The Lioness and the Lamb

[Republic Engineering]

There was so much she had wanted to do with the suit once it had been made whole, but as she balled her fingers into a fist - she knew that there would have to be some improvements made to the design before another trial could take place. Though fatigue had gripped her body tight, the Hapan had felt her mind race at the new possibilities such additions could bring. The odd parallel between her weary flesh and revitalized mind had caused a weak chuckle to burst past the Captain's lips. A greater challenge. One that would undoubtedly knock her off her feet - if she wasn't prepared. Now that she had known how the bare bones of her suit had performed, she would be able to learn more from the Holorecordings of the trial.

"Shatterbolters and Shattercannons, eh?" She said with a worn-out smile. "I'd love to see how those work with these suits. Perhaps once I finish with the fine tuning and encase this obsidian shell in armor, I could see the suit deployed with such weapons and placed in a scenario slightly more strenuous than this."

Unclenching the Fist her hand had made, Astarii fanned her fingers across an armored hip, before leaning into a resting pose. It wasn't much, but such an act would be enough to restore a meager portion of her strength, at least enough so that she could return to her appropriated bay.

"Though, I'm glad that I could've put on a show for you to enjoy."

| [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] |

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Astarii Saren"]


Siobhan smiled brightly. She liked motivated go-getters who shared her love for destructive weapons. "Excellent. They're both nice pieces of hardware. A shattercannon is essentially a rotary cannon that fires projectiles at hypervelocity and packs a mean punch. It's heavy and loud, but has an excellent firing rate and can penetrate medium vehicle armour. The shatterboltgun is the offspring of a shattergun and a bolter. The railgun can deliver tremendous damage to the point of penetrating heavy vehicles, while also serving bombardment purposes against infantry. Can be loaded with explosive bolts, slug rounds and grenades."


Yep, Siobhan really loved her heavy weapons. "I'll make them available for you for testing once you've completed your work on the suit. But enough about work. I imagine you would like some rest and food after the nice show. May I invite you to dinner?"

 

[Republic Engineering]

In seeing the woman's seductively warm smile brighten up her features as she spoke of heavy weapons and unleashing their destructive power, Astarii couldn't help but feel that this woman had developed an unhealthy obsession with the devastation wrought by her impressive selection of weapons. Who could blame her? The Hapan had known if the shoes were on the other foot, the path she took would've been the same. Seeing War and all of its horrors had that effect on people when they began supplying the weapons, as well as using them. Well, at least that's what she was led to believe, based solely on experience and lacking any credible source of evidence to back up her egregious thoughts. When she had finished her pitch with making several weapons available to the Hapan for the final phases of testing, a frail smile had curled across her lips - but widened ever further as the mention of a dinner invitation had fallen in her proverbial lap. The mere prospect of Food after such a strenuous activity was far too enticing to reject.

"Yes, you may," Astarii said with a voracious glimmer in her eye. "I haven't had much to eat today, so the thought of eating something elegant has me already watering at the mouth."

With that said, she swallowed a mouthful of pooling saliva and stood slightly straighter. Despite fatigue and various other elements wishing for the Captain to rest - that was simply something, she couldn't do until her belly had feasted on the succulent treats of Mon Calamari, or whatever the Fiery Scion had decided to serve them at the table.

_______________________________________________________________​

As the results from the test had come in, and the technicians had their chance to review trial's outcome carefully, they were impressed that the suit had been working in accordance with their design. They were not only surprised that their initial prototype had performed so well, but that the Captain herself had bonded with the suit through the neural interfaces. With much of the information they had obtained being incomplete or locked behind proprietary bars, the technicians were worried that their work would've been all for naught.

Seeing that the opposite had become their reality and that their first test subject wasn't painting the interior of the obsidian undersuit a vibrant crimson, they breathed a sigh of collective relief. That meant more and more soldier's of various stripes would soon undergo the same process as the Valiant Hapan Captain, so they had to make themselves ready by perfecting what was already done. Notes were tidied and restructured for ease of access; careful diagrams were re-drawn to suit the eyes of others, and finally, their historical references and the like were sequestered within several files that would eventually be attached to the project should it ever be broached by the Alliance and Firemane ever again.

As this was her brainchild, Astarii would receive a copy of their findings and efforts for future uses - tagged and secured as per the company's protocol, naturally.

| [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] |

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Astarii Saren"]


Siobhan smiled broadly. She did indeed love her big guns more than was healthy, but it meant she could appreciate death dealing toys! Perhaps it was also a way of dealing with the horrors she'd experienced. War, no matter what cause it was fought for and whether you were victor or vanquished, always left its scars. However, for the time being she turned her attention to more down-to-earth activities. Such as keeping her stomach from rumbling any more. Moreover, it offered the chance of spending more time with the Hapan Captain, of whom the Firemane had clearly acquired a very good opinion.


"Excellent. I just happen to know a classy restaurant that's close to Firemane HQ. Freshen up and change, then meet me in the lobby. We'll take my speeder," she suggested jovially. The Manu catered to Dac's upper class and was famed for serving the best seafood in the Galaxy, though it could also accommodate the tongue and stomach of those who were less inclined to feast on the local delights. The restaurant served its customers under a duraglass dome on the ocean bed. Vistas were spectacular, Grand Reefs teeming with bioluminescent life-forms.

 

[Republic Engineering]

It wasn't long after they had parted from one another's company, that Astarii had finally been able to strip herself of the obsidian undersuit. She would've done it minutes before, but just as she was about ti disengage one of the seals - she caught a tardy technician cleaning up his desk. Had he not carelessly spilled a sparse collection of data slates onto the floor, the Hapan would've never known he was there. Had she elected to remove the powered undersuit, it would've been an awkward situation that would've been embarrassing for both parties.

Nevertheless, after shouting at the man to drop the crystalline pads where he stood and depart, the Captain was finally alone and able to disengage the seals keeping her entombed within her armor. Pressurized jets of steam vented into the air as the fiber-bundles parted to reveal cloth covered flesh beneath. While the woman was far from naked, the amount of perspiration and vital fluids that had accumulated underneath the obsidian flesh had left little to the imagination. Now free of her burdens and shivering, Astarii softly padded towards the refreshers with as much alacrity as her weakened form could muster.

Once within the confines of the chamber, the Captain carefully purged her flesh of the blood and sweat, leaving nothing but a smooth glimmering finish behind. Naked and beaded with the congealed remnants of the sonic shower, Astarii toweled herself dry and discarded the soiled fabric with a venomous gesture. Freshened up and somewhat revitalized, the Hapan clad herself in the freshly pressed uniform she had prepared the night earlier - though for an entirely different circumstance. With the last toggle pushed through the pearlescent fabric, she made her way through the compound towards the crystalline lobby and rejoined the Scion's company with a famished, and fatigued smile.

| [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] |

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Astarii Saren"]


Astarii would find the Firemane Queen sitting on a couch in the crystalline lobby. She was wearing a very classy and most likely expensive black skirtsuit. Her firemane cascaded about her shoulders and a pearl necklace graced her neck. She was also presently occupied reading a magazine about gardening. You see, Siobhan adored orchids and loved to collect them. Sometimes she even talked to them. Woe to any servant who did not take care of her lovely flowers while the Scion was away.


Anyhow, she noticed Astarii's appearance, put the magazine away and flashed the Captain a bright smile. It did not escape Siobhan's attention that the Hapan looked...very good in the finely pressed uniform. However, she resisted the urge to flirt since the woman had shown no such interests and she did not want to risk making her uncomfortable.


"Ah, there you are, Captain. All freshened up. Good." she said warmly and got to her feet. Her cane flew into her hand with a casual gesture. "I've already booked a table for us. We'll have some privacy and a lovely view of the ocean. My speeder's outside," she at the Eldorai receptionist. "Liliana, if I get a call, direct it to Maerys. I'll be out for the evening."


"Yes, Your Ladyship. Have a nice evening."


"I shall. Don't stay behind the desk too late in the night," having said these words Siobhan limped out of the sprawling complex that was the heart of her little corporate empire. A luxurious speeder was waiting for them on the landing pad. A tough looking, dark skinned Firemane soldier dressed in a spotless uniform would be piloting. He got out of the craft and pilotely opened the door for them. After the two ladies had embarked, he would take off and steer the craft through the skyline of Dac towards the fancy restaurant.

 

[Republic Engineering]

When their company had been joined once more, Astarii's silvered eyes whirred with mechanical life as they found themselves drawn to the bound pieces of flimsi-plast that the Scion had discarded as the Hapan had made her approach. Taking a moment to glance casually down at the pressed plastic surface, she'd noticed that the cover focused solely on botany - which had caught the Captain by surprise. Though she had not known the Lady Kerrigan long, she would've never pegged her for an avid lover of exotic flora.

Stifling the urge to chuckle, Astarii tore her lusterless gaze from the folded adverts and allowed her gaze to follow after the rising Scion. As the woman had summoned her cane to her person and roused herself from one of the many couches populating the Firemane's pellucid oceanfront lobby, the Hapan had followed in her wake - fatigue slowing her every step. While the refresher had given the Mist-born woman some of her strength back - nothing short of several hours of sleep would return the Captain back to a more dynamic state.

However, the prospect of living in the lap of luxury for one night was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

Parting ways with the Eldorai Receptionist, whose name Astarii had barely heard as they passed her desk, they exited the compound and had made their way towards a lavish Speeder that awaited them atop one of the nearby landing pads. Ducking inside after the Lady Kerrigan had taken her seat and allowing the Stalwart Soldier to seal them within, the Captain couldn't help but whistle in amazement as her eyes devoured everything in sight. Once they had dusted off the flight deck and sped off into the distance, the Hapan's augmented eyes fell upon the Scion with a weak, but warm smile.

"Thank you for this," She said sweeping a hand across the cushioned interior of the speeder. "And thank you for allowing me to build the Armour."

| [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] |

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Astarii Saren"]


The Stalwart Soldier expertly steered the craft through Dac's sky. He was from a remote planet called Dahomey. Many years ago, it had been the Scion's first conquest. Before Firemane, before the Galactic Alliance and the One Sith. She'd been a simpler woman back then. Just a burnout, cynical ex-Jedi mourning her teacher's death and in need of a purpose.


Simpler days, perhaps, though this is what people always tend to say about the past. At this point they seemed like another lifetime to Siobhan. Old adventures she occasionally looked upon with a feeling of nostalgia. Or told her daughters as bedtime stories.


The speeder shot off into the night sky, overflying the beautiful city. There was a strong breeze and so the wind kissed her skin. She brushed a stray lock of hair aside since it was getting into her face. She glanced over towards the evidently fatigued Captain and gave her a smile.


"Thank you for giving me the chance to make it, dear. Put it to good use stomping Sith and I'll be more than happy," she said softly. "I'd like to know more about you. Only stuff you're comfortable talking about, of course. You're from Hapes, correct?" Siobhan was intrigued, but didn't want to come across as nosy.


The Manu soon came into view and the speeder gracefully descended down from the sky like a mechanical bird. Perhaps like an eagle. Siobhan would have probably liked that comparison. The Countess had called ahead and reserved a parking space at the restaurant.

 

[Republic Engineering]

"From the Cluster, Yes," Astarii had politely corrected, "My family and I come from the manufacturing world of Charubah, and own a myriad of locations on the surface. Ranging from automated textile mills, to orbital shipyards."

Slowly falling prey to the vivid images of the past, the Hapan's eyes nearly glossed over with the fog of recollection. She remembered the world being at her fingertips but chose to cast aside her birthright in service to an ideal greater than that of greed. Breathing deeply, she tried to claw her way back into the present; the Captain continued without hesitation - no longer scared of the daemons that lurked in the darkest recesses of her mind.

Astarii knew, in the back of her mind, that she couldn't be anywhere safer than where she was now. In recognition of this simple truth, a smile rife with content eclipsed the Hapan's face, painting the disfigured alabaster flesh with a genuine grin.

"I gave it all up for the love of adventure. When I was younger, all I ever wanted was to see the stars as they truly were and to do so I'd have to enlist in the Consortium's Navy." As the memories of her time as a lowly Ensign had come flooding back into the forefront of her waking mind, she had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing. "It was such a sobering change; I almost washed out of the Royal Academy twice because I wasn't ready for how different that world was."

Though the urge to burst into a reminiscent laughter had faded slightly, the Hapan allowed herself to chuckle - relieving herself of the building tension within her breast.

"After that, there isn't much to say. I fought for my Queen and our secular nation, but my ideals were fundamentally betrayed by those I trusted the most. Falling prey to the subtle machinations of the One Sith Empire," Astarii had nearly spat out the name, coating the words with as much venomous bile as she could muster. "I turned my back on the Consortium, and found my way into the arms of the Alliance, which led me to you."

As her story had come to a fortuitous end, she couldn't help but feel her mood soar, despite the icy fingers of fatigue clawing their way into her mind. The thrill of excitement and pleasurable company had surged through her veins, giving the woman the strength she required to peer out into their surroundings - while the Speeder had made its raptorial descent.

Touching down upon the well-maintained flight deck, the Hapan gracefully lifted her tired hands from her lap and opened the adjoining door, before offering the other to her companion should she need the assistance disembarking. It was the least she could do for such an enjoyable ride but would understand if she had decided to stand on her own. She'd probably been doing it long before the Captain had ever come to Mon Calamari, and would continue to do so long after she was gone.

| [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] |

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Astarii Saren"]


Siobhan smiled slightly. There were many differences between the two women, even if you overlooked the fact that one was a darkside Space Wizard and the other a Stalwart Soldier of the Alliance who used her brain, brawn and technology instead of space magic to slay evildoers. Siobhan had not been a noblewoman, but come from the gutter.


But in a way she sensed a kindred spirit in the Hapan. Both had experienced betrayal and suffered under the Sith. Both had a strong sense of duty and wanted to see the cancerous abomination that was the Sith destroyed. Besides, Siobhan was a fan of matriarchal regimes.


"Thank you for sharing. The Sith are a disease that must be eradicated. I've never been to Charubah, but I was on Hapes a few times in the past. Always liked the place. There is much about it that's admirable. It's a shame it fell to treason," she said softly.


"My own homeworld was seized by the Sith, too. Distant rim world. It was way before anyone heard of the One Sith. I lost family then. It's one of the reasons I spent so much of my life fighting them, even though I'm not really a frontline soldier anymore. It's why I show no mercy to traitors."


The speeder had landed on the well-polished flight deck and Astarii was the first to arise. Siobhan appreciated the courtesy when the Hapan offered her hand to her. She gave the officer a smile to show she appreciated it, but elected to stand herself. "Come on, my dear. Let's go inside." It was only a short walk to the magnficient restaurant. Inside, the staff greeted them merrily and guided them to their table. Apparently the Countess was a regular guest here.

 

[Republic Engineering]

Unphased by the kind refusal of aid, the Captain instead busied herself with teasing the hems of her uniform’s jacket, ensuring it was as straight as could be. She had expected the gesture to be pushed aside, thus felt no ill will towards the Scion as she roused herself from the Speeder’s interior. Once the both of them were free from the vehicles padded embrace, the Hapan kept pace with the Lady Kerrigan as they walked towards the ostentatious entrance to the restaurant. Elegantly clothed members of staff had greeted them, and in turn directed them towards their reserved table. It was too rich of a touch for the Captain, who was used to less fancy attire and high-class establishments, but despite the fact her augmented eyes were overwhelmed with the polished marvel - Astarii did her best to smile.

With one of the servants pulling out her seat and sliding it into place as she sat, the pleasant smile had faded with a mild gasp of surprise. Today was, and would most likely be, a day of many firsts. Chuckling softly at how foolish such a reaction was, the Hapan’s fatigued lips offered a beaming - if not slightly disfigured grin, paired together with crimson flushed cheeks. As the sensation had faded, and her earlier words had come to the fore once more, the Captain found herself intrigued by the quintessential origin story of her compatriot. She had lost family when her homeworld was taken into the Sith’s iron grasp and had fueled her burning desires to fight back against those vile invaders. When Astarii had heard those words slip through the Lady Kerrigan’s lips, she didn’t smile then. As much as the dead would relish being remembered with a smile, it was the aching void they left behind that brought on so much sorrow.

Though, in keeping with the Scion’s example, the Captain retained her stone-faced, albeit tired, visage until they had touched down outside the lavish dining hall.

Returning to the events of the present with a casual blink, the Captain took up the crystalline goblet of water affixed to the table mere moments before and drowned her tongue in it’s perfected clarity. Even the water tasted gilded here; She mused as the glass once again became a part of the table. Pushing the thought aside and blinking the rising tides of fatigue from her mind, Astarii leaned forward in her seat ever so slightly. “Since it seems you’ve been here before,” the Hapan said knowingly, “What would you recommend?”

| [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] |​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Astarii Saren"]


"Well, the fried sweet shrimp with asparagus and carrots are exquisite. I'm quite fond of them. They also have good soup." She likewise raised a crystalline goblet of water and brought it to her lips. The titian-maned Countess had not exerted herself like the stalwart soldier, but, though business meetings and paperwork could not compare with pitting yourself against combat automatons whilst wearing experimental power armour, she was more than a little tired.


Bright light danced across her pale skin, giving it some colour, but also highlighting her scars. Though beautiful, she was not unblemished. War had ravaged both of them. "To a new friendship, and the downfall of the One Sith." It sounded like an appropriate toast for her. Perhaps she could visit Hapes again after the Sith Empire had been crushed and dumped on the ash heap of history.