Guess Who

[Beowoof]

The heavy suitcases clunked onto the pavement outside the security gate that separated the older teen from the Spaarti plant inside the compound. It was a hot day, and the girl's steps had been laborious in her short journey here from the spaceport. It was quite a struggle to haul all this baggage up to her relative's front porch with the sun beating down on her. Thankfully, the guard at the station was courteous enough to give her a juicebox or two. But she was here.

It had been a four-day adventure from Lornoar aboard a freighter manned by a rather fun but slightly tipsy pilot. It had been a blast; much better than her first spacefaring trip out of Corellia. Corvy was her name. Tabby wondered if she would ever encounter such an amusing character again.

Sitting atop her luggage, face all hot and sweaty, the youngest Ticon family member waited for her call to be answered. The guard had said she could stay at the entrance until someone arrived to escort her in--or kick her off the premises if she was not welcome. That would be unfortunate. But fingers were crossed. Her sister was supposed to be here, according to the latest--though admittedly unconfirmed--data on the socially incongruous Keira Ticon. Tabitha wondered if she was aware that a younger sister even existed. They had never met to the best of her knowledge. If they did, it was when she was too young to recall.

Nervousness building as the wait extended, the blonde began reciting opening lines and trying to find something that did not sound entirely awkward.

"Hi, I'm Tabitha.

"Hi, do you know my sister?

"Hello, my name is Tabitha, but you can call me Tabby.

"Good morning. Would you happen to know anyone by the name of Ticon?

"Hello. I know you don't know me, but I think I know someone who works here."

Those all sounded sort of lame. Tabitha lowered her face and scrunched up her nose, cheeks buried in the palms of her hands in distress. She needed to think of something real fast. First impressions, right?

Though maybe she had the wrong address. That would be embarrassing. But surely the object of her hunt was somewhere in the neighborhood... Otherwise, she had just traveled halfway across the Colonies for naught. And wouldn't that be depressing?

She would find out soon enough. Someone had to answer the door, after all.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Spaarti Headquarters on Cartao wasn't just a building anyone wandered up to and requested access for. The compound was meant to be entirely secure and unknown to most inhabitants of the galaxy that didn't work for or weren't affiliated with the corporation. To have it be otherwise would entirely erase the purpose of a secure cloning facility that manufactured soldiers for the recently unveiled clone army of the Galactic Republic. But it seemed some saw fit to disregard those intentions and simply meander up the long path and wait outside as if it was a community affair. How fitting that the aforementioned individual claimed to share the last name of Ticon. That only put icing on the figurative cake.

Of course, it was only fair that Keira be the one to greet this visitor. After all, the woman declared herself kin, which meant something in the long run. The Ticon line was a small one, relatively unknown to the larger galaxy and comprised mostly of fringers and borderline criminals at that. That one would willingly associate themselves with such a tarnished reputation was an anomaly by itself, but stranger things had happened right in front of her. To dismiss this individual as a mere pretender or entirely harmless was a mistake she wouldn't make, especially given her current location and relative position when it came to the chain of command. Unfortunately that meant she had to take responsibility for certain things.

Right now 'certain things' equated to determining just who this stranger was and what they wanted, among other things. Perhaps a more cautious person would have traveled with a guard detail, but cautious was an adjective that had never been equated with her. She was many things, such as reckless, headstrong and insufferably stubborn, but that one adjective didn't quite fit. Such was the reason she had merely dismissed those she had been speaking with and forged on by herself, blade displayed at her side as if in warning to those that would cross her with malicious intent. No matter how harmless she may have seemed on the surface, there were fangs laced with poison waiting to strike beneath.

Hundreds of thoughts raced through her mind in the few minutes it took her to traverse from one section of the compound to another. Her thoughts were calculated, some idle while others were purely practical, all of them serving their own purpose. The first thing on her mind was the collective reunion of the Ticons all of seven years ago. To the best of her knowledge this one hadn't shown up, bringing to mind just where she had been in such a long span of time. It left gaps that she didn't trust but wouldn't dismiss just yet. To put it rather plainly, family ties had been rather complicated since that first reconvenence. Nothing had changed since then. If anything, the wires had only become more crossed.

Her steps were slow and methodic as she traversed down the steps that led to the security gate, and a quiet word was spoken to the guard before the barrier slid aside. For a while she only watched the stranger, taking her in for all that she was, not overlooking the seeming wide-eyed innocence that accompanied her, though there was an undertone of simple understanding to it that she read into. Ethereal senses extended outwards in an attempt to find kindred with the aura of another sensitive, though she couldn't detect immediately if the other was attuned to the same energy field. When she did speak her voice was neutral in its tone, an underlying commanding edge residing just beneath, "You call yourself a Ticon."

[member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

It did not take long to consume the liquid contents of both juiceboxes--Carida Sun brand. The good stuff. She smiled appreciatively at the guard, then switched her gaze as she noticed a lone figure trudging down the tiers and towards the gate where she was waiting. It was a dark-haired young woman who seemed a little worse for wear despite the hint of youth evident in her apparel and presentation. Was it her? Was it her?

The woman's sullen expression and quite unenthusiastic greeting instantly collapsed her high hopes. Whether it was her sister or not, the lack of even a friendly hello was enough to upset an upbeat personality. Still, Tabitha wanted to see how far she could go. She was not intending to waste such a long trip like this. Maybe she's just in a bad mood.

As soon as the gate was shoved completely open, the blonde dropped her juiceboxes and stood up immediately, offering a wide, nervous smile and a timid wave. "Hi."

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

First impressions. Those were always the most important, right? That was one thing Keira was certain of, even with her nearly incessant social ineptness. It was prevalent to make certain that the first glimpse another received of you was the one you wanted to present and be known by for the duration of the relationship, no matter the sort. And so, naturally, most people did all in their power to be sure their first impression was of the highest quality and no less, wanting to impress upon others a sense of their own inherent value and worth as a galactic citizen. It was a practice she saw the sensibility of but never quite seemed to grasp herself. Perhaps it was a product of her general apathy towards others, or another symptom of the trauma she had endured. Force only knew.

"Worse for wear" was one way to describe an individual who had quite literally been through hell and back and survived with her relative sanity more or less intact, save for a spider-webbing crack or two. The scars immediately visible on her person did little to tell the tale, though they did help to paint a picture of all that she had experienced in her life. Anyone who so much as glanced at her would be able to see that she had fought for all she had gained, even when she had nothing left to give. Such a reality made her strong, but it also left a sort of passive arrogance in its wake. That wouldn't be evident right away, but it was clear in the way she held herself that a confidence was present. Maybe even an overconfidence, in a certain light.

Silence hung in the air in the seconds after the other woman spoke, the dots slowly connecting themselves in her mind. As unfamiliar as her appearance and voice was, the mere thought of having another sibling somehow felt correct. Never would she go so far as to say it was the Force prompting her, and she wouldn't claim it to be fate of any sort either. It was highly probable, however, that she had shown her face at one of the few Ticon gatherings that had taken place, or otherwise been mentioned in passing by her older brothers. Those more logical explanations were what she clung to in terms of the simple knowing that seemed to accompany what had been a stranger. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, the woman was kin.

Slowly she walked down the last few steps to stand on level ground with the new arrival, motioning with a hand for the gate to be closed behind the pair. It had been decided in that moment that Tabitha didn't pose enough of a threat to be kept outside. With millions of clones housed within the facility, not to mention who she was currently standing with, any threat would be neutralized the second it appeared. Now it was just a matter of determining the other Ticon's place among not only the family, but the galaxy as a whole. Despite the recent revelation she refused to think of her as family just yet. It had always been her and her brothers. Never anyone else. Begrudgingly, however, a single word spoken in Old Corellian passed her lips. If the other truly did belong, she would understand, "Frahino."

[member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

It took a second or two to ascertain the meaning of the ancient word with which she was addressed, but upon the click of the security gate coinciding with a click of the pieces of her whirling brain, Tabitha was able to respond in kind. "Li bey valle!" the younger gasped, taking a step closer but unsure where to begin. She had never known this person. The only thing that really connected them was a biological bond that apparently had not been the strongest of ties over all these nineteen years. All she knew about this Keira was a short document detailing a censored medical history. Really, there was not much to know from that. Even family did not have access to the full records--and technically no one had proven they were actually related. Yet.

Where to start? Well, she had filled out a questionnaire or two when seeking shelter from the abandonment of her homeworld. She could probably ad-lib something useful and informative. Simply talking about nearly anything would no doubt help the presumed sisters get a hint of who the other was in personality. Not that the dark-haired Ticon had not already made it abundantly clear that she was a bit unsociable. Either that or she was super suspicious about anyone claiming to be kindred. Tabitha supposed that was understandable. Some people were less trusting than others, and perhaps that did serve them best.

Unfortunately for Keira, her younger sibling was about to open her mouth for real. "I'm Tabitha Ticon (But you can call me Tabby!), and I'm nineteen. I was born in Coronet City on Corellia, the last of a few kids, I think. That's what they told me, I mean. There could be more, but I don't think so. I tried to find everyone. There were like, three other names, plus a possible match, and another they tried to contact but some guy said he was probably dead but wasn't sure, and..." Oh, no. She was rambling. Her hazel eyes flashed up to meet her alleged sister's and her cheeks reddened, then she widened her stance to sort of force herself to exude a more steady demeanor. Some people liked their peace and quiet. She was guessing that was Keira. "And, well, they told me you were the best lead."

Tabitha bit her lip and hung her head for a moment, 'situation normal' escaping her with each passing moment. "So..." Her head lifted back up to make eye contact again, and her hands nervously busied themselves with pulling on her hair and evening it out. "Here I am--Little Sister?" Oh, gosh. Does she hate me?

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

A solitary blink was the only immediate response to what was an abundant amount of in some instances rather unnecessary information. Never in her life had Keira met one who knew so much about themselves and was willing to share everything down to the very last miniscule and insignificant detail without so much as a pause in order to draw breath. It was a quality that lacked any inherent practicality, instead exposing oneself without the sense to think otherwise to anyone that might wish ill upon them. There was a reason she had learned to be carefully guarded about herself unless it was required to reveal any key pieces about her character. Keeping things under wraps was the far more viable and safe option.

In those few moments she surmised that the galaxy had never seen the likes of a sibling pair that were so entirely opposite from one another. Where Tabitha was bubbly she was carefully quiet, where one was sociable the other had grown to prefer no company at all, where one approached strangers openly the other preferred to have a weapon close at hand before endeavoring anything of the sort. That was just the start of a very long and comprehensive list that could be drawn up after spending only a few minutes around the both of them, and they had only just met for what was the first time in nineteen years. What a galaxy they both lived in for such a thing to be even remotely possible.

In some effort to ease the tension she smiled gently, a quiet laugh escaping her. Where typically she would have been irritated this was simply too much of a novelty occurrence for her to find any real annoyance in it. The chances of there being another Ticon in the first place were slim to none, and to have family actually locate her was an almost indeterminable rarity. In her life she had learned to appreciate the little things when they did chance to strike, and this was one of those that she knew likely wouldn't happen again. Maybe they weren't a great match, but in time the unlikely pair would no doubt get along. There was still another sibling to throw in the mix, after all.

"You're from the right side of the family, then. The crime lord's." That was a piece of information most of them were aware of, if just minutely. There were two halves of the Ticon line, one arguably more respectable than the other, though not by much. In her case her father was a crime lord who married a woman and had five kids with her before being murdered. On the other hand there was a senator and his wife, though that side of the family was largely unknown. There were a few cousins thrown into the mix, but she had never been exceptionally close to either of them. Besides, the majority of the line had seemed to drop off the face of the galaxy until recently. Now, it seemed, they were back for good.

"Colap, Diego and Nikola are the others. They aren't dead. It takes a lot to kill a Ticon. And Nik's some kind of Jedi, I guess." Not a traditional one by any means, but he was doing a better job of living up to the mantle than she ever had. "The only reason I'm the best lead is because I'm the only one that's really been doing anything in the galaxy." Even if the activities she partook in weren't the most legal sometimes. "We'll have time to catch up, don't worry." She put a hand on Tabitha's shoulder, motioning for her to follow, picking up one of the suitcases. "Let's get you inside. We can talk more along the way."

[member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

Tabitha waited with bated breath, hands folding in front and shoulders swaying like a flower in the breeze to offer a little more innocence to her persona. It might work, though she could feel the piercing eyes of her newfound sibling investigating every aspect of her body and her demeanor. She briefly flashed a bright smile, but did not hold it for fear of seeming too excited. Sometimes people thought she was like that--too happy. How could anyone be too happy? But, indeed, some people were considered so.

Then the laugh came--hushed and mysterious though it may have been. But it was all the blonde needed to know that she was going to be okay. She had found part of her family. She might as well have found the whole clan, for this moment was full of all sorts of joy. The widest of grins spread across her face, and the youngest Ticon raised her hands in celebration.

But then there was the revelation that she was a crime lord's daughter. Well, then. What a way to put a downer on anything. Tabby had no idea about this little detail of her backstory, and almost wondered if Keira was lying to her, or maybe even just 'kidding'. I'm a what? She had never really known much of her family at all. Their mother had been present for the early years of Tabitha's life, but even she was not long for the galaxy. But her father--a criminal? She really did not believe it. Either that, or she did not want to believe it. "Don't talk about my dad like that..." she muttered, glancing to the side and gauging the guard's reaction. He seemed to be unconcerned with their conversation, however, and Tabitha at least had the assurance that no one else was privy to this obvious slander.

But one thing was for certain. It seemed like the Ticons were made to be separated. At least, until now. And for that latter fact, she was willing to ignore the detrimental words about her father and just rejoice in finding her long-lost big sister.

Keira came up to her and touched her shoulder, and Tabitha whirled to offer an elongated hug, burying her cheek into her taller sister's shoulder. The odd, shiny cylinder her sister was carrying at the belt was kind of in the way of a truly comfortable embrace, but she ignored it for now. Why her sister was carrying around a giant hairspray bottle, she could not fathom. "I can't believe I've finally met you! It's gonna be great." When she had released Keira from her hold, she quickly took the second suitcase in both hands and heaved to lift it up in front of her. It was going to be a tough walk up that incline, but her energy was by far renewed.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

The personal embrace was something Keira could have done without, but for once she didn't protest, instead returning the gesture after a moment's hesitation. Physical contact of the gentle sort was entirely alien to her, though she would try for her sister's sake. However far her apathy for others extended, it always seemed to be cut short once family was substituted into the equation. That could have perhaps been the reason for her toleration of Tabitha's antics thus far, but there was no saying how long that would last if the youngest Ticon decided to become more extravagant in her actions. "This is a cloning facility and something of a military base, I hope you know. It's not anything like home." When had she ever known a place by that name?

It was comparatively easier for her to life the suitcase given both her cybernetic arm and the athleticism she had been possessed of even as a child, though admittedly in smaller increments. Her pace was adjusted so that Tabitha could easily keep up, and she supplemented the long walk with what conversation she could manage. "Our dad." A gentle correction, but enough to remind them both that they were indeed siblings. "And yeah, he was a crime lord. You might not want to hear it, but it's true." Every member of the family had been aware of it, or so she had thought, until now. "It runs in the family. Or did, I guess, but now it's just us and Nik, and I gave up the criminal underworld a few years ago."

Perhaps a bit of expanding upon the family history was in order, but that would have to wait until a more suitable time. There was no doubt in her mind that her younger sister - she would never get used to those two words - had thousands of questions for her newfound family. And, whether she would admit it or not, she returned those same sentiments, though in something of a more serious light. "I would offer a tour of the place, but there really isn't much to see other than the cloning facilities and the men. You'll have a chance to meet everybody later." Which, of course, referred to Patricia and the clone commander she had grown close to through their time working together.

An awkward silence hung in the air for a few seconds, giving her ample time to marvel on the strange intricacies of social conversation that she would never truly grasp. Why people couldn't just skip small talk and get straight to the point was far beyond her. Time was better spent with more productive things. "Where have you been, then?" It was a better question than 'Why show up now?' at any rate, and she settled for it. No doubt the other would just as quickly fire back the question in return, and she would stay her answer until then. Tabitha seemed the overly curious sort, and she wasn't willing to so readily tell the tale that would satisfy that. Not yet, and certainly not here. They weren't close enough.

[member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

Lumbering up the incline with knees banging against her suitcase with every stride and swing, Tabitha was surprised to hear about what actually went on inside the compound. "This place is a cloning facility?" She raised her eyebrows, not sure what to make of such an industry and her sister's association with it. It sounded very dark to her, and there became an itch in the corner of her mind that disturbed her from appreciating this reunion (or initial union, depending on how long ago they had been separated) to a full extent. Keira was not entirely what she had expected. And the first few minutes of their knowing each other had not gone the way she had dreamed. There was no rush to hug at first sight; no joyous tears shed. And her sister worked for some cloning company, which reeked of all sorts of shady in premise alone.

Tabby huffed with each added bit of info imparted to her about their late father. She still did not believe what was being said, and it frustrated her that Keira would be so negative about their family within the first day of meeting. "Well, no one ever told me that..." the blonde retorted quietly. She wondered what her big sister was like on holidays. Maybe she told descriptive stories about genocide and how we should all be thankful we were not on Alderaan when it exploded. A real downer already. A tour of the facilities might be more interesting than that--but hopefully Keira was not like this all the time. Hopefully.

But there was a moment of interest expressed by the dark-haired sibling as they tread on underneath the hot sun towards one of the buildings. Or maybe she just was trying to kill the uncomfortable silence that had possessed the air a moment before. Either way, Keira had just sealed her doom. Tabitha was quite apt at telling these things, and she liked to do so. A lot. "So there was this thing last year..." Here she goes. "They were telling everyone to be ready to leave because the Sith guys were coming and the might, like, take over and stuff and burn houses and kill children. So they told us we were in an emergency on Corellia and all the people in the main population zones needed to be evacuated. And I got packed up and they gave me a ticket so I could, like, escape and live on this ship for a little while--which was really cool but boring. They have the worst food there. It all comes in bags, and all these military guys were like, 'Ah, this tastes like how I used to eat back in my day.' And I was like, 'Ew.' They should have let me cook, but that would have been too much for me. So, nah.

"But after a few days they told us that Corellia was blown up! And I was like, 'Seriously?!' And they were like, 'Yeah, you're home is gone.' And then they moved me to this planet called Loronar after a few weeks, and I got to live with this family called the Maelli's, and they let me stay with them and their children until I could find my relatives. They told me not to pay them, but I babysat their kids and stuff because that is just too sweet for me not to help them out somehow, right? I mean, I was sleeping in their house and eating their food. So it's fair.

"But then the relocation people said they found your profile with this Spaarti thing and it was confirmed--unlike the other three Ticons they tried. So they were like, 'Hey, Tabby, we found your big sis and it is now time for you to go out into the galaxy and meet her and like, be sisters.' So they got a cheap ride for me and I spent like four days with this funny pilot and that crew and they brought me here. And then I caught a bus after we got here and they brought me to this place and I was like, 'Hey, mah big sis works here!' And then I met you!"

And then Tabitha breathed. One might notice that she somehow walked faster when she was talking.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Apparently asking a simple question constituted a life story. That was something Keira would have to remember when it came to any further conversation, as it wasn't in her best interests to learn about every last detail of her younger sibling's life right down to the exact time in which the two were reunited. The fundamentals of conversing were equally lost on both, though in drastically different measures. "Rations usually aren't the greatest, no. It's better than nothing." One shoulder was lifted in a shrug, and she only nodded along to all that was being said, half-listening most times as she attempted to find some facet of similarity that would unite the two, always seeming to come up short.

"Yeah, it's a cloning facility. Remember the old Grand Army of the Republic? It'd kind of like that. My job is, at least." That might not have been the smartest thing to tell Tabitha given how much she liked to talk, but hopefully it would stun her into silence long enough for progress to be made in terms of arranging quarters. "And I wouldn't go around telling everyone that, either. We're not exactly everybody's biggest fans around here." Of course, judging from her first assessment of her sister's personality, that warning likely meant little to nothing in the grand scheme of things. Something told her she would be playing the figurative babysitter a lot more than she would have liked.

Upon entering the housing complex she flashed her identification card to the guard at the door, not that such a formality was entirely necessary, nodding for Tabitha to be let through as well. After a quiet conversation with one of the personnel they were motioned through to a turbolift that would take them to the upper floor of the facility. All told, these were the few guest quarters available, but after spending the majority of her time on a ship the elder Ticon had a feeling her sister wasn't about to complain. "You can stay here for a few days, and probably as long as you need. I don't think it'll be a problem." It wasn't like there were ever many guests to begin with at a place like this. Tabitha was likely the very first.

Being an older sibling was a new experience for her, as she had always been the one looking to others for guidance throughout her childhood on Corellia. Now that the tables were turned she wasn't sure how to proceed, but she surmised some sort of private discussion was in order, if not owed after this recent reunion. That was what siblings did for each other, right? She certainly hoped so, otherwise she truly had no idea of where to start. Crossing the room she lowered herself onto the bed, motioning for Tabitha to join her if she so wished. Her fingers drummed idly on the mattress for a moment as she considered how to best start things off. It was always better to jump right in. "Do you have anything you'd like to ask me?"

[member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

To be honest, Tabitha had no idea how the Grand Army of the Republic differentiated from whatever the current Republic army was called. "Yeah. That. Totally." Her eyes darted to the side, so subtle about pretending she knew what she was talking about. The youngest Ticon took a deep gulp of air just as they approached the final steps to the facility, knees really feeling sore right now. "I'm totes gonna keep my mouth zipped, sis. You can like, totally trust me with anything. Cross my heart and hope to wear mom jeans."

A factory--or, quite literally, a breeding grounds--did not seem like the most happy, fun, familial place unless one counted the thousands of brothers being born here. And it was just so hot. Was there a beach around here? Because, if there was not, then this whole living arrangement might be miserable. As of now, her breaths were easing as they were indoors, but her pampered blond locks were sopping from all the sweat developed in this trek, wrists tired and dropping the hard suitcase to the turbolift floor as soon as they stepped aboard. It was a loud bang, but what would one be able to do without their makeups? "This is sooooo not going to be good. All these clone people will see me in the same outfit after only two months! And there's like, no good stores in town. Like, can you even call this a town?" Despite her negative commentary, however, Tabitha was willing to give things a shot with a pitcher-full of optimism. What could be so bad about living with her sister, after all?

The lift doors opened again as they arrived at their destination floor, and Tabby resorted to simply scooting her luggage across the floor until they entered her sister's quarters. "Oh my gosh. That was like, the longest walk ever," the teen moaned dramatically, following Keira to the bed and then leveling herself onto it as if she had not seen a mattress in weeks--though she had to pull back down her short shorts when they nearly hiked up her rump. At least she was still looking good!

What did she want to ask? She had a few things floating at the very very top of her mind to start with--and they were just the tip of the iceberg. Sinking into the soft ripples of the mattress, the blonde spouted out all the immediately accessible questions without waiting for replies. "Well, like, where have you been? And why are you here? Where is the rest of the family? And why did you never call or write?" Why was I alone? Then she glanced down at the shiny, cylindrical device swinging from her big sister's belt and nodded her head towards it. "And why are you carrying that around? Like, seriously."

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

"I don't think anybody here is really going to care that much about what you're wearing. All we usually wear is regulation uniform." And that included her, at least when she was with the men. Armor had certainly taken some getting used to, but as with everything else, Keira had managed. What came to mind now was how she would learn to manage having a younger sister around to keep an eye on that likely willed her own independence just as fiercely as she herself had in the past. If Tabitha was a Ticon in anything else other than name, there was a strong-willed stubbornness lingering beneath the surface waiting for an opportune moment to shine through.

And then came the questions, ones that didn't have any easy answer. Well, all of them but the last, at least, and she couldn't help but crack a smile at her sibling's obliviousness when it came to the weapon she carried. Apparently the profile she had been located by wasn't the most forthcoming with information, but that was comforting in its own way. At least it meant she wasn't easy to find. Reaching down she plucked the weapon from her belt, seeming to weigh it in her palm for a few moments. After a few suspenseful seconds had passed she thumbed the button on the hilt, orange plasma blade snap-hissing into existence, light energy humming with a subdued power. "Because it's not as useless as it seems."

The blade was extinguished just as quickly, returned to its proper place in the next breath. The laugh that passed her lips was rather forced, self-deprecating if there was any emotion to be held to it at all. "I don't think you want to know where I've been." It wasn't that she wouldn't tell the tale if prompted, but it was something she would rather not delve into unless requested. Until then, she would skirt around the edges, answering the best she could without giving much of anything away. "The best answer to that is around. Just trying to survive, really. I've probably been across half the galaxy and back, truth be told. But I'm not going to tell you exactly all that happened to me unless you want to know." That was one story that didn't have any kind of happy ending.

"I didn't call or write because I wasn't exactly aware that I had a younger sister, and I wouldn't have had any means of contacting you even if I had known. Free time isn't something I have in abundance." There were no days off in her profession, whatever it could be called. There was no proper name for it that she could discern. "I'm here because I have to be." That was close enough, at least. "Nobody else wanted the job of leading an entire clone army into battle, so I guess they chose me." She looked to Tabitha, realizing how bad the idea of war likely sounded to one not accustomed to that particular drumbeat. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Always am." A reassuring smile was offered, though if one looked deeply enough they would see something off about it.

The rest of the family wasn't quite so easy to explain as herself, simply because she wasn't certain either. It was a question she would like to know the answer to as well, but she was here to provide the answers instead. "I'm not completely sure. I haven't talked to Colap or Diego in years. They're probably still around raising hell in the Outer Rim, if I had to guess. I know Diego was with the Ravens, but they're gone now, so there's no telling where he went." A beat passed, and she sighed quietly. "Nik, though, he's out there. Looking to be a Jedi of some kind, from what he likes to tell me when we do talk. I'll believe that when I see it." And that was the end of that.

[member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

Tabitha nearly jumped when the plasma-blade weapon was abruptly ignited, its flaring beam illuminating her newly-found sister's face almost ominously with an orange glow. While the blonde was not one many considered to be the brightest crayon in the box, she was not completely ignorant either. The classic Jedi weapon immediately registered with her upon activation, and her eyes widened at her conclusion of what this likely indicated. "Woah! Are you--" She sat up as the blade closed and pointed at the hilt, jaw nearly on the floor as she tried to collect her words. "Like, are you, like... a Jedi?" She could be famous! Except not entirely, since apparently it took a fair amount of work to locate Keira.

The younger Ticon grabbed at her sister's shoulder excitedly, bright, blue eyes shining in wonder. Yes, she was nineteen. And, yes, she did think she knew everything. But sometimes even the most awesomest of people feel like a child in a candy store on occasion--though perhaps more than just 'on occasion' for Tabby. "That is so totally rad! Like, you're totally going to have to tell me all about this stuff." Almost as soon as she had taken her sister's arm captive, she released her hold and bounded off the bed to circle about the room. "There's gonna be plenty of time to talk about all the things. Like, I can teach you how to do nails and hair..." One most observant might notice the microsecond of judgmental gaze her flitting eyes stole as she recorded her older sibling's state of 'beauty'. Though she already loved her sister more than anything except the beach and shopping despite having only known her for less than an hour, Tabitha felt there could be a little improvement on things in the physical aspect and wished to share her talents and appreciation in that field. "...And we can get you like, good clothes and shoes..."

The blonde tumbled back onto the mattress unceremoniously--this time on the opposite side of Keira from where she had originally lain--and went for the full embrace, clutching Big Sis as tightly and as far as her slender arms would allow. "You don't have to go to wars anymore. You have me now." Though it made her sad to hear about how broken and scattered their family was, Tabby did indeed feel a balloon of delight swell within her bosom knowing that she would have undivided attention among the family. She felt special, and she wanted Keira to be special too. "I'm like your best sister. Forever."

A lot melodramatic and perhaps a tinge manipulative, Tabitha was at least genuine in her readily-acquired sisterly optimism and hope for a great future. She had always wanted to be someone's sister, besides. So what could go wrong?

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

There was that word again, though Keira couldn't quite muster herself to care as much as she had in the past. At this point it served as nothing more than a form of amusement that she would be mistaken for an individual as righteous as a member of that order of peacekeepers. It would do no good, she knew, to dissuade her sister's train of thought anyhow, and so she would let Tabitha think what she would, just so long as she didn't go announcing to the whole galaxy how her older sister was a Jedi. "Something like that, yeah. Just try not to say that word too loudly. A lot of people don't like the sound of it." Not that she had exactly pinned Tabitha as one to take friendly advice.

Momentarily she drew on the ethereal in order to levitate the hilt of her weapon above her palm, spinning it end-over-end, a habit she had picked up in her teen years and had abandoned until recently. Maybe reconnecting with her sister had rekindled some of her childhood deep down inside, though she would never openly admit to such a thing. With a minute shift of her hand the saber landed on the nightstand next to the bed, that being the end of her theatrics for the time being. It sufficed as a demonstration, though she knew that if anyone would take advantage of this talent it would be her younger sibling. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing that the other didn't seem to be sensitive herself.

"I can tell you about whatever you want to know." Mostly. There was, of course, confidential information even her family wasn't privy to, but it would do no good to reveal such a thing to the youngest of the Ticon clan. It was better to let this one think she knew most everything there was to know about the family, with no exceptions. "I don't think you'll want to learn everything, though. Not about this place, not about the war, and probably not about me either." There was a sort of innocence Tabitha retained about the galaxy that she didn't want to tarnish. Sure, it bordered on naivety sometimes from all that she'd gauged, but even that was preferable to the grim knowledge she herself retained.

There were a few seconds where she pretended to consider her own outfit, merely shrugging in response to her sister's assessment. Physical attractiveness of the conventional sort had never been her primary concern. It was better to survive an ordeal than retain some kind of beauty while doing so. "I've made it this long without it, so I think I'll be fine. The only thing I have to worry about doing is surviving. I'll leave you to the clothes and everything else." She returned the embrace with no hesitation no longer evident in her actions, seeming to have adjusted this much to the idea of having a family again. "I still have to go to war. But at least this time I have someone to come back to."

[member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

While nearly everyone knew what a Jedi was in the sense that they could do seemingly magical things, not many had actually encountered one in their lives and even in these times, the stories about them bordered more on the mythical than the fact. But all the facts were present in this case and prompted no pause to doubt. Keira's telekinetic maneuvers were amazing if not a bit creepy, and Tabitha wondered how she had managed to be born into the same family as such an incredible person. "No way..." she gasped, mesmerized by the exhibition and for once at a loss for words. Secrets something something, I got it.

She could tell her sister was not much of a hugger, but she appreciated the gesture all the same. They could work on that. As well as covering up all those scars! Oh-em-gee! What brand do you even use? It was nothing short of unacceptable. Though the hair could easily be remedied, and Tabitha had procured a band as soon as she had let go of her sibling and proceeded to take a large clump of the brunette's hair and twist it about into a pair of braided tails. "Like, I'm not sure you're ready for this war thing, 'cause... I'm not seeing like, any maintenance going on here, sis..." The blonde slipped the band around the braid with a snap and then began a second weave from the other side.

Now came the big question she had been wanting to ask--aside from why Keira was so terrible at hygiene and cosmetics. "So, like..." Tabby hesitated again, gritting her teeth in concentration as she pulled a few knots out of her sister's hair before completing the second pigtail. "Like, why was everyone gone when I was born? Why didn't we stay as a family? I wish I knew I had like, a totally awesome sister sooner..." As if she did not think her questions sounded credible, the younger added, "Like, seriously. I mean, look what's happened to you. You could have, like, told me how to pick a boyfriend, and maybe you would have learned how to fix your hair, too.

"And would you stop talking about war? Oh my gosh. So dramatic." Though her words were harsh and probably uncalled for, it pained Tabitha to think that she had just met her sister only to potentially lose her in a short matter of time to the guns on a battlefield. As naive as she may be, even the youngest, blondest of the Ticons knew that even Jedi were not invincible.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Spoiler

A quiet sigh passed her lips as Keira reached up to examine her newly styled hair, and she couldn't help but laugh quietly, pulling her sister close for another hug in which she mussed up the younger's blonde locks. Family bonds ran deeper than anything else for a Corellian, and the nurturing of what was a new concept only heightened her will to pursue and make the best of things. It was what was deserved. "Maintenance doesn't matter much when you're getting shot at. But I'll let you try your hand at things if this all ever slows down." The chances of that were slim, but it was the thought that counted, right? That was what she liked to think, and hopefully that would satisfy her sibling for the time being.

Upon the next inquiries posed her hands suddenly became the object of focus, as if she was ashamed, though she had never truly known such an emotion in ages. There was no time to be shameful when it was in one's job description to take life on a daily basis. But talking to her sister was different, however much she wished that wasn't the case, and she wanted to give the other an answer that seemed halfway respectable. Unfortunately the Ticons had never been the greatest at saying the things everybody else wanted to hear, even if that someone else happened to be of their own family. Blunt and straightforward had always been the name of the game, regardless of who the parties involved happened to be.

"The Ticons have never been good at sticking around. We're a family of fringers and spacers, the sorts of people that only make temporary homes. Nobody's ever stayed in one place for too long other than Corellia, but that didn't last long either once we all figured out about the galaxy around us. I left for the Jedi when you were five, so we never really had the chance to get to know each other before." It wasn't much of an excuse, but it was better than a lot of things she could have said. Tabitha had wanted the truth, and that was what she would get. "I'm sorry that you didn't have a proper family to grow up around. You deserve more than that." If anyone did, it was her younger sister.

A crooked grin caught on the corners of her mouth as she noticed hazel eyes lingering on the scars visible on her person, and it was difficult not to sense her stifled amazement at the ethereal talents she possessed. "I'm not really the greatest at playing the boyfriend game." No doubt a comment would be made none too quickly in that department as well. Her younger sister seemed to retain the sharp tongue that was so common in the family, making their relation nothing short of unquestionable. It was nice to know that there was one common denominator to count on throughout the entire bloodline. "I guess you'll have to teach me about everything, huh, Tabby Kat?"

[member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

The next hug seemed more natural than any of the previous ones, and Tabitha was convinced that she was the single best thing that had ever happened in her sister's life. And in this moment, she had the feeling that the same was true from Keira towards her. The blonde beamed at her older sibling, sensing appreciation--even if reluctant--for her quick hair styling. Though equally unused to having another family member around, she was at least sure of herself and far more in touch with her emotions than the other Ticon could say, even if Tabby-from-the-Valley was a little snobby. And that gave her the ability to release what the other would most likely not.

It was in this moment that Tabitha realized just how real Keira was and how much she had missed the sister she had never known. Through her vanity she could sense a gaping hole in her spirit already mending itself, providing confidence and identity that she had never had despite her trouping with the divas and wannabes she was known to be herself. Keira was truly her sister, no matter how many years or lightyears had separated them. And when her sister called her by 'Tabby Kat', that was the final nail. The teen grabbed a hold of her sister with all her force and buried her face into the crook of her neck, weeping in happiness.

"I've missed you so long, Keira..." she sobbed, nothing on her mind but all the years they had lost apart and all the years they could regain ahead. Please don't leave again. "I don't care what you did. It's okay. Like... I don't even know. But I missed you.

"You're my sister. And I'll love you for that."

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

It's okay. Those were two words Keira had been wanting to hear for years, three syllables she had given up on ever being spoken. Nothing she had done would ever really be okay, and she was resigned to that. That door had been sealed shut permanently, or so she thought, never to be opened so long as she lived. But that had somehow changed inexplicably when she reconnected with her sister, the roots of their bond breaking through the stone walls of her obstinacy to achieve glimpses at who she was beyond the facade that she wasn't sure was all that fake anymore. The instant Tabitha hugged her she returned the embrace just as tightly, wrapping both her arms about the smaller form of her younger sibling.

Almost hesitantly she ran her fingers gently through Tabitha's hair, unsure of how to respond in these situations but somehow certain she was doing the right thing. Siblings were supposed to be there for one another no matter what, and even if it was nineteen years too late, she wanted to start now. This was perhaps how things had been intended from the beginning, even if the two of them would never see eye-to-eye on any subject. "I missed you too, Tabitha." Even if she hadn't known the bond of family for years she was aware enough to know that something intrinsic to her life had been absent until this moment of reunion. Now she was one step closer to being whole.

Strong emotion of any sort was as alien to her as anything else, and it was something she didn't recognize even as it burgeoned in her core. Silent tears streamed down her face, this marking the third time she could remember crying in front of any individual, regardless of reason. This time she didn't bother to clear them away, merely flashing a small smile. "I'm not leaving again." Her voice was a quiet murmur, and she gently pulled back just far enough so she could see her sister's face, gently wiping away the tears from the younger's face. "You don't have to worry. You aren't alone anymore." This was the first time she had said anything of the sort and meant it with every fiber of her being.

A gentle kiss was pressed to the top of Tabitha's head, it clear that she wasn't entirely sure how to express sisterly affection of any sort. At the moment she was operating entirely on guesswork, but it seemed to be working properly thus far. Slowly her tears ceased, and she gently ran her hand down her sister's back in a gesture that was meant to be soothing. "I'm staying." She had been saying things of that nature more than anything of late. "I'm staying, Tabitha." Her voice fell a few decibels. "I promise."

[member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

Tabitha had every reason to cling to Keira. She had no one left in this galaxy. No man. No mom. No father that she had ever known, being the last of the brood before he had bitten the dust. (A speeder accident, Mom had said. Nothing at all like a gangster sort of death Keira had hinted at.) Most of her beach buddies were dead, too, and good luck on ever seeing the ones who survived again.

Her sister took her even tighter as if she was afraid a cross breeze might whisk her out the door and off Cartao entirely, fingers sifting through the blond strands of her hair and softly rubbing her back in a way that Tabitha could only define as sisterly. Only her mother had ever offered such physical sign of affection--and that felt so long ago. To have someone's arms around her in a bond that was stronger than any of her month-long attachments with various boyfriends had ever been. Here was someone who loved her unconditionally for no other reason than the fact that they had come from the same womb. When kissed, she perked up and instantly returned the gesture, momentarily applying her glossed-up lips to Keria's cheek.

"I know you missed me. I'm pretty great, aren't I? Tabby Kat..." she beamed, allowing her tears to be wiped away by hardened hands. Was her sister crying too? She could have sworn she recognized moist eyes through her blurry vision. "Who knew I had, like, this totally awesome sister?

"I so told you we're gonna be great together." If it was going to make her sister happy, she was going to do it. Jump? How high?

[member="Keira Ticon"]