Unscheduled Maintenance

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“It’s me, love, I’m here,” Tegaea said softly, taking her hands. “Shh, don’t try and move, just rest. You’ve been through a big trauma, but you’ll be alright,” she said reassuringly.

It distressed Tegaea how sick and ill her wife looked. It was one thing to see her here due to a combat wound, quite another to see her hurt by something inside her.

“Elpsis is here too. She helped save your life when you collapsed,” Tegaea said, nodding to the redhead.

It occurred to her that Siobhan was having trouble seeing and Elpsis was blind…making her gesture a bit pointless.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Tegs' soothing presence had the effect of calming Siobhan down a little bit. It did not remove the disconcerting feeling of helplessness though. She was not supposed to be helpless or vulnerable. She looked and felt crap. All colour seemed to have been drained from her face.


"Tegs," she repeated, now a bit firmer. She had some trouble seeing her wife, though she saw a mane of red. "Elpsis? W-where amI? W-what happened?" she hated how weak her voice sounded. It was not right.


"Easy, Auntie. I'm here. You'll be fine," Elpsis spoke up, stepping forward to reach out and gently take her aunt's hand, stroking her thumb over it. "Do you want something?"

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tegaea paused. Memory loss, Osway had said. She decided to smooth things over a bit so as not to worry Siobhan.

“What’s the last thing you remember? We were discussing things in a meeting, and then you collapsed. Doctor Osway says it was a stroke, but fortunately Elpsis and Doctor Pender were able to keep your brain going until we could get you to a proper hospital and do treatment. Just rest and take it easy, you’ll be fine in time.”

She leaned forward and gave her wife a kiss on the forehead.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

Sio looked a bit perplexed. "Auntie?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm your niece. Kinda, sorta," Elpsis had been warned that Sio might suffer from memory loss, but she still looked a bit upset about not being recognised. Maybe it was also due to Sio's rejection of her earlier.

"Oh. Well..thanks for helping me," Siobhan said awkwardly. She looked rather lost. "S-stroke?" she sounded shocked and a bit alarmed. "I d-don't remember. I defeated Mystra. How much time has passed?" she tried to sit up, but then pain shot through her and she was forced to lie back down.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Mystra…” Tegaea whispered. That was almost four years*ago. Much had happened in that time, so much. Yet, she was glad that it had not been fourteen years, back when the Protectorate was ruling. That change would have been completely disconcerting.

In the present, Tegaea wasn’t sure how honest to be directly. She frowned.
“Several years since Mystra’s fall. The Doctor said there would be some short term memory loss,” she added.

“Don’t worry about that now though, love, I’m just glad to see you awake. Are you in pain?”


*Based on the timeline calculations this writer uses for the timeline of the site.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Siobhan looked more than a little shocked. "A bit," she conceded reluctantly. It probably hurt more than a bit. "R-right side feels...rigid." That seemed to distress her more than mere pain.


It might sound bizarre on first sight, but physical pain or maimed limbs were the norm for her. These were things she was used to and could deal with. After all, pain passed and a lost arm, leg or eye could be replaced. In short, it was unpleasant, but something she could control. The same did not apply to a disease. "Is...our f-family safe? Is Firemane s-secure?" she pressed on.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Firemane is secure,” Tegaea said reassuringly. “Before this I had mostly retired from being joint CEO, but I’ve taken your place until you’ve recovered. One of us should be running Firemane, always,” she said.

“Family…well…yes. We may have to discuss what you remember, but we have two beautiful adopted daughters, and they are well.”

She wasn’t sure who Siobhan remembered. That could wait a little while.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Siobhan nodded. "N-no one other than us should r-run things. Sack K-Kollontai, if she's still on the b-board." Alexandra Kollontai had been removed by her a long time ago for being too questioning and unwillig to lick her boots. She'd been replaced by the unrepentant sycophant Tegs disliked so much.


She frowned slightly. Perhaps she sensed that Tegaea was brushing over stuff. "O-our d-daughters are G-Galina and Aba? Is A-Aba still pursuing her Jedi fantasies? Galina is still with us? Nato did not return?" On the bright side, at least she no longer remembered the girl who became a Ren.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“She’s gone, don’t worry,” Tegaea said about Kollontai, a slight grimace on her face. The new bootlicker was the one she had wanted to punch in the face. Repeatedly.

“Ah,” she said when Siobhan named the long list of fallen daughters. “Things have moved on a bit. Aba is…gone. Decided being a Jedi trumped any bond to us,” she said bitterly. “Galina is off on her own gathering support for her ‘restoration’.” Tegaea did not believe in the divine right of queens. Not for even a second. “Nato is gone, but her twin daughters are now our adopted children, Adril and Livia. They’re both sweet, and a handful.”
She did not mention Riona. That betrayal was still close and raw. Sio could learn about it all in good time.

Knowing this was likely a lot to take in she gave Siobhan a kiss. “Doctor Osway told me not to stress you out too much, so rest. Elpsis or I will be here when you wake.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Expressions of shock, disbelief, anger and resignation crossed Siobhan's features. "They all...l-left me?" No, she would not cry. She would not show weakness. "So be it. I figured as much." Her tone was laced with bitterness. "At least Galina is trying to accomplish something."


Siobhan did not believe in the divine right of queens, but was less opposed to it. However, it seemed her that the young redhead did not really know what she wanted beyond having a vague idea wanting to help her people. In short, she was noble but naive. "W-what are Adril and Livia like?"


"Adril's adventurous and outgoing. Bit stubborn. I guess she got that from you!" Elpsis blurted out, then coughed. "Err, right. And Livia speaks in posh Basic and loves her books," she paused slightly, looking towards Tegs for a moment. "And, uh, I'm still here. I ain't leaving. You two are kinda like another pair of mums for me."


Siobhan raised an eyebrow. "You r-reconciled with Coryth?"


Even a sick and ill Auntie with a speech impediment could look intimidating to the young redhead. "Uh, yeah, I did. We got on well. She's nice."


"Good. You're a g-good girl," Siobhan muttered. She seemed to be drifting off. "L-love you, Tegs. Love y-you b-both."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Sleep, Siobhan, we’ll be here when you awake,” Tegaea said softly, leaned forward to give her wife a kiss.

When Siobhan was asleep she took Elpsis’ hand and led her just outside the room.
“It looks like she’s lost four, nearly five years of memories. It’ll be a shock for her to reorientate, but it’s important we keep people who might want to take advantage of her state away. No one from the board…or anyone at all should see her without my or Doctor Osway’s approval. We’ve got to break this all to her gently.”

She pondered. “We should also hold out on letting her see the kids for a few days too. They’re both going to be so full of questions and energy that it might overwhelm her.”

She laid a hand on Elpsis’ shoulder. “I really appreciate all your help, dear. You’re a good girl. I know your mother is proud…and so am I.”

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Elpsis nodded. "You know I'll help any way I can...Mum," she coloured a lot and coughed awkwardly. "Uh, yeah. Anyway, I'll help and stuff. You two are family. The memory loss is gonna be pretty shocking, but maybe it's not all bad. She was being so bitter. It was kinda eating her up. She can start over maybe."


And stop being a jerk to you, Auntie, she thought, though she did not voice that. Elpsis was very biased since she was closer to Tegs, but she didn't like the way Siobhan had been treating her. It was natural for the usually upbeat girl to try and see the positive.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Elpsis Elaris"]
Tegaea smiled slightly, even coloured a bit herself. For once it was a good thing that Elpsis couldn’t see her in the usual sense. She made no comment on the new title though, that would come when things were less stressed.

“Maybe. I wish there had been another means to do this though. Her unhappiness and restlessness has been growing for a while. It’s important that we keep her away from stress for a while.”

“Go and get some rest, Elpsis, I know you tired yourself out a lot with your healing. I’ll stay with her, and you can come by later.”

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


On the bright side, Elpsis wasn't insane or the type to turn traitor and become a Ren! The clan had been sort of cursed. "Ok," Elpsis suppressed a yawn. Though she hated admitting it, she was kind of tired. "I'll...go rest and see Tempest, I think. She'll probably wanna know about Sio." Ok, there were other reasons as well.


"And I can help out at your place with the kids." she offered. Anyhow, she planted a chaste kiss on Tegs' cheek. It was the kind a daughter would give her mother or a niece her aunt. Just in case anyone might get indecent thoughts. Tegs also got a hug, then the young redhead was off.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Elpsis Elaris"]
Tegaea returned the hug and gave Elpsis a peck on the cheek.
“Thank you, Elpsis, you’ve a great help, and a good friend. Go ‘catch up’ Tempest on things. I’ll give you a call in the morning and you can take over the shift here. Maybe drop by the suite too and see the kids? Just tell them everything’s fine and her aunties are away for a couple of days.”

With that she returned to her vigil beside the bed.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Damn. The Great Scarlet Flame was massive. Elpsis had not even walked from one of the command ship to another and her feet were still hurting. This really put in perspective how huge dreadnoughts and Star Destroyers were.


According to what she'd heard, once upon a time an ancient warlord with a silly name called Snoke had owned a 60km warship! She had come to the conclusion that he must be compensating for something. Presumably no one aboard his flagship had ever managed to get anything done. It must have fragmented into feuding communities.


"Excuse me, do you know where Tempest is?" she asked a Firemane Corporal after making her way through yet another corridor. Her feet hurt. She felt like she could use a foot rub. At least she could sense that the Dahomian amazon was close, but that did not mean much!


"Oh, she's in the gymnasium, training recruits," the young male soldier answered. Being blind, Elpsis could not see that he looked slightly awed. "Wait, you're Mistress Elaris, right? I saw you summon that firestorm on Kaeshana. That was...so cool."


"Uh, yeah, I am," she was a bit taken aback.


The moment was interrupted by a muscular blonde Sergeant passing by. This one was female and she gave the male soldier a little whistle and spared his firm arse a leecherous look. Workplace harrassment...in reverse...seemed to be a problem at Firemane. For her part, Elpsis was mildly sexist. "Corporal, don't keep the Mistress from her business."


"Sorry, I didn't mean to get in the way," he said, blushing slightly. "I'll...let you go on your way."


"No problem. Thanks for your help. You weren't getting in the way," Elpsis gave the blonde woman a look as she said her last words.


"Excuse me, Ms. Elaris, but if I could have a moment of your time," a feminine voice with a posh accent interrupted her stride. "Is everything alright with Lady Kerrigan? I heard that she..."


Goddess, news travels fast, Elpsis thought. She cut off the woman's words. "She's fine. I'm sure she'll appreciate your concern. Sorry...but I gotta go." Who was the bigwig? She had no clue and honestly did not care.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Elpsis Elaris"]
So as not to cause confusion, this writer will keep using this account, even if Tegaea is not actually in it.

Meta commentary aside, Tempest was teaching apprentices in one of the Scarlet Flame’s many large training room.
“Good, now focus!” Tempest was saying. “Draw the power to you, now release!”
She felt a familiar presence enter and turned. “Welcome, Mistress Elaris.”
"Straighten up, girls, here comes Mistress' cardio workout!" one of the trainees quipped supposedly anonymously.
Tempest whirled around, face stoically composed. "Kida Maron, is that any way to address two Mistresses? You are staying back for an hour's extra drills. And since the rest of you have found her such amusingly good company, you can join her."
There was a good deal of grumbling at this, and a bit of irritated looks at Kida.
“Now get moving, we’re not going anywhere until I’m satisfied!”

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


She was called Mistress. It made her feel awkward again. The young empath disliked titles. At least when they were used in reference to her. She watched in wry amusement while Tempest chastisted the little ones. "Someone other than me can satisfy you, Mistress Tempest? I must be lagging," Elpsis pouted. "Hi, girls," she spared the trainees a glance. Some were only a little younger than the redhead. After having received a bollocking from Tempest, they were less inclined to giggle!


Elpsis was not good at being stern. Stepping towards the Dahomian, she gave her a kiss and slid a hand across her shoulder. "You got a moment? I'm afraid your cardio will have to wait though."

 

[Tempest]

[member="Elpsis Elaris"]
This writer changed their mind, which happens more than they like to admit! It felt too strange writing under the wrong character.

Regardless, Tempest coughed slightly as Elpsis kissed her in front of the recruits. They were all careful to keep quiet and do their exercises, but she knew they’d be sniggering later. It was galling, but hey, hot redhead, that was good compensation!

“Sure, what’s wrong?” she asked, letting herself be taken aside. “What’s the latest about Siobhan? I heard what happened and that you helped her. Thank you for that, Elpsis, she means a lot to me as a mentor.”

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


If Tempest played her cards right, she might get more than just a kiss from the hot redhead. "She's...recovering. Has some memory issues," Elpsis said awkwardly. Tempest's praise made her feel better than she was comfortable admitting.


"Thinks she just killed that Drow chick. The one she keeps bragging about. What was her name again? Myrou, Mystro...eh, whatever, you know who I mean. Still in pain and she's not gonna yank SDs from the sky any time soon, but she was able to talk."