Things We Missed

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

Hall of Sight
Widow
Naboo System

One of Widow’s most significant ruins is known only to a very few. Buried in the sand-choked niches of canyon wall, the Hall of Sight is virtually intact. The statuary, as with many Elder representations, depicts vaguely reptilian humanoids with closed eyes and a (probably symbolic) third eye on their foreheads. The Hall of Sight centres on a subterranean freshwater pool whose worn stone steps indicate that it served as a frequent site for bathing, drinking, rituals, or meditation. Whether from ancient use or some natural quality, the Hall of Sight is a powerful, ancient Force nexus. Strange tablets and records on gold leaf have been found in the Hall’s side chambers. The images on them bear strong resemblances to other ancient species across the galaxy, such as the Columi, Killiks, Duros, and Gree. It is theorized that groups among the Elders used the Hall of Sight to learn of their contemporaries, perhaps with an eye to contacting or avoiding them. Those Force-sensitives who meditate in the flowing pool and/or drink the water may experience vastly greater clarity of visions and farsight, proportionate to their relevant skill. The experience is physically exhausting proportional to the importance, precision, and duration of the vision. The water has no effect if taken from the area. The nexus has no intrinsic bias or inclination toward either side of the Force. Its main defense is secrecy.

***​

​

"Nice place, isn't it."

Ajira rested her elbows on the edge of the stone pool, propped her chin on her clasped hands, and looked over the array of university brochures laid out before her. Cool water lapped at her back between her shoulderblades.

"I've had some real experiences here. One genuine farsight vision, even - me. I can't sense much of anything. Anyways, I figured you'd like this."

Half her attention was on the conversation with her fellow swimmer, her partner of many years. The other half of her attention remained with the brochures.

"'Mature student' is the term, apparently. How diplomatic of them."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

One of Ajira's datapads was her list of brochures she'd collected, hailing from schools that weren't on Naboo. Ajira Cardei, before Ashin Varanin stole her body and career, had studied on Naboo; no point in risking unnecessary contact with former teachers or classmates.

The list was an eclectic one. Higher education had been something of a wreck in the last few decades -- centuries, really.

• University of Lipsec. Specializing in chemistry and fashion merchandising. First Order territory.
• Victoria City University, Dosuun. First Order territory.
• University of Eight, Commenor. Large arts school, no sciences. Strong programs in trade, law, and politics.
• Madrasta University, Dosuun. Notable for physical therapy and a strong public policy school. First Order territory.
• Dagobah Tech. Notable for forestry, botany, and philosophy.
• University of Alderaan. Highly regarded comprehensive research institution. Notable programs include botany, political science, and medicine.
• Cardea University, orbiting Sullust. Focused on its strong medical research program.
• Sor Yusan College of Economics and Trade, Varada V. First Order territory.
• Advorian Institute of Engineering, Riflor. First Order territory.
• Levantine Astronautical Academy, orbiting Laekia, secondary campus above Sucellus. Strong in sciences, engineering, and astrogation. Silver Jedi territory.
• Kathol Technical Academy, mobile campus, strong distance learning program. Notable for skilled trades, engineering, and sciences.

 

[Allyson Locke]

[SIZE=9pt]Spencer flourished in the water. She could feel the Force surrounding her and any sort of physical or emotional issue she was feeling felt as if it disappeared. Being born of the Force, Spencer felt at home in anything heavily contaminated with the Force. The water to her felt beyond rejuvenating. As Spencer made her way around in the water, she wondered if this was how people felt when they found the fountain of youth or something of the like. Either way, Spencer was going to be a brat when they had to eventually leave. She liked it here too much, but her attention was drawn from the amazing feeling of the Nexus and to the body that harbored her wife. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Hazel eyes blinked quickly as she wandered back over towards Ajira. They were alone here and she was allowed to show her affection as the woman’s wife. Floating up behind Ajira, Spencer softly kissed the woman’s exposed shoulders. It was a curious sight seeing that she was looking at universities attempting to continue to learn and study. Spencer had always wondered what it was like to experience school. Unlike Ajira and Ashin, Spencer grew up in a Witch Coven or whatever they were called. She ran barefoot with her twin brother in the swamps of Dathomir, until her mother realized her twins weren’t the best with the craft the witches used when using the force. Instead, they made their way to the Jedi order and then the rest was history. So, Spencer wasn’t the most educated, but she got along quite well. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I do like it here, I’m happy you brought me here. You have to promise to bring me back here often.” Spencer nuzzled against Ajira’s shoulder attempting to show her appreciation of the time the woman had taken to bring her here. It felt like they rarely had an opportunity to have moments like this. Spencer snooped her attention towards the school brochures and glanced at every one of them. She was basing most of her interests on the images that were being displayed. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I want to go to.” It was all she said as she continued to look at the schools in front of Ajira. “Also mature student? Pft, you’re not that old - not to be mature.” Spencer, who looked like she was still in her mid to late 20s scoffed knowing that the pair of them had aged a bit despite how youthful she attempted to be.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I like that one, Ashin can I go with you to school?” Spencer pointed towards the pamphlet that read [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]University of Eight[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]. “I don’t care really though as long as I get to go with you.” [member="Ajira Cardei"][/SIZE]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

"Mm." Ajira shifted affectionately at the contact, but kept on flipping through the pamphlets and background research. "The University of Eight you say. I'd be comfortable with that. It's a dedicated arts school, no hard sciences, but from what I can tell...mm...it's got a very competitive law program. Probably too competitive for me to get in: looks like they weigh grades fairly high, and Ajira was a Besh-plus student during her undergraduate work.

"The Faculty, no, 'House' of Marketing and Trade is much bigger - sorry, just thinking out loud here - but it looks very micro-level in its focus. Or maybe I'm reading too much into this targeted work experience element. The House of Politics and International Relations looks like it has a dominant focus on peacemaking and peacebuilding. Good for a Naboo civil servant, but I'm not sure how useful peace is in the real 'verse. Still, these are some good programs, and Commenor is getting more influential by the day. Good choice."

She turned and rested her shoulders against the edge of the stone pool, facing Spencer. "We can come back here any time you like. It's not a well-known site, it's remote..." Somewhat to her surprise, she felt a genuine smile come on. "I was hoping you would like it.

"How about you, Your Majesty? That school has elite programs in, let's see..." Her memory wasn't what it had been, but short-term memory enhancement had always ranked among her most deft and useful Jedi talents. Or, as some called it, cheating. "Art, music, law, drama, poetics, commerce, marketing, culinary arts, politics, dance, circus arts of all things, and fashion. Sort of a liberal arts school hybridized with a specialized practical arts academy - an unusual model. Anyways. What sparks your fancy?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer listened as Ajira spoke about the different aspects of the school that Spencer had pointed to. In reality she just liked the picture of the most part and felt drawn to it. She did listen of course and entertained the idea of them going to school together. It was something she always fantasized about. It didn’t help that she was currently obsessed with romance holofilms, especially the ones that were surrounded with the school aspect. This was her opportunity to have another excuse to be around Ashin as Ajira without causing a suspicion. Being alone like this was such a rare occasion for the both of them and Spencer decided to take full advantage of it.

Remaining as close as she could she paused to think about the questions proposed by Ajira. There were several places Spencer could focus her studies. She was interested in most of them and the private tutoring she had as a child from the teachers that Ashin had lined up for her only taught her things of the Force. She had never had a proper schooling like a normal person out in the force. Musing over the thoughts she spoke softly as her index finger slowly traced along Ajira’s collar bone.

“Mm, I could go into anything really. I should do something political or like that - but I have no real interest in it.” She continued to think as she pondered culinary, but she only liked baking, then the arts seemed interesting, but she knew she’d get bored with it after some time. Her lips pressed together as she thought. The whole goal of this adventure was to spend time with Ajiria, “I want to do what you do - but I’ll take some classes in poetics, I like poems.”
Spencer leaned closer as she stopped tracing her fingers along Ajira’s collar bone, soft and slightly wet kisses trailed along Ajira’s neck. The Echani Queen couldn’t help herself, the woman in front of her had driven and continued to drive her insane since the day they had met when she was barely eighteen. With the consistent barriers now a days between them - Spencer couldn’t help taking advantage of situations such as this. [member="Ajira Cardei"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

Ajira stretched out her arms and rested her elbows on the sandstone rim behind her. Damp skin prickled in the cave air. She closed her eyes and let out a little sigh of released tension. "Mm. I think you'd enjoy that. Might even...mmh. Might even give you a way to connect with Dathomir on your terms. Aren't they...ngh...big on poetry?"

Something about the moment made her mind want to drift, and this place tended to amplify thoughts that drifted. In her mind's eye, she caught glimpses of another kind of future, or maybe it was another kind of past: a quiet life, focused on learning instead of power, wisdom instead of cunning. All things considered, she'd never had that or anything like it. Did she want it? Did Spencer? And if they tackled those possibilities on their terms, what would they look like?

"Queen Spencer the Poet..." she chuckled, eyes still closed. "Study art and governance like that, and you could make all sorts of impact on Eshan."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer mused over the thought of Dathomir, she had been originally banished by her niece or something (witch lines were wonky) and Spencer hadn't thought of going back mostly unless someone mentioned it. Of course she had stepped foot once or twice on the planet, the latest was to introduce Ibaris as a child to Satara, Spencer's birth mother. Beyond that - there never was any desire to return. Spencer shrugged at the thought, “I've never belonged there anyways - I think Aston has more a connection with the planet than I do. Could never feel Dathomir like the others.” She paused and thought about what she had said, “To be fair, it could have been my empathy interrupting any sort of ‘conversation’ the dirt was trying to have with me.”

Frowning she sighed, “Place is too muddy anyways. I think I prefer my father’s heritage over my mother's.” Eshan was clean and they had real buildings. There was a clear cut system in place and Spencer never had to worry about talking to the planet and doing voodoo tricks. She had mastered for the most part the conversational battle styles, but they were never perfected to the point she could use it as a means of complete protection.

The force surrounded her in this place and it opened her up even more to Ajira and vice versa. Though, it wouldn't be necessary as Spencer was already deeply linked with the woman. The possible path of their life emulated in the back of her mind. She curiously felt it and chuckled softly. Moving as close as she could to the ebony woman, Spencer placed delicately long fingers lightly against the other woman’s cheek. “Are you day dreaming Lover?” Spencer teased softly as her lips followed her fingers, brushing a tender kiss against the woman's cheek them against her lips.

“We both wish for a peaceful life, but when we get it - we eventually find ourselves bored and then suddenly dragged - well not particularly dragged…” Spencer chuckled, “We seem to literally jump head first into the issues of the galaxy, I don't mind it as long as at the end of the day you're with me.” Nodding Spencer continued to smile. “As for being a poet, it would allow me to be more cryptic when I'm harassing young padawans putting their noses into the Sith Empire’s history, or other things - it's always fun to get into their heads and watch them become frantic.” [member="Ajira Cardei"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

"You're right, it's a pattern. No real way around it; it's tied to our identities now. It's just who we are." She opened her eyes as Spencer pressed her up against the wall of the stone pool. "I guess you could say I was daydreaming. This place causes visions. I think it was trying to show me possible futures -- well, I'm sure you caught the edges of it."

She slipped down under the water, and brushed a kiss against Spencer's hip in passing as she swam out to the middle of the pool. "Retirement has been on my mind. Theed Hangar's higher-profile than ever, His Majesty's Office isn't happy with how I've dealt with some serious threats, my memory's fading a bit...bottom line, when I sign on with you for wherever we go, I don't think it'll be as Ajira Cardei." She snorted. "Besides, it seems I've accidentally made a stupid fortune, and I need to figure out what to do with that. These days I'm too busy to use it for anything more than the occasional..." She gestured around at the cavern. "...vacation."

Treading water eased some of the aches and pains of age. At the pool's centre, her toes just barely brushed the sandstone bottom.

"And if I'm going to think about changes this profound...there's always my old face to consider. The first one."

 

[Allyson Locke]

“You seem to be on track with how you usually go about things, piss someone higher up off, make a bunch of money, do things your way and etcetera.” Spencer chuckled as she moved to where Ajira was relaxing previously. It had a nice view of everything and she could see why the woman had remained there till Spencer had thrown herself at her. Pausing for a moment she looked towards Ajira.

“Not as Ajira?” The concept perplexed Spencer, but in the end she wasn't all that shocked. Ajira had a reputation along with a company and the like. Ashin of course helped boost Ajira’s profile a bit higher than she expected, but that was just Ashin’s own personality coming through. In the end, people would eventually figure it out - especially with Spencer being so oddly close with the Theed Hangar executive.

Then Ajira sold her on the change. “Your first face? Was always my favorite you know.” Of course Ashin had perfected the choice of faces through the years. Spencer experiencing a ‘new lover’ every time. It was interesting for the most part, bodies changed, but in the end it was the same person inside loving her. Of course, the way Ashin’s first face always felt the best - it was the face and the person she originally fell in love with.

“You know, the galaxy is most likely going to implode once they realize Ashin Varanin is alive and well again.” Spencer mused and a wide grin spread across her face. “Sometimes I wonder if you enjoy the way the galaxy quivers at the mention of your name.” Spencer emphasized her statement with a shiver, “I know I do, especially when I think of the Ashin, I know.” [member="Ashin Karrde"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

"Ajira Cardei served her purpose: half a decade to rest, grow, learn, and get the lay of the land. But I think we both know I was never going to keep this body permanently. I despised Ajira. She treated my mother, my birth mother, with such disdain -- and me, whenever I visited. She was Omega Protectorate to the hilt. Just like Cater, Cira, Sarge, HK-thirty-six, and Kerrigan at their worst moments, she had no sense of proportion but plenty of willingness to judge, and she had precious few of their redeeming qualities. No, I took pleasure in ripping her out of her own body and throwing her away, but I don't enjoy seeing her in the mirror. I'd like to be myself again, not Ori'vod or Shira Karrde or Ajira Cardei. It's been decades since I recognized myself."

She put aside anger as best she could and let treading water steal some of her tension.

"Plenty of people cloned me over the years; plenty of my clones are running around or still on ice. I've kept track of a few. I'll have to do some more digging, maybe find another life to slip into. More than a few of them go by Ashin or some variant. Maybe I'll go public as Varanin, maybe not. At this stage, I don't care. It's been five years since I dueled someone in any serious way, more than ten since I commanded a fleet with real teeth. I wouldn't mind getting back to...real life eventually, but a better life than I used to have. So when I pick an education with you, whatever that ends up looking like, that'll be part of it. I'll make that work regardless of where I go or what I aim to become.

"And you'd better believe I enjoy the quivering."

 

[Allyson Locke]

“I see, I could pick up on some of your frustrations...especially when we were together.” Spencer paused and sighed softly. She did miss seeing the woman’s face, it was the one she held closest to her heart. All these years she always thought back to that face, having it recalled consistently in the back of her mind. “I only know of one clone of mine, other than that I don’t think many have been fortunate enough to have my dashing good looks.” Spencer flipped her blonde hair, knowing only of the companion named @Saffron. “Let’s enjoy this vacation as much as we can, we start university soon.”

--------------------

Few Months later.

Spencer boarded the shuttle, a book bag slung over her shoulder with random items along with her data pad and other forms of study templates. It had been a few weeks since classes had started and she was already starting to feel the pressure. She had no idea school would be like this. The Jedi Academy didn’t prepare you for anything when it came to a formal education. Sure, she could diplomat her way through a war, but when it came to talking her way out of an assignment - forget it. Slumping, Spencer tossed her pack onto one of the seats and then herself into the adjacent. The woman sighed as she stared at the ceiling, she had been calling Ajira’s office for the past few weeks wondering why Ashin hadn’t made contact with her at school. Had something happened?

There was one thing she was sure of, the woman wasn’t dead and she hadn’t left the system. If she did, Spencer would feel it. Frustration kicked in and Spencer began to rummage through her bag, she pulled out the datapad and turned it on and dialed in a series of numbers. The datapad remained in her lap and on her wrist a hologram popped up from the smaller version of her data pad.

Another redirection and another I don’t know who you are came from the Theed Hangar Exec. Being one of the bigger backers didn’t seem to mean anything anymore. The comm call ended and she stuck her tongue out at the blank screen. Arms crossed she waited for the shuttle to take off, unaware to her, the rest of the shuttle was quiet empty. It was possible the ship was waiting for others to board. @Ashin Karde

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

New Habat University wound up being a pretty solid choice. A comprehensive post-secondary institution, like the ones that had piqued their interest, it had courses and degrees in everything from poetry to politics to hyperspatial physics. It maintained a number of starships, from long-range shuttles to Naboo-built science frigates. It was also located in the same tree-filled city where Velok had officiated at the private wedding of Spencer Jacobs and Ashin Varanin, a very long time ago.

After a little while the shuttle lifted off, empty except for Spencer and whoever was inside the cockpit. Its flight plan was pretty straightforward, between two of NHU's central areas. NHU, like most good-sized galactic universities, was the size of a small city all by itself. Regular shuttles and hovertrains and tunnels connected the campus with itself like a spiderweb. These particular shuttles were simple, locally built: for crew, they required only a single living pilot, and they each had a backup pilot droid. Presumably, that droid was flying, because the pilot had just slipped through the door into the passenger compartment and closed it behind her.

She wore the off-white, high-necked uniform of NHU's civilian flight service, the people who drove the shuttles and operated the science ships. She also wore the face of Ashin Varanin.

"Is Your Majesty pleased with the quality of the flight so far?" she said, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer kept her arms folded across her chest as she looked out a nearby window. Everything seemed to have started up with the ship and they were finally leaving. Her mind was filled with questions for Ashin or Ajira or whoever the woman was. How could she play this cruel joke on her? They were supposed to be doing this school thing together. Her brow showed her frustration as she remembered she was going to need help with reading the documents she was assigned to read. You could only get away with basic basic for so long. Groaning, Spencer pinched the bridge of her nose while closing her eyes. It was one of of those tension headaches.

Someone moved towards her, she figured it was possibly another student, hopefully it wasn’t someone who she had a class with. The last thing she wanted right now was to discuss class. The person stood near her and she sighed softly, how was she going to work herself out of this conversation? Her guard fell for a moment and she felt something familiar prickle down her neck. Why did this presence feel familiar? Then the question and the title she was addressed as. Majesty? No one knew who she was or did they? She had done some decent work at keeping her identity pretty locked down, but why here of all places.

The blonde woman’s attention turned towards the being that decided to interrupt her pity party of frustration. Hazel eyes fluttered open and she came face to face with a uniformed woman. Glancing upwards, as her mouth opened to respond - she choked on the oxygen and came face to face with the face she hadn’t seen in years. Spencer attempted to catch the breath she choked on as she stared for a moment and attempted to find her voice. This wasn’t the first time she had come face to face with an Ashin clone, one or two she had met and felt a sort of longing for them, but mostly in the physical sense. This face was the face of the woman that changed her life and the reason for her to be here now.

Instantly images of that bar on Nar Shaddaa filled her mind and a very subtle lip bite as she tried to gather herself. Legs crossed and hands fell in her lap, Spencer inhaled deeply and looked at the woman, “Ashin?” Her wife had mentioned not showing up at school as Ajira, but with how many clones were running around, she didn’t want to throw herself into the arms of another woman (?). Even if physically she was her wife, but only in looks. [member="Ashin Karrde"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

This model of shuttle seated its passengers in mini-booths, four seats facing four seats. Ashin sat down facing Spencer and rested her elbows on her knees.

"It's me," she said, now grinning in earnest. "This took longer to set up properly than I thought it would take. I had to get access to the old SLATE logs and pull some strings inside the Foundation Trust. You're looking at one empty clone that is no longer empty. Then I just...traded lives with another clone who had a job flying for this very university. She's now first officer on a Naboo escort corvette, and her worthless boyfriend is now with a men's rights group in the Hapes Cluster. And Ajira Cardei has retired to the Lake Country, so far as anyone knows.

"So here I am: Captain Ashin Karrde of New Habat University. Sometimes your shuttle pilot, sometimes captain of the good ship Shamballa, running research missions all over the space that used to belong to the Lords of the Fringe.

"I missed you, but I needed to do it right. You can never really trust the comms in First Order territory, or the security cameras." The grin broadened. "Oh, by the way, there's no binding workplace policy about relationships with students. I checked."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer tried her hardest to keep a look that read ‘you’re in trouble for taking this long’, but the Force knew that Spencer couldn’t remain upset at Ashin of all people. The woman had a knack for keeping the blonde waiting and Spencer at times wondered if she knew it. In the end, she did always make it up to her - which of course got Ashin off the hook. Spencer examined the woman’s face, fully taking it in. The whole moment felt like deja vu and Spencer was once more a youthful little padawan. A playful smile cracked the look she was giving Ashin as she sighed defeated yet relieved.

“The First Order are quite put together, reminds me of another Empire of the past.” The smile trickled into a smirk as she rested her palm on her chin. Ashin was clever and she always covered her bases - here and there her lack of sense got the best of her, but that’s why Spencer was around. “I’m glad you found a face that was familiar. I was starting to feel like a floozy.” The news that their relationship wouldn’t have to remain hidden was something that Spencer dreamed of hearing for some time now. Having to hide things when she was with Ajira was hard.

Always looking over her shoulder when she left the woman’s home, always wondering if her comm was tapped when they finished holo calls, and now everything was going to be simpler, for the most part it seemed. Placing the data pad next to her, Spencer stood up to Ashin and blinked slightly. A slight tilt of her head, she waved her hand the best she could over Ashin’s. “I remember you a bit taller, maybe it was those awful shoes you wore back then.” Chuckling, Spencer couldn’t fight it anymore and grabbed a hold of the shuttle pilot by the collar and kissed her like it was their first. [member="Ashin Karrde"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

With a surprised “oof!” Ashin found herself dragged off her seat and into a kiss. She kept her footing by bracing herself against Spencer’s chair, or else Ashin would have tumbled into her. Maybe the new body’s unfamiliarity was to blame, or the shuttle had hit a bump - or maybe, more likely, it had been a while since anyone had touched her peremptorily. Down on one knee now, she relaxed into the kiss.

“There was nothing wrong with my shoes. They were really, really good at stopping lightsabers.”

She rested her forehead against Spencer’s, arms looped behind her wife’s waist.

“I’m sorry this took so long. I’m not even sure I needed this many layers of secrecy. Old habits.” Darth Ashera, Ori’vod, Shira Karrde, Darth Desmius, Ajira Cardei - how much of her life had she spent behind one alias or another? Had she become the trickster that Kaine had called her, and if so, when?

“So,” she said after she came up for air again. “How’re classes treating you?”

 

[Allyson Locke]

The moment they shared sealed the deal and made this as real as real could get. There were times that Spencer dreamed that Ashin returned to the body she had originally met her in, dreamed that they weren’t in the predicaments they found themselves in over the years and yet her reality was always better. The dreams were nice of course, but never as good as the real thing. All that safety that she felt in her dreams was not missed when she was on the edge of her seat with chaos. Maybe that was why neither of them could stay out of the line of fire – somehow some way they always found themselves in the middle of something.

It was moments like this, that made the life they had worthwhile. Although, Spencer never liked the wait – it was always an annoyance. It could be worse though, Spencer thought quietly to herself. It could be worse in the sense that she could not know that Ashin was still alive out there. Having the sixth sense for Ashin’s soul was a gift she’d never regret. This body though, lacked a mark that this evening she would make sure to place on the woman. Ashin had pulled away and Spencer inhaled deeply, she finished with a smile.

Yes, the closeness was welcomed and nice. Spencer had forgotten how long she had waited. A slight shrug and Spencer sighed softly, her eyes closing slightly as she took in the familiar scent of her lover.

“It’s okay. With everything that we’ve dealt with and how many pies we’ve shoved our hands into – sometimes this sort of precaution is needed.” Spencer chuckled softly, “Lucky for me, but unlucky for you – you’re the one they remember and seem to be chaos bent on destroying you.” Ashin pulled away fully this time and Spencer opened her eyes. Classes seemed to be the next topic and she pouted heavily. “They’re alright, but honestly there’s so much reading I have to do. I quite prefer learning how I did as a padawan about the Force. There are times discussions come up that make me feel like the Jedi and Sith are some crazy fanatical religious weirdos.” Spencer raised her arms and waved her hands to add emphasis to the ‘crazy fanatical religious weirdos’ comment. “Force, when I was a padawan things seemed just so simple…”

A part of Spencer wondered if Ashin would agree, but in her eighteen-year-old mind back then – things did seem quite simple. During that time, all she needed was Ashin – she would argue that even now that was all she needed in this life time. “You’re doing classes, aren’t you?”

[member="Ashin Karrde"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Varanin"]

Ashin slid back onto a seat and adjusted her uniform. She caught a glimpse of seriously messed hair in a porthole reflection and ran her fingers through to straighten it.

"Once I get my feet under me, I'm done with aliases," she said. "I've got my face back, my homeworld back - I'll take back my name too, when the time's right."

She found herself grinning at Spencer's pout. "Hate to say it, but as far as I understand it, a good school is supposed to make things complicated. Just think how many Jedi could smarten up from some basic politics, development studies, sentient rights - and how many Sith could benefit from learning to set goals and delegate. Feth, this whole region needs education. The First Order is in serious need. Every other thing they do tells me they don't know how to adapt; they see any unexpected challenge as unfair and negotiable. Life's going to hurt.

"As for classes, just this and that. I'm trying to get a feel for what I'm good at, in this sphere anyway."