Breaking Barriers

[Onrai]

[member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"]

"Oh. No, I wasn't suggesting forcing you to be my apprentice. I don't even have time for that sort of thing anyways. Not now." She said. "That said, I could always use the help of someone like yourself on some projects I'm working on - though primarily with regards to diplomacy. I must admit that keeping the peace between the Sith Empire and the Mandalorians is a tiring effort for a single person, and it's not like there are Sith lining up to play the ambassadorial role. I need an aid." She smiled, looking down at Nicole. "I think you're the right person for that sort of job."

The latter comment was intriguing, but also furthered Vanessa's interest in acquiring this woman's services. "We used to be associates back when she was in the previous Sith Empire, though obviously times have changed since then. The last time I saw your sister was actually a few days ago at this social event. I think she was getting cuddled by Yasha's kids - or was it her kids cuddling Yasha? Not going to lie, I was a bit inebriated to say the least." She sighed.

 

[Neyana]

"Good." She harshly stated. No stuttering came out of her mouth when she spoke that one word. Hearing out the Sith's offer made her think. Yes, perhaps this could assist her in overcoming her terrifying fear of the Sith, but that also means that she might be dealing with more Sith. Which is something she probably doesn't want to do. At this same note, helping [member="Vanessa Vantai"] might lable her as a Sith as well, and its something she doesn't wish to do either. Ah decisions decisions. "I'll, I, I'll give it some thought, but what kind of projects?"

Hearing the political standings of both Alex and Vanessa calmed her down somewhat. Her breathing returns to normal and her hands stop shaking as much. Though, a hand moved upwards towards her mouth again to cough. "R-Really now?"

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"]

"Well," she elaborated, "I have a lot of future diplomatic endeavours. I need to talk to the First Order splinter factions, the Mandalorians some more, and the Chiss Ascendancy as well." She thought for a moment. "I certainly need assistance with regards to such - essentially we'll be selling them equipment and assisting in trade in order to further their association with the Sith Empire, keep relations warm as they should be. After all, warm relationships swing the balance of power to our side against the Silver Jedi and the New Republic in order to prevent them from making the first move and harming Sith civilians during this conflict we have."

She paused for a moment and thought about the latter. "Yes. I was there when she was tried for treason. I believe she was executed, but had someone transfer her spirit into a new body. Or maybe that was her doing it. I honestly don't recall, it was literal decades ago. Back when I had a different look than I do now."

 

[Neyana]

She nods her head at this rather unique proposition and takes it in with a rather neutral expression. Her fearfulness is temporarily gone, but a few stutters are here and there. "F-First Order? Ch-Ch-Chiss Ascendancy? I, don't recall hearing about those being formed." A short pause, and she turns to look away from her. "I haven't been paying attention to the Galaxy." Yeah, that excuse should work. "Why do you need my help in that regard? I, think you can handle it." Why would Nicole assist those who would also want to see the New Republic's downfall? She isn't in the Faction, but something just doesn't sit right within her.

"I wasn't there for that, and I'm very thankful that I didn't arrive for it."

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"]

"Well, now's your chance to learn more." She said, smiling. "You'll have room and board, food, and travel all dealt with, no problems whatsoever. And I'll be there to make sure no one tries to harm you. I need your help because the stress of doing this without any help is driving me crazy, to a point where I don't know if I can keep handling diplomacy solely on my end." She sighed for a moment. "So can I get your help with this?"

It was quite a good opportunity after all.

 

[Neyana]

Her gaze returns and her facial expression seems to be a rather uncertain one. "Again, I'll, I'll give it some thought. I'm, I, I'm still trying to find my place in the galaxy, and I'd, I, I'd rather not become public enemy number one immediately. How, how long does this offer last?" Her voice isn't that fearful anymore, ad yet another cough escapes those lips. "You do understand why I need time to think a, about this. Yes?" Her head turns back to her empty cup and begins to stare inside it. Yes, this is a rather good opportunity for her to learn about the factions of the Galaxy, but at the same time she wouldn't want to disappoint those who she already know.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

“For a couple of days. I have a trip to one of the he’s First Order schismic factions soon.” Vanessa replied. “The sooner you get back to me, the better considering the fact that I’ll need to pick you up.” She smiled for a moment and got one last headpat in.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. I wouldn’t give it up.”

[member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"]

 

[Neyana]

Nicole moved to stand up, and took her cup with her. She planned on having it refilled. "Do, Do you mind if I speak about this to Alex? I, I'm pretty sure she would w-want t-to know. The, the offer does s-sound nice, but I, I feel as if I sh-should talk it over with her, seeing how y-you claim to-to have known her be-before." Yes, she is still a bit weary of working with a Sith. Seems she just wants to make sure that this is fine and dandy. Nicole wouldn't want her sister to hate her for working with a Sith, and she is unaware of the current relationship between the two.



[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

Vanessa thought for a moment. “Well, given our last interactions with each other, I doubt she’ll be very supportive of it.” She said. “Our last interaction was in battle. I don’t recall the specific conflict, truthfully, but it was quite violent.” She paused for a bit. “I mean, if you still want to get her feedback on this, I see no problem, but just remember, she hates Sith, and me in particular.”

Vanessa sighed for a moment. Why did she have to lack independence?

[member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"]

 

[Neyana]

"Oh? Well. I don't really want to anger my sister, as she's the only real family that I, I have." After another cough comes out of her lips, she turned back towards the counter to order another cup of whatever it is she drank before. She did enjoy the flavor of it after all. Once that is taken care of, she returned back to Vanessa to sit right back down. "Its really nothing a-against you. I, I guess, Paranoia is the word I-I'm looking for?"

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"]

Vanessa nodded. How would it be possible for her to figure out what to do with regards to wooing Sarah to her service? There weren't that many things Vanessa could think of that would in fact be appropriate. "I can understand the paranoia. To a degree, I am as well, given the circumstances. Sith always need to be paranoid - I've already suffered serious bodily harm at the hands of an associate before, and threats otherwise." The encounter with Krest immediately arose in her mind.

"So, I guess get in touch with her and I'll get back in contact with you before I leave. Where can I best get in contact with you?"

 

[Neyana]

She resumed sipping on her drink and gave the woman a polite nod. "Well, at this moment I'm staying in some hotel area just down the street, but I could give you my information, or we could just meet here again in a day or two." A sigh escapes her lips and she begins to think about the outcome of such. If she accepts this deal, her sister might not like her. But if she doesn't take this deal, she might not get over her terrible fear of the Sith. Decisions, Decisions. Terrible choices to make.

"Can you tell me what my sister and you were doing in that battle?" Another sip. "Or was it too long ago that you cannot remember?"

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

"That would probably be the best way to do things." Vanessa replied. "I think it's the most efficient method of ensuring we can meet back up and you can give me an update regarding that offer." If she did accept, Vanessa would view it as an appropriate victory, having the sister of one of her hated enemies working for her. She was quite adorable, after all - very deserving of the headpats she had received. The question as to what she was doing in the battle, though. was a different one.

"Well... from my recollection, we were fighting on Coruscant when the Super Star Destroyer the Galactic Alliance had moved to crash on the planet's surface. Since I obviously couldn't actually keep fighting her without us both dying, I slugged her in the face. Then while I was dragging her to my shuttle, people interfered. So I shot a radiation pistol right next to her in the hopes that the resulting radiation poisoning would put her in the hospital for a few weeks while I could escape. Of course, that didn't work out, and she ended up dying, but she just got a new body, and the problem was solved."

[member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"]

 

[Neyana]

She slowly nods her head in some agreement. "Right. Yes. So, uhh, Hmh. Wh-which method did you want? I, I said around two of them." Well, Vanessa doesn't really seem that terrible of a Sith. She could've met someone far worse. Perhaps after speaking to Alex about this, her view point on the matter could be a positive one. After all, the two did know one another in the past. Though what Vanessa said earlier about how sour the relationship got, well. Nicole had no idea.

As she moved to take another sip, she immediately spat some out and started to heavily cough. Did she hear that right? Alex died again?! Nicole definitely knows she got a new body, but that's besides the point. Once she calms down from the coughing, a fist balls up and she stares directly at the woman. "You killed her?!" Anger was clear as day in her voice. No hesitating, no stuttering. She stood up and moved to place both hands on the table and gave the woman a very fierce stare. Even if Alex ended up perfectly fine and dandy with a new body, that does not mean anything. A family member of Nicole's died.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"]

“We can just meet two days from now.” she replied. “I’ll still be here for that period of time, so I don’t see that being too big of an issue. Whenever you want, I’ll be around.” She was considering leaving when Sarah got all infuriated and angered. “Yes, though not deliberately and not without provocation. The Sith Empire was taking advantage of Taeli Raaf’s disruption of Galactic Alliance infrastructure to raid their core systems. Alex decided to attack me, and I wasn’t simply going to stand there and get killed, was I? It’s unfortunate she died as I had intended on capturing her instead, but I did not have the opportunity to, and apparently she was too vulnerable to radiation. It didn’t matter anyways - the same person or people that gave her a new body after her trial for treason were the same one or ones they gave her the body she now has.”

Vanessa did not dismiss it, but she did rationalize it clearly and concisely.

 

[Neyana]

Oh, yes. Nicole is rather infuriated by hearing such dreadful news. She might not even accept this deal now. After a few moments of silence, she removes her hands from the table and balls up her fists. Was she about to throw one and disrupt the peace? She felt like it. She grits her teeth and continues her stare. "That doesn't change the fact that she died and you were apart of the reasoning." Her tone was harsh and cruel. An eye twitched and she is attempting to control her anger. "Self defense is one thing. Capturing is completely different, and murder is. Well." She stops herself right there, and simply goes to leave the cafe. Her hands return to normal and the small Echani just leaves her.

She didn't need to call Alex now. She understands why the two dislike one another. [member="Vanessa Vantai"] seems like a generally nice person, but harming her family, her only sibling. Well, She's going to need a moment to think clearly about this decision.

 

[Onrai]

“Yes. I was. I didn’t want to be, but we were at war and it was either I defeated her or she would kill me.” She grimaced for a bit, reminded once more of the circumstances she had gone through during that situation. “And if I didn’t irradiate her she would have been left there and her allies would have killed me before I got in the shuttle and left. Would you let yourself be killed by the allies of your enemy if there was a way you could prevent that?”

She frowned. “There’s no murder in war, Nicole. Either you kill or capture the enemy or they kill or capture you. I chose to not let myself end up in the latter category, and that’s why I’m here today. Besides, she would have survived and transferred her essence into a new body regardless as to the circumstances.” She concludes. “Sometimes one must do unfortunate things in war. That was one such thing.”

Vanessa waited to see how Sarah responded. This would be intriguing.

[member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"]

 

[Neyana]

She stopped a few feet away from her and turned around to face her. A fist balled up again. Vanessa's words were definitely true. War is hell. You make decisions based on personal gain and a chance at surviving it. Those words ran in her head for a few moments, and Nicole started to think. "Yes, Yes you are right. No one wants to die, or be captured. Every action comes with consequence. If we had this talk four years ago." She paused struggling to control her anger. "Oh, I, Don't actually want those thoughts in my head." Was that a threat? "War. War makes people do terrible things. It ruins friendships, destroys new ones. Puts a bias on peoples minds." Maybe it was a good thing that Nicole didn't give [member="Vanessa Vantai"] the location of where she's staying, or her contact information.

"Now if you'll excuse me. I'm going to think long and hard about your offer." And she went to depart once more, unless stopped.

 

[Onrai]

“I regret that we didn’t. Perhaps I would have been able to save you from a good deal of issues.” She said somberly. “War is an unfortunate aspect of reality, as much as I loathe admitting such - it is a cornerstone of our existence as sentient beings, to conflict with one another’s over ideology. But even the Jedi will admit that sometimes you must do what is necessary in order to survive. Survive or die.”

She watched as the woman left. Vanessa would say nothing, but would smile as she did so. Hopefully she would see her again in a couple of days.

[member="Nicole Sarah Feanor"]

 

[Neyana]

Same Cafe area, two days later.

Nicole is sitting down in the same area, sipping the same drink she had. She had thought long and hard over the deal [member="Vanessa Vantai"] gave her, but hearing about how she indirectly killed her sister is still fresh in her mind. The anger resides inside her. She should've punched her, but what good would that have done? Probably gather authorities to quell the uprising with her being arrested or even kicked off the planet. Soon she places her cup down and stares at the liquid inside it.

On one hand, she'll slowly get over her irrational fear of the Sith. On the other hand, she'll be working with a Sith who will possibly kill and harm her sister again. Her grits her teeth and gives out a rough sigh. Decisions, Decisions. "Why must life be this way?"