Carida Finale: Let's Go Fly A Kite

[Ashin Varanin]

The station's observation deck was meant for VIPs. Today the lights were down low, and the massive, ornate room held...family. Chanting family.

​

He that will give good words to thee will flatter​

Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs,​

That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights you,​

The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,​

Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;​

Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no,​

Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,​

Or hailstone in the sun. ​

​

The chant swelled, the Force burgeoning against the bounds of propriety and probability. The Dark Side spoke of boundless contempt, and the chant's touch brought insidious fear. Qey'tek meditations fell aside, and the presence of the Rekalis touched the immaterial.

Your virtue is​

To make him worthy whose offence subdues him​

And curse that justice did it.​

Who deserves greatness​

Deserves your hate; and your affections are​

A sick man's appetite, who desires most that​

Which would increase his evil. ​

​

They'd come here innocuously enough, on chrome yachts meant for Coreward customers. After an undetected reconnaissance operation, Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps had leased part of the Carida shipyard complex -- and, quietly and recently, Clan Rekali had taken control of Theed Hangar. Eventually, someone would clue in that the Rekalis had Theed and Theed had part of Carida, but it hadn't happened yet, and now it was entirely too late.

He that depends​

Upon your favours swims with fins of lead​

And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust Ye?​

With every minute you do change a mind,​

And call him noble that was now your hate,​

Him vile that was your garland. ​

Due to wartime priorities, Theed Hangar had only been able to procure a few slips scattered around the shipyard complex. That worked out well. From the observation deck, via panoramic glasteel, Ember and his fellow chanters could see each of those slips. And the gorgeous yachts in them. And the unexceptional pieces of technology within the bellies of those yachts.

What's the matter,​

That in these several places of the city​

You cry against the noble senate, who,​

Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else​

Would feed on one another? What's their seeking?​

The sarcastic, vicious chant rose to a cataclysm. Somewhere out there, Ember knew, people were getting kind of nervous for no reason at all.

 

[Malok]

Death.

The reality of passing into the next world is something all men face. However, there is a vast difference between peacefully slipping into the beyond...and being ripped from the waking world. When the latter occurs, a void is left behind: a hole in the hearts of loved ones that nothing can ever hope to fill. Such depths are prime hovels for the Dark Side to dwell; alongside machinations of wrath and vengeance. [member="Ember Rekali"] had been faced with this pain. His children, the little lights that brightened their sire's face, had been systematically terminated by war. One by one, holes were torn into his heart and soul.

And at Roche, he had enough. His last child...his baby...was gone.

Darth Metus could sympathize with the agony. Having lost a child himself, he and the void were no strangers. The Sith Lord knew full well what to expect in the wake of such a tragedy. Vengeance. Upon learning of what had transpired, Metus made the journey across the stars to Carida. He utilized the means provided by his old friend, covered his tracks, and was presently one of the voices which commanded the Force. Boldly did his tongue lash, bidding the Dark Side to do his will. Rekali blood had been spilt. The pain of a comrade had been realized.

Res Publica Delenda Est.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Ember Rekali"] | [member="Darth Metus"]

What happens when the people that connect you to the world are taken from you? What do you become? Something more? Something less than a man? The truth was that Samael Rekali didn't know how to handle Ember's descend into the darkness. When they were younger lads fighting in the Sith Wars it had been Ember who had pulled him back from the brink, but now that the roles were reversed... he wasn't sure if he could do the same. Wasn't sure if he should do the same. Sam had never really cared much about lightsides, darksides or any other color on the spectrum - The Force just was and what mattered was what you were doing with it, what your intent was.

Slippery slope, but that thang was always a fallacy to him. Point was: to pull him back was to become a hypocrite.

Once ya kids are gone, killed dead by negligence or worse by ruthless intent, it changes ya. You become something else, didn't matter if you were a wielder of the Force or just a lad with a hammer and eyes of fury. Naw, this wasn't something a fethton of Force Light would solve.

"Ready." Sam whispered over the comm. Even without mastery of the Force Sam was one of the finest instinctive astrogation experts of Clan Rekali, nowhere near Merrill-levels, but for this little job... his, the Vahla and him would do just fine... just fine indeed.

A chatter of mixed voices entered his ear. All ready.

Now it was just on for Ember to signal the beginning.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Samael Rekali"] [member="Darth Metus"]

"Copy that, Sam," said Ember quietly. "Engaging Ganker Limpets now."

The yachts' payloads engaged as one: massive hyperdrives, linked together, originating from points around the perimeter of the shipyard complex. In an instant, Ember's view turned to starlines and then the blue-white of hyperspace. Ganker Limpets, even with the yachts' fuel supplies to draw from, couldn't go more than a few thousand light-years. Fortunately, Carida was not only close to the Republic's border, it was right beside a beautiful little place called the Ringali Shell. Only a handful of routes penetrated the dense nebula. That was where Sam and the astrogators came in, and the Calypho Compasses, and the Rekali clan's absolutely unsurpassed expertise at nebular hypernavigation. They weren't using any charted course, which meant recalculating their jump to follow them would take a couple of hours; guessing that jump's endpoint would be impossible.

He touched the intercom shunt, and the chant -- with its associated Force terror -- rolled through the entire shipyard.

How yet resolves the governor of the town?​

This is the latest parle we will admit;​

Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves;​

Or like to men proud of destruction​

Defy us to our worst: for, as I am a soldier,​

A name that in my thoughts becomes me best,​

If I begin the battery once again,​

I will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur​

Till in her ashes she lie buried.​

The gates of mercy shall be all shut up,​

And the flesh'd soldier, rough and hard of heart,​

In liberty of bloody hand shall range​

With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass​

Your fresh-fair virgins and your flowering infants.​

What is it then to me, if impious war,​

Array'd in flames like to the prince of fiends,​

Do, with his smirch'd complexion, all fell feats​

Enlink'd to waste and desolation?​

What is't to me, when you yourselves are cause,​

If your pure maidens fall into the hand​

Of hot and forcing violation?​

What rein can hold licentious wickedness​

When down the hill he holds his fierce career?​

We may as bootless spend our vain command​

Upon the enraged soldiers in their spoil​

As send precepts to the leviathan​

To come ashore. Therefore, you men of Harfleur,​

Take pity of your town and of your people,​

Whiles yet my soldiers are in my command;​

Whiles yet the cool and temperate wind of grace​

O'erblows the filthy and contagious clouds​

Of heady murder, spoil and villany.​

If not, why, in a moment look to see​

The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand​

Defile the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters;​

Your fathers taken by the silver beards,​

And their most reverend heads dash'd to the walls,​

Your naked infants spitted upon pikes,​

Whiles the mad mothers with their howls confused​

Do break the clouds, as did the wives of Jewry​

At Herod's bloody-hunting slaughtermen.​

What say you? will you yield, and this avoid,​

Or, guilty in defence, be thus destroy'd?​

The shipyard decanted in the trackless Ringali Shell, the first step of many, and escape pods began to fountain from the complex.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Metus"] [member="Samael Rekali"]

Ember's old heart hammered nervously; even as old and mad as he was, he couldn't keep nervousness at bay. But the jump turned into another and another, corkscrewing an untraceable new-carved course out of the Ringali Shell, onboard fuel tanks feeding the Ganker Limpets. He had no doubt the Republic had an instinctive astrogator or two, maybe enough to catch up with this trailblazing escape, but he had a choir of them, and Calypho compasses to boot. And so far, nobody had shown up, not at any stage of this long and complex operation. The Rekalis tore hyperspace mass shadows aside, smoothing tangles viciously, and the shipyard complex kept fountaining escape pods. Some were terrified enough to pull the plug while in hyperspace; passage through the wavefront tore them apart. Most just left the station in its realspace reorientation points. Eventually someone would come by and pick up all these people in deep space, sooner or later, probably. In the meantime, the station exited the Ringali Shell and entered neutral territory.

At which point twelve hundred metres of Clan Rekali capital ship escorted it across the Mandalorian border.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

THEED HANGAR - NABOO​

"Green energy and sustainable materials are all well and good, Dex, but we're talking about massive conventionally-fuelled overhead to get those materials. Or do you think the Rekalis use solarium globes to go whaling in the Hard Roil? Because that's what we're talking about." Ajira tapped the sample of specially-treated neebray manta leather -- a multilayered cross-section of just about the strangest thing she'd ever seen. It sat in a silver bowl on the elegant Theed boardroom table, like someone had forgotten their lunch. And it smelled. "We're talking about wholesale slaughter for prestige. It doesn't look good. It costs way far too much. The same goes for Ithullan Colossus Wasp carapaces and -- Force, Brath Qellan biotic hyperdrives. It's so far off base I can't even fathom it. It is not the Theed aesthetic, and what's more, it's sucking the profits from the Panaka, the Amidala, and the Apailana."

"And I agree with you," said Dexeron Pwall, Chief Shipwright of Theed Hangar. "But at this particular juncture, I'm not going to be the one to tell Mademoiselle Rekali in so many words. Are you?"

"In so many words," said Ajira grimly. "If her father-" She bit that off.

"Field Marshal Rekali is her grandfather. But either way, he doesn't seem inclined to rein her in. Theed Hangar is part of her...finishing school."

She's nearly the last thing he's got left. Of course he'd indulge her. Ajira shoved the neebray manta-leather away and sat down heavily. "Dex, this substance has potential. But not for us. It's not what we do. She has to see that, has to. I don't care how many presentation decks it's going to take." Maybe even a mind trick, though it would have to be surpassingly subtle. "She-"

The door opened, and Ajira cut off. In leaned Bertho, another shipwright. "Dex, Ajira -- you need to see this. HoloNet News, right now."

"Sit down before you vomit, Bertho," said Dex, keying up the boardroom's holoprojector.

Then the three of them sat and watched with increasingly wide eyes as commentators examined the aftermath of Carida. Specifically, of Clan Rekali using Theed Hangar's nonsensical new presence there as cover to somehow steal the entire Republic shipyard. It was long gone, vanished into the Ringali Shell, not along any known paths. Ajira sat back, drumming her fingers on the table, tasting the rage and frustration throughout the hangar complex.

"Bertho," she said mock-casually, though in truth she felt a good portion of the same irritation, "you still have that comm number for Yavin...?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer had arrived a few weeks prior to all of this. Something had called her to Theed and she had holed herself up near the city. Fond memories of learning sword play with Ashin on her family’s estate - they had grown closer before that, close enough Ashin had decided to share with her about her family on Naboo. It hurt being back on the planet, knowing that her family was here and probably didn’t know that the woman had passed on. Though, would it be her place to announce her death? Spencer shook her head while she ran her fingers through her blonde hair. The ring reflected against the light in the area, despite the death she wasn’t ready to remove the ring.

Time had passed and Spencer had given up hope. She still felt Ashin’s conscious out in the galaxy and Theed seemed to be the focal point, but nothing gave her the hope that she had been searching for. The mentalist was starting to wonder if her own sorrow was playing tricks on her. Spencer paused, being near the shipyards - with her mind being blown open on Lujo, she was overly sensitive to the surrounding use of the Force. Someone had used a dark sided skill and that person was recognizable. Inhaling deeply she quickly reminded herself that Ashin wasn’t a mentalist and it wouldn’t be her.

Still, the thirst for action to distract from her sorrow outweighed everything. She quickly moved towards the hanger to investigate the situation.

[member="Ajira Cardei"] [member="Ember Rekali"] [member="Samael Rekali"] [member="Darth Metus"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

THEED HANGAR - NABOO

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

Never let it be said that Ash- That Ajira had much in the way of skill at sensing things. An ongoing Quey'tek meditation, to hide her presence, took most of her attention. She'd been careless, though, used a mind trick. She needed to make a good solid Force disperser one of these days.

Her focus remained on the HoloNet broadcast. The Rekalis' plan was clear enough. They had bought Theed Hangar and traded on its reputation to make inroads in the Core, all as a cover for a massive heist. Rescued shipyard crewers raved at the camera -- they spoke of overwhelming fear and chanting over the intercom. Dark. Darker than the Rekalis had ever been, but that was before the last of Ember's children died.

And though Ajira could appreciate the magnitude of his rage, this plan had clearly started long before Aaralyn Rekali bit hard vacuum off Roche. Which meant Ajira's sympathy had its limits.

She hung up the holocomm and sat back again. Her Yavin contact hadn't given her a solution, but she'd been able to pass along a message. She batted possibilities around with Dex and Brendo and the other execs watching the boardroom holoscreen. Consensus: they needed an investor to pick up the difference between valuation and their combined resources. This was, it seemed, happening.

Ajira went outside to one of the hangar's many balconies, looking out over the tall cliff and the rolling plains. She stretched out to the Force for insight, even if she expected none. Subtly, though: Theed had long been home to Force-sensitives of many traditions.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Theed Hanger - Naboo

Spencer made it towards the front gate area and stopped suddenly. Someone was reaching out with in the force, looking for some sort of solace? SPencer knew that feeling all to well especially as of recent. A part of her felt abandoned by the all knowing being known as the Force. Wasn’t it supposed to protect its children? Standing, she tried to not focus so hard on the searches of others in the force, there had been too many times before she had convinced herself it was Ashin. Then she was confronting a poor soul rambling off things that only Ashin would know. Of course this would either get her arrested or beat with a purse of some sort.

It had gotten to the point that Spencer had wondered if she was losing her mind. The Force Insanity and what she had summoned from her subconscious could have driven her insane without her realizing it. Once again, she found herself drawn to the source of the Force and stopped herself. It felt so familiar something that she had felt before. Tapping her forehead several times, she quickly and somewhat painfully reminded herself that it wasn’t Ashin and she should begin to move on with her life.

Taking a deep breath, the least she could do is provide some sort of help to this person who was seeking answers in the force. Heading up towards the shipyards, she did a little mind trick here and there and found her way into the more restricted and fun places. Mind tricks were child’s play and she continued to try and find her way towards the individual that called out in the Force. [member="Ajira Cardei"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

THEED HANGAR - NABOO

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

She'd never had the long-term subtlety of a Moridin, at least not in a technical sense. That old fether had been a Republic Senator -- months or years under Quey'tek presence-shielding. For her, for Ajira, that kind of concealment started wearing thin after a few weeks. She re-wove the Quey'tek web, leaning on the railing. The semicircular balcony and the long fall reminded her deeply of the Spires of Hell, where she'd trained the Fringe.

A door opened behind her as her Force presence finally went from negligible to nil. She clamped down harder, though it didn't matter; she'd eliminated her signature utterly. But had it been in time, or was she just grasping at straws in case she'd messed this up? The Force was twisting, she realized, warping in an understated but, ultimately, familiar way.

Oh, that changed everything.

She turned -- a tall, dark-skinned woman in formal Naboo businesswear -- and leaned against the balcony, facing the new arrival. She bit her lip, folded her arms, and said nothing.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Theed Hanger - Naboo

The signature disappeared. Spencer stopped and paused for a moment as she adjusted the old jacket that she had found in Ashin’s closet when she was going through the woman’s things looking for items to help boost her connection. Realizing that she couldn’t just magically learn the kiffar skill or some other sort of Force Power she gave up. People had suggested in cleaning out Ashin’s things from her closet, but something made it too final for her.

Folding her arms, she entered the room and came face to face with a mocha skinned woman. With Ajira pulling her force presence in ward, Spencer fully came to the conclusion that she was wrong with her assumption and instantly lost hope. Silence was between them as she stared at the woman in business attire. “I…” Spencer tried to figure out how to explain things, but how would you explain the fact that you’re looking all over the galaxy for your wife that had died during the invasion on Lujo. Oh on top of that, she transfer essence and you don’t know for a fact if it worked or not.

Yeah there’s no explaining that.

Spencer wrapped her arms around herself as she forced a laugh the best she could and raised her eyebrows as she sighed softly. Her knees felt weak as she just wanted to run and get out of the shipyard. This could end rather badly for her, she could end up again in the Theed Jail - which Hilda had promised a rather fun time for her if she returned. A shudder mentally shook Spencer as she remembered how the Boltrunian woman looked at her like she was a piece of meat.

“I must have made a wrong turn. Somewhere, but…” Spencer decided to just try. “I think someone needed help - I’m - I...yeah I think someone was trying to find help or something, maybe?” Spencer played back what she just said and began to mentally prepare herself for Hilda...

[member="Ajira Cardei"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Theed Hangar - Naboo

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

Ajira turned away, hunching over the ornate stone rail. Behind her, in the hangar offices, her fellow execs debated at the top of their lungs. Her eyes prickled.

"I didn't mean for it to take this long," she said. "For me to be ready, in control." She turned around. Force, but Spencer looked -- so many things. Beautiful. Sad. Tired. Bitter. And a good portion of that felt like Ajira's fault, Ashin's fault, for getting in over her head and dying, then spending weeks on the hunt for just the right corporeal form.

Guilt settled over Ajira like a familiar robe. She let out a long breath and mustered a smile. Inside, Theed Hangar was in revolt. That would take some fixing, and Ajira Cardei would be missed in there.

"Hey, Spence."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Theed Hanger - Naboo

“Hey Spence”

Spencer blinked, the woman knew her name and the way she said it made everything hurt again. It didn’t sound like her and it wasn’t her face. Though it was an odd coincidence that she knew who she was. Spencer put a hand to her face as she closed her eyes and continued to mull things over leaving Ajira in silence. A part of her was ready to accept Ashin never coming back, but her heart continued to hold on.

There was a hiccup, and then tears started to well up in her eyes. She was tired, she felt so defeated and to know that by accident she had stumbled upon Ashin’s hiding place made her overwhelmed. It was like when they had met back on the starliner. Everything was an accident planned out once again they had stumbled across each other. Fingers recoiled and made a fist against her lips as she hiccuped again, the tears finally falling.

“H-how do you know my name?” She wanted to be sure, she couldn’t put her hopes up to high, if she was wrong - it would kill her. [member="Ajira Cardei"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

THEED HANGAR - NABOO

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

"On one level, hope is fundamentally silly. But so's unnecessary pessimism." She unfolded her arms. "It's me, Spence. I'll take you out of town and drop the Quey'tek concealment-"

Behind Spencer, the door opened again. "Ajira," said Bertho. "Dex wants you. They're going over the bylaws for the-" He glanced at the blonde, then did a double-take. "Excuse me," he said after a moment. "Sorry to interrupt. We just need Ajira for a bit, and you-" A chuckle. "You strongly resemble the Vagrant Queen of Eshan." He extended a hand to shake. "Bertho Ver Dan. I'm a shipwright here at the hangar. I see you've met Ajira. Can I help you find anything?" Past Spencer's shoulder, he met Ajira's eyes and indicated that she should get inside. And they needed her, and her cover identity would go inside now.

"It was lovely to meet you, Your Majesty," said Ajira with a bow, and Bertho hastily withdrew the hand and bowed as well. "Bertho, tell Dex that I'm with a new prestige client, and tell him to check the wording on section thirty-two besh. It might give us the cover we need." Not that she'd examined how to stage a hostile takeover or anything.

Bertho hurried off. The glass door snicked shut behind him.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Theed Hanger - Naboo

Those words, little quips like that were something she was used to hearing from Ashin. They were part of the woman’s charm. Spencer bit down on the end of her thumb as she hiccuped once again. No one ever said she cried pretty, Spencer felt to much to hold herself back and cry like the holofilm actresses. Of course though when she heard the door open and a voice echo behind her she wiped her eyes quickly and smiled towards the man. He had recognized her, people usually didn’t recognize her much anymore - she had kept to herself. Vagrant, probably one of the more nicer words for her wandering away from Eshan - who by the way was being ruled by a woman who looked exactly like Spencer and commanded everything Spencer had ordered her to do. Of course before she could say anything Ajira stepped in and spoke. A prestigious client, how interesting.

The door closed and Spencer looked back at the woman and took a few steps forwards away from the door and closer to the woman. There was something that wasn’t of the Force that told her to believe, that there was a possibility. Ashin always came home - it’s what she always had done. Part of Spencer felt guilty for that, she was that tie, that tether that kept her coming back. The hand fell from her face then wiped any stray tears from her face. “You’ve been gone longer than before hand. I’ve...looked everywhere. I thought I was going crazy thinking I felt you - when I didn’t. I want to hope and I want to believe, but with how this journey has turned out - its hard to believe. I felt it, this was different than the other times.” Spencer choked on her own words for a moment and then regained her composure. “I felt as if my heart was ripped from my chest. I was so scared and then feeling you, feeling you leave Lujo.”

“I don’t know, every part of my body wants me to believe, I want to believe so much that you are you - it just feels like a dream…” It was the best way she could put it, she had constant dreams about this and coming to Theed was the direct outcome from those dreams. “It sounds like you have a lot going on here, can you leave town?” [member="Ajira Cardei"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Theed Hangar - Naboo

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

"I didn't want to be away this long, believe me. It took weeks to get here, even with all my bonds to this world. Navigating Chaos is no easy trick. I had to pick the right host -- this is Ajira Cardei, a distant cousin of mine. Tall, strong, attractive, well-positioned, decent net worth, combat-capable, and she always treated my mother like dren. Her spirit took a good while to rip out and throw away, and then I had to get used to her life. Ajira Cardei was on sabbatical for the last while, just came back; it'd be very odd to leave again. What it wouldn't be is odd for her to entertain a prestige client. Especially if it can be claimed that the client has an interest in investing. Ajira worked -- I work -- for Theed Hangar, in case that wasn't blindingly clear."

The more she switched to practical matters, the more she could avoid crying herself. For relief, but also for shame that she'd brought Spencer that much sadness. Feth. "The Rekali clan owns a majority of the Hangar," she explained, "but they just used us as cover to steal the Republic's last serious shipyard, and the senior staff are planning a hostile buyout. There's also an issue with an ongoing non-technological ship project, a money sink that's aimed at the Dathomiri and ATC. The project needs to die, or find a new form, or it's going to bleed the Hangar dry. Ajira Cardei can't possibly leave town right now.

"That said, I do have an office..."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Theed Hanger - Naboo [member="Ajira Cardei"]

Practical things and business made Spencer’s mind shift from her thoughts. She was still the Queen of Eshan and the planet had a good amount of money – money that she had kept for herself as well. Initially that money put aside was to send Ibaris to college, but it seemed the girl had other plans. Running around the galaxy, gallivanting with some boy who couldn’t tell his head from his foot, and getting herself into more trouble that she could imagine. Spencer stopped with her motherly concerns and looked at the girl’s life and laughed. A chuckle escaped her lips as she shook her head.

Ibaris was no different than Spencer at her age. Running off with a strange woman from a Starliner, trekking through different planet systems, and getting into things over her head. Ibaris didn’t fall too far from the tree – she had Ashin and Spencer as parents. So the money wasn’t going to go to any use – she was considered a prestigious client maybe something can come out of this brief meeting. Her mind mulled over the details of the money situations and business opportunities and the like. Everything though came to a stop when Ashin, no Ajira had mentioned her office. That tone, the way she looked back at the blonde, and the way that after all of the business that option was there. Spencer wasn’t as innocent as she used to be when they first met, she knew exactly what this woman was getting at. Fingertips brushed stray strands of blonde hair behind Spencer’s ear as she looked towards Ajira.

She was right, the body and face were attractive, strong and everything that Ashin was no matter what body she was in. What made the deal even better was that the soul that resided inside of the body was one she felt she knew many lifetimes over. That hope began to outweigh the pessimism and Spencer allowed herself to give in. A weight began to fall from her shoulders and she moved closer to the business woman. The initial distance gone, she stood near her and she could feel her heart racing, Spencer played along, feeling as if they never missed a step. “I’m positive it’s a nice office, I am the Queen of Eshan, I do have money. It would be in your best interest and the hanger’s interest to entertain me to your fullest.” A look that she had only reserved for Ashin stared back at the woman, surrendering to the hope and slowly a hand reached out running her fingertips lightly against Ajira’s arm…

 

[Ashin Varanin]

THEED PALACE - NABOO

The blonde's chuckle eased Ajira's heart. The step and the touch and the emphasis told her the worst was over. "As you command, of course, Your Majesty," said Ajira with a professional smile. The doors behind Spencer were glasteel, and every now and again a hangar functionary walked by. Ajira held Spencer's gaze and stepped past her to open the door.

Bertho met them just inside, down one of the ornate blue-marble halls. "Ajira, Your Majesty?"

"Her Majesty has expressed interest in backing our little...remixing effort. She and I were about to discuss the particulars in my office. Tell Dex, won't you?"

"Right away." The functionary scurried off in a stately fashion, to tell Dex and the other executives that Ajira had found the investor they'd been seeking.

Ajira's office overlooked the city of Theed -- its numerous universities, its elegant monuments, dominated by a green-and-gold color scheme over natural stone. Evening brought out the lights. Ajira locked the door, but left the balcony open -- her office had a balcony of its own, festooned with vines. She turned off her terminal, which was currently charting the fall of a paramilitary contractor called Ke'dem.

"What do you think?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

Theed Palace – Naboo [member="Ajira Cardei"]

Spencer watched as Ajira took care of the minor details, setting things up so that they weren’t disturbed again by the men of the building. Seems her interest in backing whatever needed to be backed was welcomed easily enough that no questions were asked. This only meant that this need was heavily outweighed by the why. Spencer remained quiet until she was addressed again. Heading out onto the balcony she examined the lush green that was Naboo and Theed. A hand moved over the vegetation and small flowers sprouted along the vines and she smiled softly. It had been a long time since she had used that particular force power for something of beauty.

“It’s beautiful, a better view than your last office on Annaj.” A soft smile and she glanced back at Ajira. The feeling was the same, but looking into another’s eyes felt different this time around. Looking away back out towards the view she sighed softly. “I remember when we came here and you taught me how to use a lightsaber – of course it didn’t’ do much, but I stopped nearly cutting my own head off.” Spencer laughed as she pushed herself from the balcony and faced Ajira. Slowly, she shrugged the jacket off and rested it on the balcony. It became apparent that most of the attire that Spencer was wearing had belonged to Ashin at one point.

Though it wasn't uncommon for her to raid the woman’s closet, she was childlike in this aspect doing so when she missed her lover. Fingers played with her wedding ring, something that had never left her hand despite the circumstances. Leaning back on the balcony she smiled softly, having finally given into the hope she knew she couldn’t go back from this point. “So are you going to just stand there or are we going to work out the details of our interests?”

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

Ashin had last seen her wedding band, like her sword, lightsabre, pistol and armour, when she died on Lujo. Same went for her crusading Dark Jedi army, Ke'dem, most of whom were now signing on with Clan Rekali. Same went for her ship, the Vagrant's Pride, though Spencer probably had that. Of all the things she'd lost, the wedding band irked her the most.

So she'd remade it.

She untied her outer robe and let it fall in the doorway. Beneath, she wore a slip - and a plain silvery ring on a chain. No Kaiburr shard, just a chip of durindfire.

Evening air prickled her skin. Normally she swore by Herglic Freudian Slips, mildly alchemised against cold, but this one was just silk. No magic involved.

She wet her lips and stepped out onto the office balcony. A fresh breeze kicked up. She found the last step hard to take; same went for words.