you wish, botany, pedology or whatever seems to come to mind." There were no worries here at Stormvale. None that immediately came to mind at any rate. The soft Bastion breeze brushed by so gently scarcely cutting through the fabric of Fiolette's clothing. Taeli had asked about Adara and what ailed her which then sent Yasha into the somewhat graphic detail on Adara's birth. Childbirth had its own risks let alone having the stressors of abuduction and battle to add to it. Fio felt for Yasha and Adara but what had happened would only serve to strengthen them, and it only better served the Admiral's disdain of the Silver Jedi. She gave Taeli a soft look, one that perhaps spoke more than words. Her thumb caressed the top of Taeli's hand. She then turned gaze to Yasha. "Then I am more than grateful that His Imperial Majesty and His family are able to assist you."

"We should let Adara sleep while she can, I'm sure there will be a time to visit with her later on in your stay."

[member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"] [member="Yasha Mantis"]

Ah now that was refreshing, seeing a younger woman have an interest in the sciences. Botany might not be her main forte, but she had been learning more about it from their gardener and from her precious books. Creating a hybridization like that, to help with the terraforming process, was an ingenious idea though. Although, the absorption of heavy metals and radioactive isotopes could be an issue later on for the plant life. Odd mutations, but perhaps... a few tweaks to the gene sequences, a little modification... something to think about.

"Never apologize for something you love," Taeli said when she was pulled out of her own thoughts by Yasha apologizing. Her question about her daughter brought about a dark change to the girl, a quietly simmering anger smoldered behind those eyes as she told the story of how her daughter was born, died, and was resurrected. Taeli had to bite her tongue as Yasha explained the process, Fiolette would recognize the expression by now as Taeli fighting down a rant about messing with forces best left to those that had studied them. Also the Silver Jedi, just absolutely bloody typical that they would be involved with something terrible. She wasn't surprised in the slightest.

The revival sounded like it had been rushed, sloppy. The costs had been inadequate, and because of the nature of the ritual she was thinking that had been performed, and by inexpert hands, it had unforeseen consequences. Oh, how to put this delicately.

"No, we can let her sleep," Taeli finally said after the story, agreeing with Fiolette. "I would like the chance to meet her though. As Fiolette can attest, I'm an expert in Sith magic and alchemy. I might be able to help with your daughter."

It also struck her that Yasha didn't really seem to know much about the Force. Not surprising, considering previous stances in Mandalorian space. Knowledge would have been stripped away, hidden or destroyed. That could be rectified though.

"I'm sure you have questions about the Force, and I would be happy to answer any. And consider my library open to your perusal. I have several... shelves... dedicated to the study of the Force, in all its aspects."

It was more than a few shelves, but... well Yasha would see eventually she was sure, if she hadn't already.

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“I shall have to procure my research on heavy metal absorption and native flora species from my data pad uplink, Lady Raaf, and monopolize a few minutes of your time in the library, perhaps?” Yasha grinned, clasping her hands together in front of her as much the Panathan or Atrisian Lady would do in times of joy. Away from Mandalore, Yasha had the luxury of letting herself be the youth she was, yet youth faded with the admittance of Adara’s unnatural birth.

This was no being of roses before [member="Fiolette Yvarro"] and [member="Taeli Raaf"], although Yasha could have been, that path was stolen from her with one too many thrusts of the sword.

“Yes, Kaine is terribly kind to me. The Empress Salara, too… although their ulterior motive is far simpler.” The warrior’s mask cracked ever slight, a hairline fracture in the veneer. “The Emperor and Empress Zambrano appear to have designs upon me courting their son Alvarex. A potential father for Adara, it seems.”

The veneer further split, as a flush of blush pink took to Yasha’s cheeks.

“We’ll see. He has to win me, yet… and I am not as forthcoming with my romance as I am with talk of botany.”

Taeli herself seemed to metamorphose upon the conversational topic of Adara’s resurrection. Another peddler of the Force stood before her, one learned and intricate of wisdom.

“If you would look over Adara, I would be appreciative. I… I don’t know what to do. To be radically honest, it’s taken me twenty years to realize the Force exists at all.” Yasha’s black painted lips pouted, as she thought of just what to ask beyond ‘what is it?’.

“Thank you, I suppose there are plenty of places to begin, beyond some ambiguous fount of energy some within the Galaxy can tap into, eh? Having been dead to it nearly my entire life, I assure you any attempt at instructing me in its’ philosophies is quite the lost cause.”