Private So Close to Something Better Left Unknown

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

"Not the world - a specific arc of sky, a range of routes. I have personal interests in that direction. If a successful test obstructs Jedi and Levantine traffic that way with any kind of permanence, it staves off confrontations that everyone is better off avoiding."

That, at least, was the theory. Ashin decided she had under-prepared for the possibility of snaring an actual hazard during testing, let alone at such close range.

"Personal interests, not atrocities, to be clear."

Brooke Waters

 

[Brooke Waters]

Brooke could understand the interests. She cared about the Levantine Sanctum worlds. Bringing people near but never off the garden path that lead to the mystic and hidden worlds. There was too much at stake to upset them.

To bring them away from their own unique goals. They protected from the wilds.

“Protect your own interests. And keep people out of your way? What do you intend to do with the ones you do catch?”

Current ship included. The ships controls which typically hummed blue were a purple at the moment. Safe but ready. Even Token wasn’t quite sure what the ship knew and understood.

Ashin Cardé Varanin

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

Ashin found herself laughing, just once, a dry little sound. "You did have the option to turn around. It's a wall, not...flypaper. What use would I have for trapping random ships across huge stretches of Wild Space?"

A use or two, admittedly, come to think of it. A potential plan for another day.

"Good fences. That's the goal. The only goal, today."

Brooke Waters

 

[Brooke Waters]

Brooke considered her words. This was definitely a conflict and she was happy to be solving this without fighting. As a witch of her station, she could continue to be the young woman who traveled and posed as mostly human. She could continue to allow Ashin to think of her as a no one; just someone with a few tricks.

But the other woman did come for her. Coming to this ship and knocking her free unconscious.

“Well, trick is I have some things to do on Arda. A small settlement that I call home. And some propagation of a very rare coral polyp works lovely here…”

Ashin could move on too, in Brooke’s opinion.

Ashin Cardé Varanin

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

"Conveniently, you're now on the side of the barrier that I would prefer you not to be. I have no difficulty extending you the professional courtesy of a clear route to Arda today." She paused very slightly before saying 'today.'

"Before I go, a question. I had a friend, a good friend, from this same little world. Have you heard anything in recent years about Seydon of Arda ?"

Brooke Waters

 

[Brooke Waters]

She was paying close attention. “So you’re keeping people out of the Levant Space?” The witch was more than happy that she was able to pick through this ritual. Sometimes fighting with the Force was brute strength. Other times it was finesse.

She much preferred the latter.

“That’s it? You’re just going to let me go?” The blonde looked to the control of the ship. Wondering if they were being tracked.

“Seydon? I’ve heard the name. Hushed tales. One of the few that were from the Sanctum than adopted it…”

Ashin Cardé Varanin

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

Nothing useful, then. A shame. Ashin dwelt on that rare sense of loss in lieu of gracing Brooke Waters with any further explanation.

"Your way will clear," she said, and ended the projection, a deep relief. In her final moment aboard Waters' ship, she heard the pilot gasp himself to consciousness, unharmed.

She woke in her observation deck's comfortable chair. Jaccath had dimmed the lights.

A quick incantation relaxed a portion of the ritual's interdiction field. The witch was free to move on to Arda.

 

[Brooke Waters]

As soon and sudden as Ashin had arrived, she was alone again. Well alone sans her crew and the ship. “Nautilos. Make sure to log that vessel.” Brooke ordered. The ship went from purple to blue again on its instruments as it pushed forward.

Feeling the field drop, Brooke released a bit of her own magick. But as they continued, she sent one more message through the Force.

“Don’t keep searching for Token.”

A minor warning, but she did feel that crossing paths with Ashin again would not be a good thing.

Ashin Cardé Varanin