Diamonds and Guns [Sio]

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

She could not help but grin a little, as she considered the weapons she will be purchasing for the Silver Order. At the mention of armour and vehicles Coci's eye lifted toward Sio. "I think when I get home, Thurion will know better than to send me on a shopping spree. I remember the walkers, slow as all walkers are but they did the job. Yes I will be interested in those to purchase. Armour ..? there is never enough armour to have have at ones disposal".

Coci looked down at the incapacitated creature once more, while she considered the volume of the order she was about to place. "I believe all the weapons, you have demonstrated to me today we will place an order, There is a certain group within the Order that would benefit from the Shadow Rifle. However, I might 'leave' that part of the order off the official placement. Armour and walkers as well I shall require".

"I think I have seen enough and am pleased with what I have witnessed. Shall we head back?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]


Siobhan raised an amused eyebrow. "Shopping spree. Oh, come on, if we were going on one this would just be the warm-up. I should take you to Ashira's Mall or The Lady's Haven. So many fun clothes to buy. I'm sure Thurion would like the outfits," she said, chuckling slightly. After all, shopping was fun. Well, Siobhan thought so. She was just not that good at keeping track of her money, which was why she tended to be accompanied by one of her attendants.


Usually Harmony received the pleasure of accompanying her. "We can head back now, sure. Pleasure doing business with you. I'll place the orders and you can look forward to getting lots of toys from Firemane soon. We have a factory on Etti, so so we can get it done in a timely manner. We could even eventually set up facilities in Silver space." Having said these words she exerted her telekinetic will upon the stunned lizard to and with the power of the Force freed it from the net that had covered it.


The lizard, which was obviously still not at full strength, hissed, but then Siobhan took Coci's hand and through the power of Force handwavium both of them lifted into the air until they were once again gliding above the forest and flying back to the villa. "You want to stay for dinner?" Siobhan asked as a warm breeze swept towards them. "And are you familiar with Jesters? They're lovely little furries native to Kaeshana, available as pets."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"Lady's Haven, could be Thurion's Heaven", she grinned at her own silly joke. "Actually, one day take me there and we will shop. I may be Jedi but I am also woman", she grinned more. "I grew up on Corellia, *sigh*, as part of one of the remain Houses from the Old Corellian Empire. House Sinopi. The estate which I inherited destroyed along with all the people that looked after me as a child. I was being groomed to take over when I came of age, I never wanted for anything, had the best clothes, food and all manner of items .. I was spoiled. But when I came of age, I had matured and my purpose in life changed dramatically and I left that life behind. But there is a part of me that still like the finer things in life, womans undergarment one of them". Her grinned had turned into a smile. Yes Thurion would like that, oh he might disapprove initially but it would not take too much convincing for him to appreciate the benefits of such a shopping spree.

An interesting proposal Sio made in her interest of setting up Firemane in Silver Space, Coci liked the idea but she could not make a unilateral decision but a proposal to the Silver Council would be a good step. "Firemane could indeed spread out to Silver Space, and I can see the benefits of that not only for Silver Order but more importantly for the local people of whatever planet it would be established. As much as we do not get involved in industry we are not blind to the advantages of having large corporations operating in and around systems".

The next thing Coci knew they were flying again, the wind hitting her face a little cooler this time, but no less invigorating. She doubted she could ever get sick of this method of flying.

"I would love to stay for dinner, that would be a pleasure. But I have not heard of Jesters? and I know some kids that would love something furry".

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]


Now that this has been said, a Siobhan!Coci shopping trip definitely has to happen! "I see. Didn't know the Sinopis were Corellian nobles. I'm sorry about what happened to your homeworld. Fething Ayden and Akala did a number on it. At least that queen Akala finally got what she deserved," she said. "I came from the gutter, same as Tegs. We had to fight to get to the top." Perhaps she had a bit of a complex, but the fact that she had worked to get to her current position was important to Siobhan. She gave Coci a nod, acknowledging her words and feeling pleased about the possibility of Firemane setting up shop in Silver space. They would just need to find a suitable world for a factory and presumably have a chat with the local national authorities since, as far as Siobhan understood it, the Silvers did not directly, no matter how much this writer would like Jedi Lords!


"Jesters are nice little furries, kind of tiny. Firefarm sells them as pets. They're really cuddly and can broadcast their feelings via telepathy and even communicate in a very limited manner. So when they're happy, so are people around them. Word of warning, they have a supercharged metabolism and always want to eat. So don't leave one alone in your kitchen for too long!"


she said cheerfully as they left the forest behind them. Soon they would be gliding over the villa and then slowly descend upon the beautiful garden. "I have a little Jester called Grrbyrr. He's really adorable. He'll probably come running to us once he smells food," she joked.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"What you have done with your life is nothing short of amazing, so much could have gone different for you. It does for a lot of people in similar circumstances. The amount of poverty throughout the galaxy is appalling quiet frankly considering the amount of wealth that is spread throughout it as well. I remember my time on Coruscant, when with the Republic and the Jedi Order, I had a lot of dealings in the lower levels, had lots of contacts for my duty there and life was grim to say the least. It constantly irked me that the Republic did little to assist. It was/is like the lower levels did not exist".

Coci followed Sio as they moved back toward her beautiful home. "And now Corellian has displaced people, many there that are struggling to eat let alone try and make a living. The place is all but unlivable", she sighed once more, remembering her recent visit with Grand Master Raaf and Thurion and two others. She will have to get back there and help somehow.

"The Jesters sound great, [member="Nina Heavenshield"] would love one I know it, not sure about my son", she giggled. "He might consider them a bit girly, but our home is filling up with many mouths to feed, which is something of a delight, especially to [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]". Oh how the thought of him makes her smile, and she now wears a silly grin on her face, yes Sio and herself must go shopping and soon.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]


"One of the many reasons I left the Republic before being a rogue was the cool and trendy thing to do amongst Jedi." Siobhan gave Coci a nod as they headed towards the villa. Back during her time with the Republic's Jedi, she had spent a lot of time in the lower wards of Coruscant. The poverty and misery there stood in such stark contrast to the magnificience of the senatorial upper class and even the Jedi Temple. Admittedly the Jedi were a monastic order that did not personally profit, but the more cynical side of her could not help that they did more for the upper classes than for the common people.


Of course, she was an aristocrat these days and the Eldorai had a very autocratic system, but she had not forgotten her roots. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why she was so eager to take in the waifs and strays of the Galaxy. "Firemane's helping [member="Coryth Elaris"] to set up a non-profit company. It's supposed to provide medical aid and education for the needy, disaster relief and humanitarian aid in case of natural disasters or war. Still an ongoing project, but she's very passionate about it because she grew up in poverty," she said warmly. "Maybe you two could work together on this." She had not yet mentioned that soon Kaeshana would be suffering a similar fate as Corellia.


Speaking of Jesters, the most delightful and adorable Jester ever was not far from the two lovely ladies once they entered the villa and headed towards the dining room. Having evidently noticed their coming, he snuck after Siobhan and eyed the newcomer with his beady little eyes. Scuttling forward Grrrbyrr approached the pair and nuzzled Coci's leg. < Hungry! > he declared telepathically, with as much politeness and warmth a little Jester was capable of.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"Oh this is a Jester?", she asked crouching down to pat the hungry little creature. Most delightful and cute indeed and Coci knew she had to have one for the kids. However, the Jester could not take away her attention from Sio entirely. She spoke of how between Firemane and Master [member="Coryth Elaris"], a very respectible master she had meet on Tygara. Coci looked back up into Sio's face.

"That is a good idea. Although I doubt that we could do anything for Corellia considering how has control over the planet, but maybe finding a place for displaced Corellians on another might be something to develop".

Coci stood up, "I guess we need to find this little furry one some food", she smiled yes the jester was lovely. "And I could do with some as well".

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]


"Agreed. Corellia and all those other planets under Sith tyranny can't be helped unless the barbarians are driven out and that hasn't worked well so far! But there's lots of displaced people from Corellia and other worlds who could use aid and a new home. I'll give you Cory's number," she said.


Meanwhile, the adorable little Jester seemed to find the conversation quite boring. There were far more important things to talk about and do! Such as feeding him. So Grrbyrr looked up eagerly when Coci patted him and then licked her hand, nuzzling her. << Yes feed! Starving. Me Grrbyrr. Like you! >>


Siobhan just shook her head. "You're always hungry, Grrbyrr. And I'm quite certain you just had a good helping not so long ago. What's the magic word?" she asked before she bent down and picked the little furry up. He was way too cute for her to ever be really cross with him.


The Jester looked at her with his big beady eyes, before trying and failing at eating her sleeve, which earned him a cross look. It might have been edible! << Please >> he finally conceded, a bit grudgingly. Aww, he was so cute!


"There we go. He's affectionate once you feed him. Key with Jesters is to feed them in small doses till they lose interest. Give them a big meal and then they'll still feel like they're hungry," while she said these words she guided the two of them into the dining room. Pretty Eldorai servant girls were already in the process of putting various delightfully smelling dishes onto the table along with drinks. Seeing the beautiful sight before him Grrbyrr almost managed to jump out of Sio's grasp and onto the table. Such a naughty Jester he was.


Still...too cute to be really cross with. With a tug of the Force Siobhan picked up an apple from a bowl and guided it into her grasp. Somehow despite his small size the Jester managed to swallow it all. This seemed to cheer him up a bit and due to the Jester's little limited empathy, this feeling would bleed over to the people in the room. Of course, he was still hungry! "Sit down, Coci. I'll put him in his pen and give him some food before he jumps into our meal."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

The little Jester snuggled up against Coci's leg and spoke to her of it's hunger. Coci had a smile on her face, very much intrigued by the smallish creature. It is very fluffy and cute and she defied anyone that would see the Jester to not love it. She stroked it's long fur which felt soft to the touch, and knew that her entire family would fall in love with one of their own.

"I will remember that advice", she said looking up to Sio with a smile.

They entered the dinning room the Jester leading the way finding the food. Sio left to place the little creature away so they could eat and talk more in peace. Coci found a seat at the table, the smell of the prepared food found her nose and it all smelt delicious.

However, she would await her hostess before taking part in the food offered. Coci took the opportunity to look around the dinning room, decorated with opulance but within good taste, a room in which Coci is not familiar of late, as Jedi dine in less opulant surroundings. But a pang of the past did enter her heart.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]


And so we are back in Siobhan's villa. Not much had happened since the brief break, beyond Siobhan spontaneously deciding to dye her hair red because redheads reign!


Anyhow, Siobhan put away Grrbyrr into his pen and then limped back to the dining table. Putting her cane aside she took a seat and gestured to Coci to start eating. "Do start. Eldorai wine is excellent," she said jovially. A servant girl poured her a glass and she took a sip, savouring the taste. "I've got the perfect Jester in mind for you. Hrrpfyrr. A very sweet, amenable one...so long as she's fed," she joked. There were some far more matters she wanted to bring up, but that could wait a minute or two. After all, Coci had not even gotten to eat anything yet! "So how's married life treating you? How's Thurion and the kids?" she asked instead.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

The food and wine was delicious, Coci had not had the pleasure of tasting red wine of such quality in ages so she savoured every sip. The food danced on the senses, playing with mind and body as the smell find the dinning room and tingled on her tongue. The flavours of food fusion hide their quality until one bit down only to release the exploding tastes and textures.

"I will heed your warning on keeping the jester fed up", she grinned. She regarded Sio for a moment, in her eyes there was a thought playing there something of importance, but she would allow Sio the time to bring up the topic. However, the question of her family never failed to bring a smile to her face. The thought of [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] still mananged to bring a flush to her cheeks, even after a few years of marriage, her stomach always leaped with the pleausure of him.

"My family is very good thank you. Theo and Nina are about to start Jedi training which he seems very happy with the idea. Although he does not like the daycare we provided for him, forever trying to escape and explore Voss on his own. He is a handful but I love that quality in him. Thurion is busy with the Order but doing very well".

Coci continued to enjoy the meal set before her, the serving girl constantly filling up her glass when the threat of it becomming empty presented itself.

"But how is your family faring?", she asked in kind.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]


Siobhan seemed a bit distracted, but continued enjoying the meal. Here and there the servant girls filled up their glasses. "My family's doing very well, thanks. My wife is handling things on Tygara. Sucks a bit to be separated from Tegs, but I think she enjoys getting out again and doing things and I'm happy for her. She's a very amazing, strong woman, my lovely queen. Came from the gutter and rose so high and her only superpower was going to the gym and using her brain. " she said fondly.



"[member="Coryth Elaris"] is finally getting to settle down after all the crap the universe put her through. It's amazing what a kind, compassionate woman she is even after she's suffered. And Mirien is like a dark angel, always watching out for the family and protecting it. She runs intel for us. Very sweet and loyal once you get to know her. Though I think I really need to take her to the fair or something like that. She works way too much." Clearly this was a rather big family.



"My daughters are doing very well," she held up her hand. "Adopted daughters. Real sweethearts. When Galina's not practising her bow and arrows in the woods, she's a big bookworm. Loves physics and that sort of thing. Big brain like her gonna go to a nice university. Just a bit shy, which is understandable after the hell she's been through. And Nato's just so enthusiastic and bubbly that it always puts a smile on my face after a stressful day. Did good work on Tygara. My little spitfire."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

She was beginning to relax more with each sip of her wine. Coci listened with much interest as Sio talked about her family. It was very clear she loved them all very much and Coci held no doubt Sio would do anything for each one of them.

Coci could not help grin at the mention of Tygara, "I am please Teg's is there on Tygara better option than myself", she grinned more as she took a sip of wine. "But why are you not there with her? surely some time away from here would not hurt. I am very pleased that things are going well on that planet, most interesting to say the least".

The food served to her was beyond description and had filled her to satisfaction. Coci sat back in her chair, as looked over Sio's face, she could not help but get the idea there was more on her mind.

"Master Elaris is one of the nicest people I have met, I would like to see her again with time permits for us all. She is a very passionate Jedi which would rankle a lot of others that view Jedi in the old way. Which delights me no end. But it is this driving passion that warrants praise .. the way she finds work to help others in need, afterall that is what Jedi are to do in life, partly, However I did not know you have daughters, are they working for Firemane or training if attuned to the force?".

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]


"I trained Nato myself. Knighted her a while ago. Well, I can't claim credit for all her training, but we met originally back with the Army of Light and I trained her a bit. We met some time after the Netherworld incident and she joined Firemane then. Her parents are arseholes, so I adopted her. Galina is...slowly learning how to use the Force. She came from a war-torn planet where Sith-like Forcers treated the common people like crap, so she's very afraid of it. Tempest, my apprentice, is training her. I've been providing some instruction to help her along the way," Siobhan responded to the second question.


She briefly turned her gaze to a table that had holopics of [member="Natoline Kerrigan"] and [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]. Reaching out with the Force she picked them up and levitated them other to the dining table so that Coci could have a look at them from up close. "There, they are. That's my girls. As for why I'm on Kaeshana and not with Tegs, well, I'm helping the Queen with.." at that she paused and took a very deep breath before she was able to speak again. Clearly whatever she was about to bring up was rather difficult for her. "It's important that this remains confidential for now. You can speak to your husband about it, of course, but no one beyond that. Too many people know already."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"You have beautiful girls", Coci said as she looked at the image of them. Then her brow frown a little, not from any concern but rather she was recalling one of the faces in the image. "Natoline, you say was in the Army of Light? I did not meet her, I don't recall that, but I know of her from my days there". She levitated the holopic back to Sio.

The mood of dinner changed almost instantly, Coci had felt the need for Sio to speak on something early and now was the time. "Of course, I fully understand the nature of confidentciality", which was true enough, Coci still remains very much private in a lot of ways, it would not take much for her to return to the shadows if the call arose. Keeping information and emotions close to ones heart is easy for her. Although she would not tell Sio of her true work within the Silver Order, that of Jedi Shadow, but she would speak of her past.

"I used to work for the GIA on Coruscant, before the planet was taken by the Sith. I worked in intelligence on many missions that required most clear confidenciality to information and orders. Many things I had to do in order to keep the darkness at bay. Things not even Thurion knows about. He is aware of my past to a great extent, but the details he had never asked of. I would have told him but he knows just as well as anyone what was required of me".


"Anything you say to me now will remain in this room. If it is something that requires our help", she refers to the Silver Jedi, "Than I will offer it, and than would need to speak to him".

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]


Siobhan seemed to relax slightly. Clearly Coci's revelations were doing their part to make her feel less tense. She still felt a craving for a cigarette, something she often did when she felt nervous. However, as everyone knows smoking is bad! Besides, it would be a bad example for her little girls.


"Ex GIA, huh? Maybe you should swap stories with [member="Mirien Valdier"] some time. She's a career spook," she said, managing to chuckle a bit. However, the moment of levity was short-lived, for there was nothing even remotely funny about what she was about to bring up.


"I appreciate your discreetion. Really. The Eldorai discovered an asteroid at the outer edges of the system a few months ago. 50km. Kaeshana has about a year before it will impact and destroy the planet. Anything upward from 4km is an extinction event and given how big this one is...everyone left on the planet will perish." Unless there was some sort of Deus Ex Machina miracle, but it would be a tad difficult to find one! "We have about a year before collision. Maybe a bit more, maybe less. Firemane's been cooperating with the Eldorai to facilitate evacuation of as many people as possible...to Tygara."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

The mood of the room shifted immediately upon the news of the coming destruction of Kaeshana, it reminded her of what had happened to Corellia, her beloved home planet. The people there had not the chance to escape that event and most perished. Coci put down her wine glass and pushed her plate of food forward to indicated she had finished as she had just lost her appetite.

"This is distressing news. I must insist that the Silver Jedi Order help you with evacuations and the establishment of Tygara for the new settlement. Although you would have begun such works I am sure there is plenty to be done still?".

"I am sure [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] would agree to helping your people, please let me know how we can help".

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]


"Yeah, we've been making preparations for some time. The Skyport up in space is gonna be moved. It can transport about 150, 000 people, equipment, weapons. Likewise Firemane's built super freighters to accommodate a larger number of people. The first settlements are being constructed on Tygara - on that continent Taldir and Nantaris scouted," Siobhan responded, taking a sip from her glass. It seemed that talking about the problem had calmed her down, as if a weight had been lifted from her toned shoulders.


"Firemane's already pulling out most of its assets. Our manufacturing has been relocated to other planets, so our contracts aren't affected. But I'd appreciate what help the Silvers can offer, both with the evacuation of Kaeshana itself, medical supplies and such. If you have ships to spare, we can use them. We'll obviously compensate you for the costs."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"I will have the Silver Jedi fleet at your service and begin to move toward Kaeshana immediately. We have medical supplies and equipment that will be available to you as well. We can assist in any construction on Tygara where needed and if require you can place people on any of our protected systems, I am sure the governments of those systems will be more than happy to assist".

Coci poured herself a glass of water, with a sudden feeling in her stomach, which she wondered about, but pushed to thought aside for the moment. Her mind began to think of all the necessities required for such an undertaking.

"As for compensation, that will not be required. We are Jedi, it is what we do", she allowed a grin. "As soon as we are finished here, I will return to Voss and get the fleet underway to Kaeshana".

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]


Siobhan smiled slightly, clearly feeling grateful. "I thank you very much for your help. Full-scale evacuation is not beginning right away. In two days we'll be moving the Skyport and almost two hundred thousand people with it, along with all the equipment we need to construct settlements on Tygara. The Queen is going to make announcement about Kaeshana's...coming doom. We expect civil unrest, but we can deal with it."


Civil unrest was putting it lightly. As Siobhan knew, there would probably be a rebellion and civil war. For one, many, many Eldorai would be unable to make it offplanet, no matter how large the exodus fleet was. Never mind the fact that, as much as it rankled her, the elite of society was guaranteed a place. A great many Eldorai would see the end of days as Ashira's punishment for consorting with foreigners and rise up in rebellion, believing that the Goddess would save them - or ascend them into heaven - if they 'purified' Kaeshana. After all, desperation drives people to desperate acts.


"So don't deploy your whole fleet right now. Too many foreign ships suddenly appearing in orbit could precipitate a mass panic and with Sith and Primeval advancing I imagine you need ships closer to home. I will appreciate a portion of your fleet though and wel'll contact you as soon as the exodus begins in full. I'd appreciate it if some of the Eldorai could find temporary quarter in SJO-protected systems. Particularly childrens who aren't part of the elite, orphans especially. I've started a programme to get them off planet, primarily into Sanctum space at this point. After all, they don't have rich aristo parents who can buy them a seat. I can liaise with the Eldorai authorities and give you the numbers - and also pass on the info about the Tygaran settlements we're setting up so you know where to direct aid to."


Seemingly overcome by emotion Siobhan suddenly leaned forward and gave Coci a hug. It was a loose hug and she quickly withdrew. Her skin had flushed and turned a lighter shade of crimson, since the Countess was clearly embarrassed. "I'm sorry...I just appreciate the help. Kaeshana means a lot to me."