Proliferation Is Bad (Phylis)

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Phylis Alince"]



"Businesswoman now actually. I was a Jedi a long time ago. Helped found and rule the Protectorate for a while. It's a long story. It's a pleasure to meet you, Marius, and become acquainted with Phylis' family. We're good friends," Siobhan said brightly with a gracious smile, totally not trolling at all, as she shook the proffered hand. She had a firm, confident grip.



"I'd appreciate something to drink, thank you." She stepped into the residence, taking in the view.

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Perhaps unfortunately for Siobhan, Marius returned with 3 glasses of water and set one before his guest, one before his sister, and one for himself.
“Oh, so you’re that Siobhan!” Marius said enthusiastically. “I read all about your campaign here on Naboo, and against the Bando Gora.”
Phylis seemed a little put out by this display of knowledge. “Hopefully you’ve been keeping up with my work too,” she said peevishly.
“Oh yeah, of course, sis!” Marius said with an easy smile. “Digging up ruins doesn’t have the same excitement though as throwing battleships though.”
Phylis puffed herself up, ready to deliver a cutting remark of the respective value of warriors and sages, but at that moment the door opened.

Phylis’ parents were grey haired but seemed healthy and hale. Marius quickly rose to make introductions.
“Countess Kerrigan, meet Lucius and Jaina,” Marius said.
“Seems you’ve got a regular fanboy,” Phylis muttered disapprovingly.
She was interrupted by Lucius giving his daughter a hug and shaking Siobhan’s hand vigorously. “Pleased to meet you, and great to see you again as well, daughter!” he said.
Jaina seemed more reserved, giving Siobhan a slight nod of acknowledgement and her daughter a pat on the shoulder. There was something going on there…but what could not be ascertained easily.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Phylis Alince"]


For her part Siobhan, displaying her usual bloated ego, was of the belief that Phylis was being sulky because, after all the raids and auctions, her archives must be pretty depleted these days, at least when it came to the very important things! Presumably this meeting took place when she was still Councillor of First Knowledge. In this philistine Galaxy few could appreciate levitation in the Pre-Tythonian Period.



Of course, Sio would soon be brought back down the mortal level after being cruelly reminded of the limits of her so called 'awesome warrior prowess'. Which also did not enable her to chuck battleships, at least not without being ridiculously super-empowered. Perhaps she would lose her head. This writer does not like her much at all, but has not made up their mind.


Maybe they could get rid of a homicidal blonde droid, who was likewise overrated, as well.



"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr and Mrs. Alince. Thank you for your hospitality," Siobhan said in a reasonably polite tone as she firmly shook Lucius' hand. Jaina seemed...less enthusted and more reserved. There was something going on between her and Phylis, but Siobhan, never the most observant of people unless it concerned her or she thought it did, did not catch up on it.

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
The family and Siobhan sat at the table. Caf was brewed and offered to Siobhan and Phylis. The latter took a cup and sipped from it.
“So, how have you been, Phylis?” Lucius asked eagerly. “Saving the galaxy again?”
“When I can,” Phylis said with a smile. “Though Siobhan here is more of the noble heroine than I. Saving planets and such.”
Jaina looked at Siobhan and seemed to notice her for the first time. “A ‘friend’ of my daughter, are you?” she demanded, accusatory.
Lucius tried to still her, and Marius attempted to steer the conversation away from troubled waters.
“So, Phy, are you going to be here long? I’d love to show you and Siobhan around the city. Quite a few things have changed since you left.”
“Indeed they have,” Jaina said darkly. She rose. “Lucius, I am feeling unwell, I am going to lay down.” Without any message of farewell to her daughter or visitor, she left.
Lucius looked pained. “My apologies, Siobhan. My wife…”
“It’s about my sister isn’t it?” Phylis said sadly. She looked at Siobhan. “I have…had a younger sister. She’s gone now…and I don’t think mother ever recovered.”
Due to this writer’s poor memory and the utterly useless search facility at the Craftshop, the name of said sister is on hold until it can be unearthed.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Phylis Alince"]


Awkward City: Family Edition!


This writer notes that Phylis' sister's name was Chloe. Amazing what this writer remembers.


What a queen. And they say I'm impolite, Siobhan thought to herself. She had noticed the way Phylis and her mother interacted, the clear tension between them. She did not like people not being nice to 'her' Phylis! "I understand. I'm sorry. My condolences for your loss," she said feelingly as she took a sip from her caf.


"You can be proud of your daughter. She is a great Jedi who has always been firm in her convictions and willingness to help others. She helped me through a very...difficult period in my life."

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
This writer is thankful. They had to go to the Craftshop again for that search; a terrible fate in a dull green wasteland.

“Thank you, Siobhan,” Phylis said. “Poor Chloe. She had the Force, like I did, but she was too headstrong, too wild. She left Naboo when she was fifteen. We’ve never heard from or of her since. I keep searching for her, but I fear she is gone.”
“It’s not your fault, Phy,” Marius said soothingly.
“Jaina…took it hard.”
“Chloe was always her favourite,” Phylis said bitterly.
“You are both our daughters,” Lucius said sternly. “We do not love one or either of you less.”
Phylis didn’t answer. That might be true of the father, but what of the mother? The mother who had a thing about the Force, clearly.

“So…what’s next for you two?” Marius asked, trying to brighten the mood.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Phylis Alince"]


This one finds that Phylis' writer is far too negative. After all, not so long ago the craftshop ran a fascinating plot about the True Reapers...no, wait, the Celestials invadinng!



Well, it just got even more awkward. Siobhan just watched the dialogue, picking up on the bitterness coming from Phylis and feeling a bit like an intruder. To her at least it certainly explained a few things about the librarian. She did not like the way Jaina talked to 'her' Phylis. The awkward moment was cut short by Marius enquiring about their plans.



"Well, we have some official business to take care of later. Nothing of the magnitude of saving planets or uncovering ancient secrets, but important enough," she responded. "I would not mind seeing a bit of Theed to see how it's changed. It's been a while since I came here. My wife and I spent our honeymoon on Naboo. It's a beautiful planet."

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
There was one of those brief pauses filled with purpose. "Your wife?" Lucius asked, surprised.
Marius neatly interjected. "Down by the lake country? It's beautiful down there!" he said enthusiastically.
"Yes, I believe they got one of the villas on the island in the lake." She looked to Siobhan. "We used to go down there for summer holidays," she explained.
Lucius seemed to have recovered. "It certainly is. My family used to own one of the villas down there in the old days. The Alince family used to be nobility in the time of the Old Republic. Times change, I guess."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Phylis Alince"]


Awkward pause. If he had a problem she did not care. "Yes, Tegaea Alcori. Former CEO and Exarch of OP, then Lady Protector. Though many people seem eager to forget all she accomplished," she added with a trace of bitterness. Someone who craved recognition as strongly as Siobhan did was bound to take what she believed to be a lack of appreciation very badly. Tegaea and Cira had reached an understanding during the latter's visit to Kaeshana - and Siobhan had been very touched by her coming after her wife had told her. That did not stop her from feeling a degree of resentment.


Of course, it was tied up with the fact that it was Siobhan's fault Tegs had suffered under the brutal torture of Kaelin.



Marius interjected and it was all shiny smalltalk again. "Well, we came from the gutter. Would never have thought we would end up where we are. I really like Naboo. Spent many happy moments here," having said that and finished her cup she arose from her chair. It seemed her welcome was running short. "Thank you very much for your hospitality."

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Phylis sensed it was probably time to move on herself before an incident occurred, rose. "I've got some business to finish up with Siobhan, but I'll come back later if that's alright with you?" she asked.
Brother and father readily agreed and soon Jedi and former-Jedi were leaving the house and heading down to the street by the lake again.

Phylis didn't say anything as they walked away, not because she was angry, but because she was being reflective. "Maybe one day I'll find out what happened to Chloe..." she said finally.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Phylis Alince"]


"I'm sorry for your loss, Phylis. If there's anything I can do to help...just shoot me a line," Siobhan said feelingly after the librarian broke the moment of silence between them. "Your mother's wrong about you though. Don't let her to get to you. You've been a great help to many."


At a private landing pad a shuttle away from the lake a shuttle awaited them. Their pilot was a very muscular, imposing blonde who filled out her uniform well in all the right places called Freya. Like Siobhan she was a zealous devotee of the Goddess Ardarvia and often joined her in worship of the Goddess. She gave the Countess a very knowing look as she prepared the craft for takeoff.

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
"Thank you, Siobhan. I guess she mainly gets to me because she's right in a way. If I didn't have the Force it would never have happened. Of course, anything else might have happened. My brother would have drowned without me unconsciously calling on the Force to save him from this very lake. Consequences are rarely as easy to judge as we'd like, I think."
The Jedi Master looked downcast a moment. "It's never easy to look at cold logic objectively. Well, we'd best get on."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Phylis Alince"]



"I know. Learned that the hard way a couple times," Siobhan said softly, giving Phylis' hand a gentle pat. In the meantime the transport shuttle had taken off and within a few moments they had broken through the atmosphere and, after Freya had sent the appropriate clearance codes, were moving to dock in the hangar of the Ardarvia.



"Thank you, Lieutenant Freya," Siobhan said as she got up. "Once my business with Master Alince is concluded, please join me in the Shrine of Ardarvia. I think prayer session is on," she leaned forward to give the blonde a soft kiss on her lips.



"Of course. Devotion to the Goddess is important. I will come promptly for you...Countess," at that Freya suddenly grabbed Siobhan just as she was turning to leave, muscular arms wrapping around the Countess and holding her in place before she was pulled into a heated, no-holds barred kiss.


Siobhan looked a bit flustered when she was released, a delicate finger being raised to trace across her kiss-swollen, lip-gloss covered lips. As she turned to leave she suppressed a yelp when she felt a strong hand give her a good swat on her butt. "Excellent...I'll see you then. Come on, Phylis. Let's get you those artefacts," she said. She had been lacking in her veneration of the Goddess recently. That would have to be corrected.



The landing ramp was lowered with a hiss and they stepped down into the hangar. Before them an honour guard of sorts had assembled, Firemane troopers lining out on both sides of the ramp and standing at perfect attention with perfectly groomed uniforms as if they were on parade. It brought a smile to Siobhan's lips since she liked it when was treated people treated her like a queen. Especially if they were pretty and female.

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Phylis looked at the display with a mix of disapproval and shock.
“One wonders whether you ever do any work at Firemane,” she grumbled.

The Jedi Master followed Siobhan through the ship. She was wary that she didn’t end up in some sort of space elf bordello like last time. She wanted to get the items and leave as quickly as possible.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Phylis Alince"]


Siobhan just looked amused and chuckled. "Keeping all the girls satisfied is work! We also have regular team building exercises. Unit cohesion and motivation are very important." Somehow one had the impression that Firemane was a lesbian Sacred Band. Hopefully they would not experience a Charonea!



In any event after walking for what must have been a terribly long time they finally came to a restricted, heavily guarded section of the ship. The Literacy Module just happened to be right next door to the sealed chamber to which Siobhan led Phylis. After swiping a special keycard the heavy durasteel door, which was guarded by heavy turrets, opened to reveal a force field shielding a compartment that contained the shiny holocrons the librarian had come for.


The door closed behind them and Siobhan typed in a few commands on a console, deactivating the energy field. "There you go. Shiny artefacts just for you."

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
This one hopes that no Philip and Alexander combo arises to subdue the worlds of OP and overthrow them in a great campaign across the worlds of the galaxy. One would hope they’d aim at the CIS instead.

Still, when Phylis reached the vault she was vaguely surprised that the items were actually there and not some sort of metaphor for Sapphic indulgence. She gathered them up and carefully stowed them inside a case and headed for the door.
“The money will be transferred to you as soon as these are secured. Thank you, Siobhan.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Phylis Alince"]


"You're welcome, Phylis. I really hope you guys improved security after Coruscant. No offence meant. Tython's just no secret anymore," Siobhan said. Probably not the most tactful thing to say, but, whatever. Regardless she accompanied the Jedi Master.



"So...are we friends again?" she asked hopefully. She did not at all sound like a little girl right now.

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
The Jedi Master sighed profoundly and looked back from the ramp of the transport. “Of course we’re still friends, Siobhan. But that’s all we are, not friends with benefits, not ‘friends’ and certainly not friends in any sense you might use. Having said that, I will always be there to help you if you need it, and I trust you will be too for me.”

“Take care of yourself, Siobhan…try not to pray too hard,” she joked.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Phylis Alince"]



"But the Goddess demands devotion! I'll make sure to take a break. You don't spend too much time uncovering every civilisation's dirty secrets," Siobhan joked and impulsively gave the librarian a hug. "May the Force be with you. If you need something...just call." Aww, wasn't she being sweet?


Then she released Phylis and turned away, allowing her to board the transport that would take her back to Naboo. As for Siobhan, she had a prayer session to attend.