Cold Titles

[Riamah]

Helska a frozen wasteland that was worse for life than Vjun even. When it came to picking worlds...Ra got the short end of the stick. She didn't mind though. This allowed her to do whatever she wanted to do and nobody would notice or care really.

However Helska held a secret. A facility where Darktroopers could be created. So those had been being created, but they had yet to use them.

With almost as much secrecy that Vulps had for his home, she was the same about this facility. Knowing it had been a good amount of time since she had been there last, she arranged to travel there and invited Vullps to join her.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Stepping off of the ship, Vulpesen drew his coat tighter around himself while anear silent curse left his lips. Amar was a sunny world, and he had often found himself on places as sunny as Tatooine. In war, movement, grenades, and blaster fire all generated heat. To now be a in a place devoid of such heat was to say the least, uncomfortable. But this place was in someway important to Riamah. And having an interest in what interested her, he saw no other course of action than to join her here and see it for himself.

While Vulpesen called the force to ease the frigid blades of wind against his face, there was another presence, far more comfortable and warm. Unlike his larger bondmate, Ace lay cozy and warm within the pocket of Vulpesen's coat, his glowing azure form being untouched by the icy environment. And through the bond, Vulpesen could feel his relaxation, waves of drowsy warmth nudging at the back of his mind with the hint of dreams.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

She knew what to expect on Helska and was ready for it. Various layers of clothing and maybe even some extra items to keep her warm. Once inside the facility though, it would be marginally warmer and no cutting wind.

"Welcome to Hel...ska."

Spoken with humor and an ​emphasis on the first part of the name, she took a hold of Vulps' arm and lead him inside.

"Here you don't want to get caught outside for very long."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Such an inviting place." Vulpesen didn't often deal with such weather, but he did have ways to prepare himself. Not the kind to be burdened by layer upon layer of cloth, Vulpesen had instead trained himself to provide some amount of heat through the force. Still, his eyes wandered to the facility ahead, already imagining how much more comfortable it would be inside. Feeling Riamah's hand slip into his own, brought a smile to Vulpesen's lips, providing a welcome spot of warmth in the cool air. "I couldn't agree more." Stepping close to her, he followed his escort into the building, his tail tucking in close to keep him warm until they could enter through the warmth of the threshold.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"It could be worse...but not much. At least the snow won't eat your face off, just freeze body parts."

She may have to learn his trick on keeping warm, but it wasn't often Ra came to this location anymore.

"These people that live and work here are the ones that gave me the baroness title. It wasn't something I was born into. Not sure if that matters on anything. I don't really think so."

​Opening the doors in front of them, the sight greeting them was rather sterile. This was an ancient and former imperial base. Signs of those days remained, but most had been removed.

"Welcome to the Helska droid facility."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Freed from the pain of the breeze, and offered some respite from the icy environment, Vulpesen relaxed a bit, his tail moving from his waist to Ra's encircling it while he stepped a bit closer to her. "Hey, at least my planet is cute and cuddly when it eats your face... sometimes." Hearing her talk about her title, he fixed his eyes on her, occasionally glancing around to observe his surroundings. "A baroness is a baroness... I was born with a title, lost it, then got it back."

When he finally did draw his gaze away from the woman beside him, he looked around the facility, his eyes observing every part of the new environment. Vulpesen had never been a large fan of automation. People had a personal touch, something that couldn't be replaced by circuitry. Droids might have been efficient, but beings were creative. Still, he was impressed by the operations around him. "Quite the place. And what does being a baroness of a droid facility entail?"

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

Letting out a more of a nasal sounding chuckled, it wasn't a snort, but something that was really humorous.

"Those lizard things weren't very cute. Did I ever released one I trapped?"

Scratching at her face idly, she let out a growl and altered the angle of her fingertips. When he wrapped his tail around her and pulled her closer, her arm went around him in turn. Not yet used to using her tail like that, it was behind her.

When he looked around, he wouldn't actually see droid labor, but organics. These people were mostly refugees that Ra had taken in, given a life to and a paying job. They pieced together the droids that were made in the facility.

"Let me show you around."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"No, i don't think you did. I'm pretty sure we just left it there. But there's plenty more of them." He chuckled as she growled at her own finger, remembering that she was still adapting to her new form. The sight of organic beings working in the place was a pleasing one for him. Hard work and a hammer, earning their keep while adding that personal touch. With Ria's arm now coiling around his own wait, Vulpesen enjoyed the shared warmth within the cold hallway. "Lead the way."

 

[Riamah]

"Poor thing would be dead by now if the hell didn't kill it first. Nice to know there's not a reason to feel bad about it though."

As they walked, he might notice there were even children here. In the facility work center, there weren't, but in the commons area. While the parents were working, they kids gathered in the middle to were taking classes. Off to the side of the large room was something that looked totally out of place.

More or less a gypsy camp and it was here she lead Vulps.

"I think you will like this woman. She is one of a kind. That is Mother Maria."

She said this with a smile and as they approached a woman came out of the largest tent there. In her hands she held a tray that had three glasses on top.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Glancing around the area, Vulpesen smiled at the sight of the children learning from various teachers. It reminded him of his younger days, before he had set himself to traveling and exploring the galaxy and back when learning from Zarro had been his main goal in life. Returning his attention to [member="Riamah"]'s words, he cast his eyes to the tent,the very top of his tail flicking against her while the rest remained curled around her waist. "I look forward to meeting her. She must be quite a person to have impressed you like this." Watching as a woman emerged from the tent before them, Vulpesen offered a polite nod, though his eyes did linger on the glasses upon the tray. He wasn't sure who it was for, and he certainly wasn't about to assume that such beverages were his upon sight. Still, the burn of a good drink would help with the cold of the planet.

 

[Riamah]

"It's not just me that calls her that. Mother Maria is mother to everybody pretty much. It just is. You'll see. Just remember...she's not a Force user. Makes her even more special."

The older woman watched them come to her tented area and she bowed to both of them while holding that tray of drinks level. In a single movement, she opened the tent and invited them in.

"Welcome Valde, Baroness. I am Maria. Care for a drink?"

Holding the tray out, the woman knew without being told of Vulps what he was. She also already knew the answer he was going to give and held the tray out to him. She she did this, her eyes observed him carefully made notes about him.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's brow rose as she introduced herself, also naming his rank. With the tray being extended, Vulpesen reached out, gently plucking a glass from the tray with a polite smile. "I would, thank you." As much as she studied him, he was doing the same. Something about her drew his attention. Following her into the tent, Vulpesen drew his eyes from the woman only for a moment to take in the new surroundings. "I take it Riamah has told you about me." Without the force, this woman would have to be well informed if their mutual friend hadn't been the one to tell her about his title.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

As the balance of the tray shifted, Maria moved with it and adjusted her hold on it slightly. Clicking her tongue she shook her head at his statement about Ra having already told her about him.

"Not at all. The Baroness has been absent from our presence for quite some time. I just know things."

Holding that tray out to Ra to take her own glass, she then sat down and indicated for the two of them to join her. Around them, it would appear this home might be a temporary residence, but it wasn't. This was just how Maria liked to live.

"So what has brought you and the Baroness out this way?"

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen turned to Riamah for a moment, a smile forming on his lips. "You were right. She really is something." Lifting the drink to his lips, he took a small sip, settling down to get comfortable in his seat. "Honestly miss, I remembered Ria telling me about you when we first met. I figured I had showed her my life, my parents, children, and home. perhaps it was time I saw where she came from." He set the glass aside, leaning forward slightly in his seat. "If you don't mind, how exactly did you and her meet?"

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"She does not come from here. We are refugees given home and in payment we work here. Some, like myself have made this place home. Others leave when they are stable. People come and go, I will be remain."

Mother Maria is just beginning. Wait, there is more.

Maria turned her attention to Ra as this was done and she smiled as if she knew all about it.

"The two of you are not alone either."

Pointing to where Ace was and where Lya was on Ra, she waiting for them to come out. As if they were connected to Maria they both poked their heads out and looked at her. Taking out of her pocket small treats, she set them on the floor and turned her attention back to Vulps as Ra.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"I see. Well, I suppose some people are suited to different places." He himself couldn't imagine living in such a place. With the noise of construction, the freezing cold of the environment. It seemed to him to be, in a word, hell. But he was well aware that his home on Veradune could be seen as such in another's eyes. Then, as Maria called Ace and Lya out, Vulpesen couldn't help but tilt his head, watching as they enjoyed the treats. "Just who are you, Miss Maria?"
[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"If the Baroness had not taken us in, we would be refugees elsewhere. At least here, it is stable and while outside it is cold...in here it is warm. There is no hunger or war here. A lighthouse that calls in ships in the stormy weather of the galaxy. Here there is a peace."

Lya looked up between bites at Maria and was relaxed. Normally protective of Ra, she picked up on how she felt about the woman and that carried between them. Wanting to be picked up, she stood up on her hind legs. Maria put a hand down and Lya crawled into it to be lifted and placed on the woman's lap. Casually petting her she looked at Vulps, it was as if she could see through him.

"I am Mother Maria. That is who I am."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Momentarily keeping his eyes on Ace, Vulpesen watched as his friend curled up at Maria's feet, devouring the treat. "Interesting. Perhaps I should open Veradune in a similar manner. We've been a bit reclusive. But with Ra's connections, I think that perhaps we'll be getting ready to come out of hiding." He lifted his drink up for another sip, his tail flicking behind him as he enjoyed the warmth of the beverage sliding across his tongue. "What do you do here, if you don't mind my asking?"

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"I would not suggest opening your world in such a manner. The training you would have to put your visitors through would be too much of an expense for you I think and probably not something you have thought of. There is no problem coming out of hiding and it is a good time for it. Here it is best to keep this location secret. If your former empire learned of this facility, then they would just want what we produce. However, neither of you ever really fit that mold and for that we are thankful."

She would of course know about Ra and her past ties, but not Vulps. This being their first meeting. Ra had expected something like this from Maria and had tried to warn Vulps of her. Having kept quiet all this time, she was observing the exchange between Maria and Vulps. Enjoying every moment of him being slightly uncomfortable.

"Look around here, Valde. Here I am mother, that is what I do."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Our cities are rather safe from the dangers of the surrounding wilds. But I suppose you do have a point." He took a moment to think about his planet. For him, it was paradise. The wilds called to him and the dangers excited him. Within the walls there were safety, but the walls only reached so far. Thinking on her words, he did realize that outsiders coming to the home of the Vitae would have a bit of a learning curve.

"Mother Maria... I suppose it really is fitting." He relaxed a bit in his seat, though his eyes never left her. He had been through literal hell, crossed into other dimensions and realities. He'd faced gods of the force, and had done things with it that some wouldn't even think possible. But the woman before him, seemed to see it all without the power that had guided his life. We wondered what little birds whispered in her ears. Or perhaps, Ra was wrong. It was all a puzzle that he would love to solve. "Ra told me that you aren't sensitive to the force. Yet, you know things as only seers with such abilities should. If not for my time with her, I'd think she was either lying or mistaken."

[member="Riamah"]