Waves

[Allyson Locke]

There was a hum in the air as Spencer mused over her latest dream. It was a recollection of memories of her youth and there was one particular face that always stuck out. She didn’t know who he was or why he was there, but there was something familiar about him that she had felt through the years. It took her some time, years even to finally pin where and who she felt that odd familiarity with. Her foot bounced up and down to the beat of the song in her head as she traveled on the public transport. There was no need for the council woman to drag an official Fringe ship into this minor self exploration shindig.

The transport landed on Protectorate land and she took a shuttle to the tower. Pulling up her appointment log she made sure she had scheduled one with the Grand Lord Protector of the Protectorate. “They sure love to point out how they like to protect things don’t they?” Spencer mused over the overuse of the word Protect. She remembered the beginnings of the Protectorate, the private military and such. They’ve grown into a nation that ran and owned most of the galaxy - now with the netherworld situation popping up it seemed a lot of the world powers had to regress. Either way, the Protectorate was still a force to be reckoned with.

Fingers laced behind the datapad as she viewed small videos, they were family videos when Ibaris was younger. Ashin looked older now, but for some reason she personally hadn’t aged much. They were happier times, now Ibaris was a stubborn teenager and not the adorably stubborn child she was a few years ago. Still the videos made her long for home and a simpler time, but brought a calm to her as the shuttle arrived to Tower. That infamous tower that loomed as the HQ of the Protectorate. Gathering her things, she tucked away the datapad and left the shuttle. Leather boots shifted as she adjusted her footing and headed straight for the door. There was a nervousness about her, knowing that Ashin would probably disapprove of her coming here especially to see him. They were at odds, but maybe there was an answer to all of it.

Either way, she needed to ask him a couple of things. Riding up the elevator to the man’s office, she shifted her stance once again. He was just a man, nothing more and nothing less there shouldn’t be anything she should be frightened of. Of course, this could turn completely against her favor and she could be taken into custody. Laughing slightly under her breath, she left the elevator as it got to his floor and she waited to be summoned to his office.


[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

It wasn't every day that Sarge received a visit from the wife of a fellow head of state, but if it was going to be anyone's... it would be Ashin's. As much as he was loathe to admit, the Fringe and Protectorate had a long and storied history. Their relationship was more like two adversarial friends. They had their differences, and they'd fight to work them out, but once one hit the floor the other would help them up and they'd shake hands.

A curious way of dealing with each other given the current galaxy, but as ever the problem came down to one; the acceptance of the Dark Side. The Protectorate had long been anti-Sith and for a long time this had been accepted and even lauded as a good standard. Now? Now it had them on the backburner. The tides ebbed and flowed, feast and famine coming in equal measure with the turning of the calender.

My face above the water...​

​

[member="Spencer Jacobs"] would step out of the lift only to find herself staring down more guns than should be necessary given the militaristic state of the Tower. Soldiers in carapace armor turned their heads towards her. Their polarized lenses were reminiscent of the Rebel pilot helmets of old, though they were completely opaque. Rebreathers hung, partially unstrapped, from the sides of their helmets.

In gloved hands sat blaster rifles connected by thick, bundled cables to batteries on their backs. Their posture was lax - their hands were not. Trigger discipline was maintained, but the subtle shifting of barrel directions would tell her all she needed to know.

Following Omni's initial invasion they'd fortified the tower until it became a fortress in its own right. The impressive spire was now a latticework of interlocking fields of fire from anti-air guns, and several of the lower floors were wholly given over to barracks. But the guards on this floor had come from Jak, who had engaged in a firefight in this very hallway, attempting to save the war criminal Circe from her fate.

Thus the Tower had become something more akin to a skyward military base than a simple capitol building.

And my feet can't touch the ground.​

​

At the end of the hall sat a young soldier, blonde and bright eyed. His own carapace armor was less encasing than the others, and the sleeves of his undershirt were rolled up perfectly to mid-bicep. Standing next to him was the Lord Protector, once shaggy mane and beard now carefully maintained. The hair was combed, the beard trimmed. That didn't hide the untamed nature of the void-black eyes that lifted to the blonde who had entered his domain.

Where moments before he'd been discussing something on a datapad with the aide, his attention was now solely on Spencer. "We meet again." His coarse voice says, stern features regarding her curiously. They'd not actually met in person. At least not that she was aware of. Last he'd been in the same room as her Ashin had been taking her from a casino.

But despite his Protectorate uniform, his cold eyes and often oversized presence... he was still made to look tiny by the massive double oak doors that separated waiting area from office.

And it feels like I can see the sands on the horizon every time that you are not around.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Staring at the fortification an eyebrow rose. She knew they would be this secure, but to find them poised and ready when she thought she would be expected. Either way, her focus wasn’t on the guns or the soldiers that protected the Lord Protector. Her focus was on the shaved man who stood near the younger soldier. Yes, that familiar air about him was there and it caused the corner of her lips to turn upward into a soft smile. She walked passed the men with guns, if they did open fire at some point of the day she hoped they were blasters and not ballistic rounds. Stopping at a point where she was more visible to the man her arms folded behind her back as she bowed her head slightly.

“Lord Protector, I hope your days have been pleasant.” Her bow finished and her head rose. Hazel eyes falling upon the man her smile never faded. She chose against wearing any armor type clothing, instead chose to wear something more familiar to who she was. The thin jedi clothing hung around her frame and the dark cloak covered the thin fabric, hood undrawn. There was no lightsaber and if there was, it would have probably been taken away upon entrance to the building. So much security.

Remember, protection.

“Its been awhile. I think the last time I was in your presence you were wearing a full suit of mandalorian armor?” She was far from the cowardly little girl he had seen back on the Space Casino, no longer the weakling Ashin took an odd interest in. “I was wondering do you still have that armor?”

[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

The man raised one hand to run the pads of his fingers down the flanks of his bearded jawline. That faint smile on her lips put one on his own. Despite his reputation for being surly, he was still a man prone to fits of grinning and laughter. You couldn't completely kill the boy he'd once been, no matter how hard you tried. "As pleasant as they can be, Mrs. Varanin." He says.

He hadn't ever formerly been told her name and as a man who knew the power of them, he'd give her the same treatment he'd expect. At least until she asked him to call her something else. "That sounds about right." He acknowledges with a tilt of his head, before shaking it in response to her next question. "No, I needed the beskar for something else." His power armor. Beskar underlayer in the important bits.

Nasty surprise for when people thought they'd finally hacked through the bulky thing. "But that's not the sort of question you walk into a wolves den for. So to what do I owe the pleasure." The security wasn't for her, though she did seem a little... curious about it. A natural reaction. New place, didn't quite match up with expectations.

Therefore, curiosity.

He gave it no more thought than that. "Or who, in the event you're looking for someone."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Her eyes trailed around the room catching the glance of each of the soldiers around her. She wondered how tough their training had been, if they had been trained against mental attacks or if they even knew what to do in those cases. It was general curiosity, nothing more than that. The last thing she wanted to do was cause some sort of issue for Ashin and the Fringe with her games. Still, she did enjoy a good game. Her eyes fell back upon the Lord Protector as he finished speaking and questioning her intentions on being in his office. A girlish grin replaced the sly smile as she leaned forward slightly, eyes closing as her smile widened. The girl mirroring the teenager she once was only a few years ago.

“I’m looking for you Lord Protector.” Taking a few steps she made a small circle in the office as she allowed her gaze to wander again - this time in awe of the place. She had never made it to the Tower. The last time she had discussed things with a Lord Protector it was on the hanger where she was stopped from going farther, before that she had the pleasure of having the Lady Protector in her court on Eshan. Remembering those times she shrugged slightly and decided to give the current Protector the history lesson. “I thought I’d pay a visit to the current Protector, I’ve met - I think all the previous protectors. Ayden Cater cornered me at the starport...Um and I got a visit from the Lady Protector on Eshan. Both weren’t pleasant visits so I do hope this turns out a bit better.”

She frowned emphasising her displeasure at the previous run ins with the leaders of the Protectorate. It faded quickly as an index finger rested against her chin and she became lost in thought as she searched for her memories. “I’ve been having dreams, but not just normal typical dreams - more like memories.” The smile that only conveyed the fact that she had a secret showed on her face as she took another step forward towards the Lord Protector. “There was a man, in mandalorian armor, a girl who was blonde, like myself, and a woman who soon became the Empress of the Sith. I’ve found the woman who soon became the Empress of the Sith - of course I’m the blonde girl, but the man in mandalorian armor - he remains a mystery.” Once again she shrugged.

“He had a feeling, an aura about him. I’ve never felt that same feeling until I was with Ashin on Belsavis. Of course I think that was the only other time I had been near you - well near you and aware of that feeling.” Remembering his formality with her, she waved her hand slightly. “Just call me Spencer. No need to use my married name.” Another step towards the desk, of course she knew she was walking a thin and scary line right now. “So I ask, Lord Protector - were you that man in mandalorian armor?”


[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Sarge pushed open one of the great oak doors, waving her into the office where they would be alone save for a single soldier. A hard looking man, features softened by age rather than poor shape. His rebreather was hanging loose as well, but he, unlike the guards outside, was ramrod straight. "You're missing two." He comments dryly as he takes a seat and watches her walk about.

Little had changed since Cira had been here. Large wooden desk, mass amounts of bookshelves. An entire wall of windows looking out on the Fondor skyline - clearly designed to withstand significant damage. "Alcori and HK." He smirked a bit. "Cira, Alcori, Cater, HK, myself." He smiled. Every other Protector had been someone to know. The other two had been either a flash in the pan or simply plugging leaks to keep the ship from sinking.

"Didn't wear Mandalorian armor at the time she was to be the Empress of the Sith." He says with a reserved smile. "In my time I've worn all manner of armor, and only once has it been Mandalorian in nature, and that was during my time in the Jedi." There came a snort as he leaned back in his chair, one booted foot tapping quietly beneath the desk.

She set his teeth on edge. Too much of Ashin in her, and not in that way. It was close to the vibe he got from Sith, and that was a good way to wind up in the hospital with a slug wound. "Though the only other time I saw you before Beslavis, I mean well and truly saw you... I was Force Dead. So, how's that figure into your visions?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

“Ah two. I never got mention of them being in office I apologize for not recognizing them. I’ll make sure to edit my notes.” Feeling some what embarrassed about not knowing who Alcori was or HK beyond the idea that he thought he was Ashin’s long lost relative at one point. Possibly another HK droid and not the one he spoke of. Still, she made a mental note to remember this information. Empathy was her born skill, her affinity to feel the shifts within people was something she had grown to cherish, this is what stopped her from taking another step towards the man and his desk. Her hands once more folding behind her back she flicked her head, whipping a stray strand of hair from her face.

“Trust me, I didn’t know she was going to be the Sith Empress either. I was just lost trying to find my way back to the Order.” She paused and contemplated her next statement. “An Order I’m still trying to find.”

He had mentioned not wearing Mandalorian armor, she wasn’t privy to the types of Armor in the galaxy, but what he wore or who she thought was him seemed to be wearing Mandalorian. Had she mistaken him for someone else? It was possible, it was harder to feel someone and match them to feelings and emotions and life auras than it was to match someone to their force signature. She felt a force signature from him, which originally had caused her to assume she was wrong in thinking it was him, but when he mentioned he was force dead at some point - her confidence in her find rose again.

“Lord Protector there are other ways to feel someone. I’m sure you’ve felt it before. There’s the obvious physical ways a person moves, their mannerisms, their voice among other things. Yet there’s something more - of course the Force, but there’s something instinctive. That small voice in the back of your mind that warns you if someone is dangerous or causes you to have an infatuation.” Sighing softly she continued to smile. “In my case, I was born with a quirk - emotions are my thing. I try really hard not to pry - but its a defense mechanism moreso now.”

Tilting her head slightly, that soft smile turned into an impish smirk. “I wonder sometimes if thats why Ashin had sought me out.” She knew though deep inside the reason Ashin had found her on that cruise ship and everything played out like the old Whiphid had foretold.


[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

"The Order exists. But, unsurprisingly, its filled with people who weren't raised in its ideals. Instead, its filled with people who came in from the outside. Once they start to die off and younglings are allowed to grow and populate the Order, it will return in full force. But I doubt we shall see that in this lifetime. There's enough people to make a good, true Order right now. But they're scattered, unwilling to cooperate." He shook his head a little, brow darkening for a few moments.

Much of it came down to the ties with the Republic, but you couldn't have the Order of old without the Republic of old. The Republic was doing its job, but for some reason the Jedi were entirely unable to justify keeping the old ties. Thus you got people like the Levantines. But on the other side of things you had people who saw only the worst - that Jedi were defending the Republic with violent action, and thus they left for those reasons.

And thus were born the Silver Jedi.

It was a sad state of affairs, truly, when the Sith were more organized and coherent than the Jedi. "I identify based on gut feeling. I put no more thought into it than that." A faint smirk lifted his lips again, even as he folded his arms over his chest and crossed one leg over the other. "She's fully capable of reading people on her own." He remarks dryly.

Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes.

Smoke. Brimstone. The forge. He could smell Ashin on her. But he could barely smell Eshan on her; the electric tang that came from vibroblades and personal shields. Smell was how he knew Cira despite her many forms, though she'd never told him if he'd been right or wrong.

That was just how she was, really.

"Regardless, I know the armor you're mentioning. It's mine, though I haven't worn it in years. Why did you come looking for me now?"

[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

The talk of the Order was depressing, it was sad how splintered they were despite them having a common practice. People needed to have their own thing for some reason, there was never a will to follow for the common goal. Just thinking about it made her sigh softly and her usual bright exterior darken. He continued on answering her other remarks and she nodded seeing he understood what she meant by other forms of “feeling”. The man leaned back and Spencer raised an eyebrow, he looked comfortable, if that was even possible. She remained standing as he questioned her as to why she came looking for him now.


“Its fairly obvious why I’ve come looking now. The others that were there, I’ve found already - you were the missing piece. The rest were easy to find because of their force signature of course I’ve been by Ashin’s side since that day. You on the other hand, you were force dead, without a signature. I had to wait to feel you again.”

Feeling a bit of confidence she took a step forward and continued to talk. “I am curious though, did you know Ashin before the Casino? Why were you there? Why didn’t you want me to go with her? I want to know if there was something you knew or something to gain?” Another step forward she stood now directly in front of the Lord Protector’s desk. “You don’t strike me as a man who just did things out of the goodness of his heart. If you are, why me?” Curiosity was something that got her into trouble, maybe it would here as well. [member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

"Missing piece? Mm, never been called that." He says with a hint of a grin. It was true. But she was asking questions he couldn't answer; and there were a number of reasons for that. The most pressing of which was he couldn't remember. Still, he'd give her credit. She'd waited this long to hunt him down - hell, it had almost been a decade. Almost. "But, even if I could tell you why, I wouldn't."

He shrugged his shoulders. "You're asking for information I don't have." Ayden's orders, he remembered that much.

He looked down and away, trying to figure out what the man might have been after. Gears were turning.

 

[Allyson Locke]

A flare of emotion sparked. Spencer had been searching for so long for this man only to find a brick wall to her search. That moment in time was a defining moment in her life, everything changed from then on. This man could have easily continued on his way, ignoring the fact that Ashin was there to take her to aboard a ship. He didn’t have to be there, but he was. He wouldn’t tell her the information?

“What do you mean you wouldn’t tell me? I’ve searched for years for you, to find your answer. I have Ashin’s answer, but I don’t have yours. Even Ashin’s answer was cryptic.”

Inhaling deeply she calmed down, there was nothing accomplished if she allowed herself to lose composure. This man didn’t seem to be the type to react to it anyways. Fingertips pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m searching for this information because there are changes happening. Something seems to be settled in those memories and that’s the reason why I’ve been reminded of it constantly during my sleep and meditations.”


[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

"Because, Spencer." He says, hand raising to tap a single finger against his temple. "Knowledge is power. Guard it well." Sarge was an infamously private man, and of this Ashin would be keenly aware. They had a conversation over Ossus, once.

The conversation had been brief, and generally characteristic of their later interactions. But he had been younger, more brash. A bit... touched in the head. What Sarge was the real Sarge? His mask? Or the mask he wore over his mask?

Or, more complexly, was there no actual mask at all? Was he simply a chameleon? He had told her, then, that every scrap of information he gave out was done so with reason. Slips of the tongue weren't what he did.

So for him to say he wouldn't tell her shouldn't have come as any sort of surprise. She was married to Ashin, after all. But he couldn't tell her. "You want to know?" He asks, clearly amused. There was a moment as he leaned forward, resting his forearms across one another on the edge of the desk.

"I was following orders."

And that was that.

 

[Allyson Locke]

After learning how to express emotion, it became something she did constantly. Now being no exception. Her face turned a soft red as she held her breath staring at the man who seemed somewhat amused at his statement. Was he toying with her? Was this just a game for him? Hands balled into fists as she did her best to keep her internal rage from spilling over. A few minutes had passed and then she finally exhaled. The rage subsided as she closed her eyes and nodded.

“You’re a good soldier then. If you can’t tell me the reasoning beyond the fact that you were just following orders. Who gave them to you? If I chose not to go with Ashin where would you have taken me?” Thinking a little more she asked another question quickly. “What would you have done, what were your orders afterwards?”

She needed to know, there were too many unknown factors with that memory. If only she was trained at time to have focused on something consistent that her mind now could cling to allowing her to walk back through the memory to figure things out. Too many factors and she needed to narrow them down.

“Please Lord Protector, answer anything that you can. You’re the only one that can answer these questions.”


[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Sarge's lips curled dangerously. A predatory gleam appeared in those glistening eyes.

"Find Cater."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Feth me.

Bowing her head slightly, she knew this was either a dead end of a death sentence. Sarge was a cruel man. "I thank you for your time Lord Protector, if that's all I'll take my leave." [member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

"I certainly won't keep you. But I will leave you with this knowledge. I was, quite literally, following orders. If answers are what you seek, he's the only one who can give them."