To Bridges Built

[Jairus Starvald]

Dear Ms. Arceneau,

My name is Cerita Sarova, apprentice to the late Rave Merrill. I am writing you this letter, because I have been made aware of some animosity between yourself and the late Circe Savan. At first glance this is hardly my business, but when you finish reading this letter you might see it in a different light.

See, I was created- cloned - by Rave and certain Kaminoans scientists from the DNA of Circe Savan. This effectively means that I look very much alike to her original appearance, which… causes issues sometimes, I admit.

I’d like to clear the air if possible and start off fresh.

If you have any questions or requests that could alleviate your concerns, I’d love to provide you with the answers.

Regards,
Cerita Sarova

 

[Danger Arceneau]

It took some time before Cerita received a response to her message. Not because the Queen of Trade was ignoring it, but because she was spending time in the Tingal Arm on Arkuhn Farm.

It was three days before a response was sent.

//

Ms. Sarova,

Truth be told, Mis Sarova, reading your letter had me thinking a few things over the course of the hour it took to reply. The relationship between Ms. Savan and I has certainly been public enough to detail the tension that lies therein.

However, seeing as how I’ve a few of my own who are also clones of questionable templates, it would be rather rude of me to hold the actions of your template against you.

However, you can understand my hesitancy when it comes to anything in regard to Ms. Savan. Perhaps a meeting may be able to ease my apprehension and indeed, curiosity.

Best Regards,

Danger Arceneau

 

[Jairus Starvald]

A reply was forthcoming quite promptly. Not fast enough to make her seem too eager or trying to snub Danger with speed, but just fast enough to underline that Ceri had a vested interest in this to happen - that she was completely serious about her attempt to make a bridge over the inherently bumpy river ahead.

Ms. Arceneau,

I completely understand, of course. I sated my curiosity about my progenitor a long time ago and was left with a fairly bad taste myself. A personal meeting might be best in this light, do you have a particular location in mind where we should meet?

Cerita Sarova

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Ms. Sarova,

I an unavailable for the next month as I am traveling with my family. However, we can set up an appointment to meet at Bylobos. There is a restaurant there that can be reserved for lunch.

If there are no qualms, I can make the reservation for Bedunday on the fourteenth?

Best regards,

Danger Arceneau

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Ms. Arceneau,

That would be appreciated. I am looking forward to finally meeting face-to-face.

Until then.

Cerita Sarova.

//

"Are you insane?" Scarra - her Qo’saarai Tuk’ata guardian growled out once he found out about the appointment.

He didn’t seem too happy about it.

"No?"

Again a growl. "Arceneau is one of the most- if not the most powerful business tycoon in the Galaxy with a grudge against Savan. And you want to walk into a restaurant with her with no protection?"

Ceri made a clicking noise with her tongue, before rolling her eyes. "Her reputation will protect me, Scar. She isn’t going to try and kill me or capture me, if I don’t do anything to prompt that kind of reaction."

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, Ceri. Don’t you forget that."

"It’s exactly for that reason I have to meet her. I am becoming more public now, and the last thing I need is to suddenly get flagged with a five hundred million credit bounty, because I look like that damn floozy."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

The reply was short and brief, but professional.

//

Ms. Sarova,

Indeed. I shall book the reservation posthaste. Until then Ms. Sarova.

Best Regards,

Danger Arceneau


Well that was certainly interesting, mused Danger. A high pitched giggle caught her attention, drawing her smile. She had a month. In the meantime, Danger was going to get as much information on one Cerita Sarvon.

The background check would commence.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

From: Eden Consolidated
To: [member="Danger Arceneau"]
Subject: CS-021-V

Ms. Arceneau,

Your patronage is as always quite welcome. We have looked into this lady called ‘Cerita Sarova’ with the information supplied to you by us, which helped us narrow it down by quite a lot. For all intents and purposes Sarova seemed to have popped up out of nowhere about a decade ago, no birth certificate, no formal education listing in the Core, Sanctum, Alliance nor Union space, though we haven’t managed to penetrate Mandalorian Space… mostly because they lack any formal centralized administrative system. The first public appearance that we could find is from a shoddy cam recording of a formal gathering in the Fringe Confederation out of all places.

It was difficult to ascertain the context of the recording- what with most attendees either dead, missing or very high-profile cases we figured best left undisturbed - but it seemed to be some kind of honorary meeting. Sarova was briefly seen sharing a drink with the late Rave Merrill. They shared a few laughs, exchanged a few words (the imagery to blurry to properly make out what they were saying) and then parted ways.

This, at least as far as we can see, is in line with the story she shared with you, because as far as we know the late Fringe Councilor and this Circe Savan never saw eye to eye and furthermore, the records we managed to dig up clearly underline that Savan was exiled from Fringe space after a minor incident, something about a recording device?

There is little to no way that Savan would be sipping drinks and rubbing elbows with Fringe Councilors in such a public meeting, honoring the heroes of the Fringe, without being instantly ripped to shreds.

The closer we come to the present day the more public this Cerita Sarova becomes. She was and is publically listed as an employee with Akure Executive Interstellar - first under an unclarified position directly positioned underneath Rave, but recently… well, we have little pull with Akure, but her pay grade has escalated considerably in the last two months or so.

She has been sighted in the Corporate Sector, Alliance Space- there is a record of her publically cooperating with the Galactic Alliance Reclamation Service on Belsavis- and as far as we can see after numerous interviews?

Her information checks out. A sheltered individual, but polite if socially inept and awkward. Prone to retreat into a more scientific perspective to hide her lack of experience with interpersonal interaction.

I hope this information helps you, ms. Arceneau. If there is anything more we can supply you with, just let us know.

Adrian Cassidy.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Two weeks later…

Danger quietly let her finger skim over the information upon her holographic screen. Within it were holopictures, holovideos, several different notes and details over one Cerita Sarova.

Taking a deep breath, the Queen of Trade would lean back on her chair. Outside, Myra and Mister Tuggles were running back and forth in the garden. She’d taken to being able to simply run outside and enjoy the warm weather. What made it all the more worth it was hearing her laugh more and more each day. Perhaps she’d soon take the step to start talking again.

Turning back to the screen, Danger reviewed the curious holograhic image of Cerita. Well she certainly appeared to be a younger Circe Savan. A tap of her fingers ensued.

So she worked with Rave?

Hmm….

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

A month later.

It was certainly an upscale restaurant amidst the high clientele of Byblos. Against the wishes and urges of Scarra Ceri didn't bring any guards with her, no Qo'saarai Tuk'ata as bodyguards or anything else that might give off the impression she was here for anything other than diplomacy. Contrary to other individuals she didn't think she would need a personal army while on a civilized planet.

A sharp business dress-suit fit her right in with the other patrons of the restaurant. After mentioning her name and the reservation, she was pointed in the direction of a secluded alcove in the far corner of the restaurant.

Shadows ran deep, but she thought she could almost make out the silhouette of red hair and splendid dress, her back against the wall and shimmering emeralds observing the interior of the room. Danger certainly was prepared for everything.

Carefully the Vinithi made her way across and then waited from a respectable distance.

"May I sit, miss Arceneau?"

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

Danger's expression was unreadable, save for the polite smile that lingered on her bright red lips. The woman had her auburn hair parted to the side, the long waves flowing down and over her shoulders. There were streaks of white against the vibrant corseca mane, along with fine lines that decorated the corners of her eyes and mouth.

However, there was no denying that Danger Arceneau was as striking now as she had been in her youth. There was a presence that followed her, an aura of regality that one couldn't deny.

If she had any distinct first impressions, Cerita would not know. However, if she were accustomed to it, she would sense the blurry, fuzzy sensation one typically received within the presence of a Taozin. Something to help blur the senses of a Force User. Somewhere, Danger had an amulet.

"Of course, Miz Sarova." the distinct honeyed drawl of the woman was hard to miss. It was one of her most familiar traits she was known for. Coming to her feet, she held out her hand for the woman to shake it.

"A pleasure."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

The blurring of her senses when she approached was immediately noted. It was like the subtle form of the effects of an ysalamir field, once you live your entire known life with the Force, you become dependent on it. Even if you tried to minimise it, you couldn't completely avoid it.

Besides, it was clearly Akure-made. She could sense the difference between her product and the cheap knock-offs somd ttied to peddle around the Galaxy.

"Thank you, you are too kind." Ceri responded while accepting her hand, giving it a short but firm shake. It surprised her how much trust Danger was already willing to extend. She had already disclosed her connection to Rave, so Arceneau would know that she was an alchemist by trade.

An alchemist could do much harm with direct skin contact, taozin or not.

But luckily Ceri wasn't interested in that at all, after the short shake she waited patiently for Danger to sit back fown again before sitting down herself.

"A lovely place here, and I am happy you could meet with me in person, thank you again."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

“Indeed it is. A very lovely place. My husband and I often came here some time ago..” Danger admitted, taking the handkerchief and setting it down upon her lap.

And so it begins.

A waitress approached the pair and gave them a holographic glass sheet that detailed the menu of the day.

“Welcome to Evonie. My name is Viei and I shall be your server for today.” Danger replied with a gratious smile and a, “Thank you Evonie.”

“May I start you off with a drink?”

“Caf please, no cream. Just sugar.” Danger replied, then both pairs of eyes expectantly turned to the emerald skinned young woman.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"Tea, please." She replied after a moment of thought. "No sugar, just black."

The clarification came a bit later. The waitress wrote it down, gave both of them a cheery nod - unaware of the unspoken tension between the pair - and left soon after that.

Cerita gave a little smile to Danger, before knitting her fingers together and resting her hands on the table.

"I expect you have some questions?"

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

Well, that was putting it lightly.

The faint smile lingered upon those crimson lips. There amidst the crowded restaurant, each woman took the time to appraise the other.

So this was Circe Savan's clone...

There was that which was there for all to see; the physiology, the resemblance, the youth. Yet perhaps that was where the similarities ended. There was something there in the eyes. A distinct absence in the skin crawling, silver-tongued, cafarel toxic aura that usually permeated Cerita's progenitor.

"How about we begin with your story Miz. Sarova." Danger coo'd pleasantly, gesturing for the younger woman to enjoy some of the buttered rolls.

"Reckon we all start from there."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Ceri inclined her nod slightly in agreement.

A part of her suspected that Danger knew more about her now than before she had made contact. It would have been the prudent course, poke around her history and find out as much as possible, before the meet itself began. That way there would be less and less surprises to worry about, a woman of Danger' stature had to take things like that in account.

She accepted one of the buttered rolls and almost at the same time their drinks arrived - caf for the redhead and tea for herself. Very fast service, but that was little surprising considering Arceneau was apparently a frequent patron here.

It would make sense for them to fast-track their service to keep her happy and paying.

Her presence in the Force minimized itself to a pinpoint for a singular moment, her focus shifted towards her tea and the rolls. It was rampant paranoia instilled upon her by her three Masters of Alchemy. To never trust anyone, to always make sure and certain that all was well.

A moment after her focus shifted again and her presence in the Force started to seep into the room again.

"As I mentioned in my letter, I was made by the late Rave Merrill with the assistance of Kaminoan scientists. I think she wished to know if-" She frowned at that, because it was a question that bothered her immensely herself. "If a clone is naturally predisposed towards the same... 'tendencies' of the original print."

It were in moments like these she wished her studies would speed themselves up. So she could actually do something about it, except feel like crap for something that was beyond her control.

"Right, so she taught me, alongside with other tutors and now I am mostly on my own. Studying, looking after her legacy and trying to live up to it, the works, really."

Ceri took a bite from the roll, before taking in some tea.

"Mmmhm, I like it. Very tasty."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

Tendencies...

Danger kept her thoughts to herself about that. Honestly, she couldn't be too sure about the Force status of the woman. Savan had a series of talents that she chose to display with wanton abandon, much to the disconcerting of many. Rumor had it that she had been one to mess with that Hoodoo, among other things. Wasn't even including her prolific use of her pheromones to attempt to gather an upper hand in any situation. Wasn't right, to be honest.

Truthfully, there was a bit of hypocrisy to Danger's train of thought, for if she really thought about it, she'd realize she'd done to an extent the same as Circe Savan. Save for the fact that she hadn't given away the blue milk for free. Danger knew full well that her looks and her way of being was a large influence to how other folk saw and acted around her. Colette Arceneau had taught her long ago that there were some gifts a lady had to use to their best advantage. Just not to the gross extent that made Circe Savan the low gutter schutta she was.

"I see," Danger began, her honeyed voice a neutral pleasant tone, taking upher own buttered roll. "Then I take it you've taken after Miz Merrill's many talents?"

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Ceri had her own access to pheremones.

That Vinithi brilliant genetics at work.

She hated it, absolutely hated it. It was just so... Circean and that went against everything she liked to believe herself to be. There was science, and alchemy and these days corporate interests- but the small-minded nonsense of dozing people with gasses, just to make them all gooey eyed?

No, Ceri would never understand that.

A small inclination of the head followed, acknowledgement without agreement.

"Rave Merrill was in a category of her own, miss Arceneau." Sarova responded within a moment. It was clear from the tone, the look of her eyes and the set of her jaw, that Cerita respected Rave immensely. One of the few sentients in the Galaxy who she had truly loved through all the time. "She taught me what she could, yes, but I doubt I will ever be even close to her mastery."

She brushed some of her hair away sheepishly.

"I study hard, science, alchemy, but there's always something new to learn."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

There was a rhyme to Danger's reason. You could learn much from just the way someone spoke of themselves. Told their tale. In their mannerisms and the way that they held themselves. Danger might not be one keen on that what have you hoodoo that a particular population of the 'verse used as a crutch, but Danger had over twenty years to pick up on another person akin to one with the Force.

There were distinct differences between Cerita and Circe that would come to the surface the more she spoke. At the very least, Danger was able to glean a picture of a young woman who was very diligent with her studies.

"Rave will always be a woman who stands apart." Danger would state, complimenting the late Merrill. She had been one of the few Danger held respect for.

"But one shouldn't live in the shadow of another." she said plainly.

"So, Miz Sarova... what are your aims instead?"

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

She nodded.

The woman spoke the truth in that regard. It wasn't healthy nor helpful to keep yourself in the shadow of others, even those that you respected highly. It only curbed your own development and she suspected that was the last thing Rave had wanted for her - to stagnate out of some strange form of reverence.

"Keep studying, first and foremost." Ceri responded, before taking another sip from her tea. "I also recently was made the... hmm... guardian? of Akure Executive Interstellar."

She frowned at that. It was still a strange situation to be at, she didn't truly think she was ready for it. But Ostanes had thought she would be better than him in the capacity.

And somewhere deep inside of her she had just leaped at the chance.

"Still trying to figure out how that works. So studying and trying not to crash my old mentor's life's work. Not a big deal." She smiled at Danger, trying to convey the little joke.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

“The guardian of Akure Executive Intersteller?” Danger inquired with an arch of an ebon brow. Now what exactly did that mean? A subtle frown furrowed afterward, and the woman sought clarification.

“Does that mean you are Chairman?” she queired, “Cee-Ee- Oh?” another, “Or are you simply the lead shareholder?” there were subtle differences. Depending on Cerita’s answer, it would clarifiy the situation.

At that time, the waitress came to take their order.

“Good afternoon,” she began. “Are you ready to make a selection?”

Danger gave a slight incline of her head for Cerita to go first.