Private When all else fails, there is always diplomacy.

[Jhira Mereel]

​

POLITICAL REGION: CIS SPACE
LOCATION: Korunnai Heretics Temple, Shattered Mountains, Malastare
Objectives: Save Tundra Nexu. Talk Loreena into opening her Zoos to a Nexu breeding program. Discover lost lore. Protect Loreena.
TAGS: [ Loreena Arenais-Valhoun ]

Jaster’s Delight sat in its landing cradle with such grace and style that the ship felt like it was moving at hyper speeds while holding perfectly still. Work, purpose and duty were banished for a moment for the shear delight of admiring perfect thought given form.

An elegant Night Shadow Coating added to both the sense of speed and secrecy. The weapons were hinged in a way that had Jhira trigger her gravity belt to get a better look. Though they were exclusively frontal weapons, it looked as if they could all be locked on a single target, rather than having the nose of the ship impede such coordinated fire. A low whistle of appreciation escaped as Jhira maneuvered closer to admire the fine craftsman ship.

While Jhira’s first love would always be armor, she was a passionately devoted pilot, and this ship was a true piece of art. Clearly manufactured from the keel up, to exacting standards. A heavy throw rate for her size, and the ship must be so very light on the throttle! In fact … Jhira piloted high enough that the HUD could zoom in on the tail, though the Mandalorian politely hovered beyond the yellow lines marking the ship’s space from pubic.

Delighted, shocked laughter rippled throughthe hangar.

Was that a gravity device of some sort? A way to resist Gravity Wells? Humor and affection danced through her voice as Jhira called out, “Lori-goof, what else does this lovely creature do, and can I fly her?”

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori approached her ship with a few crates being pulled behind her on a hoverskid. She needed some supplies and had learned long ago to gather them at every stop that she could, because one never knew what was going to happen. Especially in her case. Trouble loved to pop up almost everywhere and there wasn't much of a chance that that would change anytime soon.

She grinned as she watched Jhira Mereel hover about the Jaster's Delight and admired the unique vessel. Lori had it made special of course, at a time when MandalArms was in a flux while Kaine was captured by the Sith. She held no influence on MandalArms then. Unlike now.

"She's a real beauty, isn't she? She can take on any class of vessel, and for those much larger and sluggish battleships and capital warships, she's got a secret weapon." Lori winked to Jhira. "The Plasma Lash can literally tear right through them and even cut them in half if aimed correctly. I've used it a couple of times and it's really wicked! MandalArms made the Plasma Lash and I'm sure that I can get plenty of ships retrofitted to carry them." She imagined dozens of Plasma Lashes being fired upon a super star destroyer from all different directions and there'd be no escape for them!

"And yes you can fly her. I'll let Arla know that it's okay. She can give you the quick rundown of the systems. Wanna help me load these crates in first?"

 

[Jhira Mereel]

POLITICAL REGION: CIS SPACE
LOCATION: Korunnai Heretics Temple, Shattered Mountains, Malastare
Objectives: Save Tundra Nexu. Talk Loreena into opening her Zoos to a Nexu breeding program. Discover lost lore. Protect Loreena.
TAGS: [ Loreena Arenais-Valhoun ]

With one more long, admiring gaze, Jhira swooped down to join her kin. Her kin! Just the thought alone brought a flashing grin, and a surge of affection for the delightful Loreena. With practiced ease, she set to transferring the more bulky and awkward items from the hoverskid to the waiting ship.

Powered Armor with antigravity and a Jet Pack were good that way.

“Beautiful indeed! I’ve not seen anything as nice her this side of a Galactic Blockade.” Humor danced in her tone. “And maybe not even then. These components are top of the line; nothing second hand. Everything fully compatible.” A brief, wondering shake of her head followed as she considered Plasma Lash. A weapon that gave even a small ship a fighting chance against even capital ships?

MandalArms. Jhira still had a difficult time reconciling the cheerful, irreverent scamp she knew to a person who ran such a company. And why was the holder of one of the foremost businesses in the galaxy lugging her own supplies? Stubbornness, Jhira suspected. With a quirk of a grin, Jhira suddenly knew what Solstice Gift to get her! And hopefully Arla would know precisely which model to get.

“Sounds like you are an ace pilot yourself, Lori-goof, using an experimental weapon! I bet you were the first one, too, and I’d love to see it in action.”

A moment of thought followed, and with a wicked grin Jhira offerd, “Once Mia brings my ship back, We’ll have to find an excuse to race through the Kessel Run.”

Meticulously courteous, and mindful of the adage that there is only ever one Captain aboard a ship, Jhira waited for Lori to precede her aboard, and introduce her to Arla.

“You’ll have to fly the E’choyla Sun sometime; she’s light on her feet.”

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori laughed. "Well when you've got plenty of funds, you can spare no expense to ensure the best." And she had plenty of funds, both through the Arenais fortune, her own side jobs before that, and now with MandalArms and it's subsidiaries. She didn't have to worry about not having credits on hand.

"I'll have to see if there's any footage of the Plasma Lash around to give you a preview. Yet I'm sure that if we were in the same battles, you'll have your chance." Lori didn't want to hope or wish for a battle just to show Jhira Mereel the Plasma Lash at work. They all wanted to live in peaceful times, for there had been too much war already. But peace was never a surefire thing.

She grinned at the idea of racing the Kessel Run, clapping her hands together. "That would be wicked! I've always wanted to race the Kessel! Is it in neutral space? Or?" Lori hadn't looked at the current Galactic map in a while. There were some places that she couldn't go due to her Rebel activity.

Lori led Jhira into her ship, glad for the help in offloading her supplies. She'd sort it all later while they were travelling in hyperspace. In the meantime she'd just pile them up in the cargo bay. She wasn't some pampered Princess. She was used to hard work and not afraid in the slightest to get her hands dirty.

Or bloody, if the need arose.

"I have a training fighter too. She's quick, but has no weapons. I've freaked out many passengers with that one." Lori chuckled to herself, obviously proud of those memories.

 

[Jhira Mereel]

POLITICAL REGION: CIS SPACE
LOCATION: Korunnai Heretics Temple, Shattered Mountains, Malastare
Objectives: Save Tundra Nexu. Talk Loreena into opening her Zoos to a Nexu breeding program. Discover lost lore. Protect Loreena.
TAGS: [ Loreena Arenais-Valhoun ]

Rook considered herself well-off. Between very profitable merchant runs, a fully owned ship with a crew that took care of most repairs in house, and several skilled members of the crew that did specialist work at exhorbinat prices, she’d been confident that her family would be comfortable for the foreseeable future. Yet she’d never had so much wealth that she could simply order what she needed, new, to her own specifications. And now, things could get tight, if she had to buy very many nexu. As word spread as to their rarity, she’d be looking at higher and higher prices - there were records indicating a prime fighting Nexu could go for as much as half a million credits each!

On the other hand …

“Speaking of money, Lori-goof. Let’s say we get ourselves a solid population upon your island,” she grinned the adventurous rebel. “And we have some here, too. Where do you stand, morally speaking, on the notion of selling the worst behaved of the lot to fighting rings and crime lords?” Jhira followed the hard working executive into the ship, giving a bit of a shrug.

“I mean, according to the vids I’ve been watching, the normal practice is to destroy the bad tempered ones. So why not sell them instead, and help pay for the whole operation? Maybe I’ve been a merchant too long, but i can’t seem to think that the preserves we arrange for them will last longer if someone sees away to make a profit off of them.” That it might well give Jhira diplomatic capital to use when trying to get said crime lords to sell her their precious Nexu, went without saying.

Barter was much, much better than cash up front.

A smile flared, as Lori-goof offered to get her vids of the Plamsa Lash. “You know, if we worked in tandem, your Plaslma Lash and my mining ships with their tow-tractors, I think we really could find enough space Ice to give Mandalore back her oceans. Who knows? Could be an Industry in it. ‘Mereel Ice Works. We bring the ocean to you’!” Her smile was wide, but the question serious. “Lots of worlds will need new water, now.”

But the serious mood lifted under Loreena’s delightful enthusiasm over the Kessel Run. “I’ll find out whose territory it crosses. Maybe we can bring friends in, have a bit of fun with it?”

The wicked chuckle over terrifying passengers in her unarmed ship won a bright burst of rippling laughter from Jhira, too.

“I have a feeling you’ve terrified passengers on all of your ships, Lori-goof.” A challenging grin followed — even odds if it suggests Jhira might give Loreena nightmares with her piloting or if she was daring the younger pilot to just try to scare her!

“Come, introduce me to your Arla so that I might pilot this lovely ship of yours while we talk.”

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

"Hmmm...." Lori scratched under her chin in thought. Selling Nexu to crimelords for fight pits did sound a bit harsh. Yet it was kinder to give them a fighting chance rather than to just kill them outright, wasn't it? "I suppose that could work. But it also runs the risk of them killing their buyers and escaping. But even still...that could make them worthy for another hunt." Although it wouldn't be for trophy hunting so much as it would be to save people's lives.

And once again Lori clapped her hands at Jhira Mereel 's brilliant idea for rebuilding oceans. "Oh that's wicked! I never thought of using the Plasma Lash on anything but ships. It could certainly work! And we could help out so many worlds. I love it!" Mereel Ice Works was a pretty good name for it too. There'd surely be a lot of planets wanting in on that ambitious project. And she was sure to help fund the humanitarian effort.

The idea of having a bunch of friends takeing part in a Kessel Run race was a great idea too. She led Jhira up the stair to the cockpit where Arla was already doing the preflight checks. [color=I take it this is your new friend, Captain?"][/color] Arla gave Jhira a small glance with a nod of her head. There wasn't a lot of emotion shown on her face, but most were well used to that.

"Yeah, this is Jhira. And don't worry, I'm not going to try to keep her. She's going to take my seat for a bit and learn to fly her. Always good to have another back up in case we're unavailable, you know?"

"I suppose....you could be right Captain. Have a seat, Jhira."

Lori kept back while Arla showed Jhira the basics; controls, thrust, breaking, acceleration and lift. It only took a few minutes to explain the rundown. "You can start when ready."

 

[Jhira Mereel]

POLITICAL REGION: CIS SPACE
LOCATION: Korunnai Heretics Temple, Shattered Mountains, Malastare
Objectives: Save Tundra Nexu. Talk Loreena into opening her Zoos to a Nexu breeding program. Discover lost lore. Protect Loreena.
TAGS: [ Loreena Arenais-Valhoun ]

Jhira’s grin widened, as Lori-goof lit up with delight at the notion of using the deadly Plasma Lash as a tool, as well as a weapon. Restoring the oceans on Mandalore felt like a need, to Jhira. One as sharp as breathing. She clapped her friend upon the shoulder, even as she followed her aboard.

The inside of Jaster’s Delight was as exquisite as the outside, everything ordered and in place. Before she’d quite looked her fill, a grave young woman was introduced as Arla. The interchange between the two younger ladies was a touch odd, but Jhira merely nodded to the wary concern in Arla’s posture and words.

Settling in carefully, Jhira reviewed what Lori-goof showed her before allowing her machine-mind interface to slide fully into place. A shiver went through her, delighted and eager, for each part of the ship was responsive and light. A minute of stillness followed, as Jhira ran through her preflight and calibration drills at nearly the speed of a droid.

“Launching in 3, 2, 1 …” The military drill to warn of thrust or fancy maneuvers was all but hard wired into her. “Launch!”
Then Jasper’s Sparrow leapt into the air, and arrowed for the clean, cold perfection of space. For a while there was no conversation at all, as Jhira simply explored and delighted in this new ship. Every drive was pushed right to the limit - and not one breath beyond. So maneuverable a craft deserved to be appreciated, so she danced between asteroids for a while, then dodged plasma flumes from a few stars. “A beautiful ship, ladies.”

A final barrel roll, and it was time for a hyperspace jump. Once the starts were just smears of light across their bow, Jhira pivoted her seat to smile at both Arla and Loreena. “We are headed to the Shattered Mountains, on Malastare. It’s a cold, forested planet in the Mid Rim. It’s got a rather unique fuel source, and is the home of the Zillo beasts. But that’s not why were are there.” Maybe … something in Jhira’s tone said she wouldn’t say no to taking home a couple of Zillos, too.

“There is an old Temple there, from an ancient order of Force Users known for their ability to bond with and control animals. This particular sect of Korunnai preferred to Force-bond Nexu. If we’re going to find both information upon handling them, and a group bred for more affection than normal, it will be here.”

“Any questions, before we drop out of hyper?”

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori stood behind Arla's chair as Jhira Mereel piloted Jaster's Delight. It was wonderful to see her take such 'delight' in the ship that was custom built for the young Arenais. And she flew it well.

She listened as Jhira spoke of their destination, already thinking of where she had her cold weather clothing that could slip over her armour. The fact that they were heading to a mountain spurred her imagination.

Yet then Jhira let her on about their true purpose. And that was to go to a temple. Lori didn't have much confidence in her own connection to the Force, outside of creating Force Light. That was something that she had been able to do since she was little. What was once a game is now a useful skill. Or at least that was what she had been told. Lori had only used the Force Light against a Darksider once, yet numerous zombies had gotten into the way to protect the Darksider and for a brief moment the necromancer's spell had been broken. But only for a brief moment. It made her wonder what it would be like had the zombies not gotten in the way.

"Bonding and controlling animals? That sounds like fun. And would be very useful. I haven't been in temples really. Are there any rules? I know that some Force sects can be really strict."

 

[Jhira Mereel]

POLITICAL REGION: CIS SPACE
LOCATION: Korunnai Heretics Temple, Shattered Mountains, Malastare
Objectives: Save Tundra Nexu. Talk Loreena into opening her Zoos to a Nexu breeding program. Discover lost lore. Protect Loreena.

TAGS: [ Loreena Arenais-Valhoun ]

Jhira nodded slowly, her grin flashing, as Lori-goof asked about traditions and customs at the Temple. Not a squeak, not a peep of protest from her or her loyal Arla while Jhira played with her ship, and no more did Loreena evidence any doubt or fear at all now that she knew their goal.

“Ah, this is where it gets fun. This temple? That bonds Nexu and other large cat species? They were declared heretics by the main Korunnai order.” A faint shake of her head followed. “I know sentients are difficult and violent, Lori-goof, but for some reason Force Users seem especially prone to solving inner conflicts with violence.”

A baffled shrug followed, “These guys? They got attacked by the Dog-branch of Korunnai. The dog-lovers got run off, but the sect never recovered. I figure, we’re not Forcies, and shouldn’t trigger the main defenses,”

What was that thing, what you didn’t know couldn’t hurt you?

“I’m looking for two things - the actual lore to help people who have just a bit of power bond with our Nexu, and the Nexu left here. Because they would have been self-selecting, breeding for affection, intelligence and the ability to be bonded.” Kind of tragic really; the order slowly dying off, having fewer and fewer people to manage more and more nexu. Yet it had developed precisely what she needed.

Somber now, she concluded, “I think it could make all the difference in restoring the species.”

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori listened as Jhira Mereel explained about the history of the sect and how it almost died off. Cats and dogs. It was almost kinda comical and a part of her wanted to laugh. But then it became apparent to her that people probably died during that little tiff between sects and that in and of itself is not something to laugh at.

Yet something that Jhira had said gave her pause. Force sensitive defenses? Uh oh....

Jhira continued on about wanting some of the lore as well as the perfect pick of Nexu to start with, while both Lori and Arla exchanged glances. Did Jhira not know about Lori being a Forcie? It made her wonder just how many did know. In some ways it was perfectly wicked in being able to surprise people with her small number of abilities, especially in combat or capture situations. However she wasn't an expert like her brother or her parents when they were alive. Only in one skill; Force Light; was she highly skilled. She had heard one Forcie tell her that she used the Art of the Small, but all of that was just gibberish to her, much like what all the names are for how you swing your lightsaber. Really she just worked on instinct during the few times that she fought with her own, never thinking about what a certain move was called while she used it. She learned a long time ago to adapt to every situation as they always change.

"Umm....what kind of Force defenses do they have?" No doubt Jhira would be able to detect the slight sheepishness in her voice.

 

[Jhira Mereel]

POLITICAL REGION: CIS SPACE
LOCATION: Korunnai Heretics Temple, Shattered Mountains, Malastare
Objectives: Save Tundra Nexu. Talk Loreena into opening her Zoos to a Nexu breeding program. Discover lost lore. Protect Loreena.
TAGS: [ Loreena Arenais-Valhoun ]

The first stirrings of unease rippled through Jhira as Loreena and Arla exchanged glances. A silence, longer than it should have been, reigned when she finished her presentation. For a minute, Jhira worried she’d forgotten something. Climbing gear? Had it. Cold weather gear? Check. Maping skill chip? Installed. Giant cages and stun gas? Ready to go.

Leaning back, the Captain watched Loreena, wondering if the noble and far too wealthy lass was being somehow forbidden from risking herself? Had the young Mando thought it would be all words, and now must reassess what she had promised to others?

But Loreena Arenais-Valhoun spoke, and Jhira went still.

Utterly still; assessing.

A long, slow blink followed, though her hand waved soothingly less the bodyguard mistake her shock for any sort of ill-will towards her Kinswoman.

“Lori-goof, please tell me you are not afflicted by the Force?” A kind of sad laughter welled up. “In any case, a Mandalorian always has a plan B.”

Angling her head to the side, Jhira considered what the rumors and old texts said.

“A bounty hunter friend of mine said that there are magnetic strips, that swivel doors, posts and walls, trying to separate the Forcies from us. My guess is they were there were stop an out of control animal if it’s Bonded got hurt or killed? So I’d watch out for those.”

“More concerning, is some sort of test of morals or philosophy.” She shook her head. “They didn’t believe in Light or Dark? Just something called the ‘living force,’ along with some animism that suggested any place or large group of animals developed an ‘affinity’ or will that was greater than itself. My bet is they will want to know if you are a dog person, or a cat person.”

Jhira’s smile flared, wicked and confident. “I say, why not both?”

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori lowered her head a little as Jhira Mereel asked her if she was afflicted with Force sensativity. "I am....but I'm not very good at it and I hardly use it, I think. So that has to account for something, doesn't it? My parents and my twin brother are all big shot Force users, while I stuck with being a spacer and not getting involved with that mess."

The magnetic strips on doors that could separate them made her think of of a scenario where she would become trapped in a large metal room and unable to continue. Maybe she'd need to bring her lightsaber or something to help cut her out. A blowtorch, maybe?

The morality test. Was it a quiz? Lori imagined herself in the center of a room with a bunch of old monks sitting in chairs around her, questioning her and making her highly uncomfortable in the process. That didn't sound at all pleasant.

"There is a tea that you can drink. Ola tea has the ability to take away the Force connection much like Ysalamiri can. It will give you a two hour window of opportunity. Is that enough time?" Arla questioned Jhira as the Mandalorian had a greater grasp of the mission than they did.

 

[Jhira Mereel]

POLITICAL REGION: CIS SPACE
LOCATION: Korunnai Heretics Temple, Shattered Mountains, Malastare
Objectives: Save Tundra Nexu. Talk Loreena into opening her Zoos to a Nexu breeding program. Discover lost lore. Protect Loreena.
TAGS: [ Loreena Arenais-Valhoun ]

Speaking gently, Jhira reached out a gauntleted hand to gently rest it over Loreena’s. “Ner Vod, I see it as an affliction or curse because of what others will do to you, for bearing that weapon. My son, my niece and several dear friends are so burdened. I do not love them less for it. But neither do I hide from the cost and benefit of it.”

A pause as Jhira tried to catch her gaze. “But I do insist they all train it fully. How else can they protect themselves from those who will come for them? How can you?” She squeezed the hand gently, mourning the lack of a strong Aliit, who would and could have seen to this wound in her sister. And cursing the parents and brother who made her feel so worthless.

“I know a few people, from different traditions.”

“Stuck with being a spacer? Lori-goof, do you want me to break your nose, too?” Referring to her legendary prank. “There is no higher calling and no greater fun than being a shebla pilot!”

Jhira knew, knew in her soul, that Loreena hiding from her own power was wrong. Wrong for her, wrong for the mission.

“Embrace your power, Lori-goof! It’s time for you to become a Korunnai shaman, at least for a day. We don’t have to sneak, if we present you to the guardians as a potential student? A brawl, and you have to catch a nexu, and then get it to eat, then you’re in.”

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

"I haven't had anyone do anything to me because of it. Most people don't even know about it. I'm not in the Jedi/Sith wars. I've never had anyone try to turn me evil or anything like that. I think that there's too many of them around, so I'm not even a blip on their radar. The only bad attention that I ever got was for my rebel activity. It's had nothing to do with the Force at all. There won't be anyone coming for me for that. And besides, I have weapons, ships and now armies at my disposal. I'll be okay."

Lori looked to Jhira Mereel with a furrowed brow. She wasn't concerned about herself so much. Only with some of the Mandalorians and now her Elysium Empire inlaws did she feel as though she had some worth, even though most of it was just in paper. She was used to being the afterthought; the one to push aside for someone better, or pushed away for her own safety. Lori had spent a lot of time alone, with her only companion being her bodyguard Arla.

She snickered as Jhira misinterpreted her when she said that she stuck with being a spacer. "No need to break my nose. I don't mean it like it's a bad thing. I just meant that that was what I stuck to instead of going with Force training or anything else. I love flying and tinkering with gadgets and ships. I wouldn't want anything else. I don't think that I should do anything else. I mean, yeah, I'm a royal and now have to learn diplomacy for when Rex inherits the Empire, but...I'm a spacer at heart. And I'll continue to do whatever I can for Mandalore."

Embrace her power. That was what she would have to do for Mandalore? But what if she sucked at it? Lori wasn't all that great in being bound by lots of rules and restrictions. She was impulsive, thought on her feet and more or less had luck on her side.

And now she was to offer herself up as a student? Not only that, but a student for shamans? That was going to be quite the feat. Lori decided to put her own spin on things, however. Maybe that would help her confidence. "Battle a Nexu and dominate it? Sounds like a trial fit for a vod. I'll do it."

 

[Jhira Mereel]

​

POLITICAL REGION: CIS SPACE
LOCATION: Korunnai Heretics Temple, Shattered Mountains, Malastare
Objectives: Save Tundra Nexu. Talk Loreena into opening her Zoos to a Nexu breeding program. Discover lost lore. Protect Loreena.
TAGS: [ Loreena Arenais-Valhoun ]

“I’m glad the Force Users have never come for you.” But her eyebrows rose in delight as she heard about entire governments after her for being a Rebel.

“We have got to talk about your days as a rebel, at some point.” the hand upon Loreena’s squeezed again.

Loreena’s faintly furrowed brow, the faint surprise at anyone being concerned for Loreena herself, this precious and brilliant individual made Jhira want to smack her arrogant, awful parents. And she silently promised herself that if the in-laws made her feel the same, she’d happily break their noses twice, to make up for missing the chance the first time.

“I just want you to be safe,” She grinned, eyes bright.

“Mostly safe, anyway. Not so safe you’re bored, or go stale. Jeti and dar’jeti scare me; from what I’ve seen, they both make rotten parents. But there’s a passel of shamanic and nature traditions that aren’t so extreme in their fanaticism.” a beat.

“And they are good parents.”

Jhira’s laughter rippled free, as Lori-goof affirmed that being a pilot, a spacer, was her own choice. It tapered off, as she spoke of being a noble. No, a royal now. A princess! Releasing Loreena’s hand at last, she thought to address that last statement, dominate.

It was surely better than being dominated. But it was telling, that her mind swung between such extremes.

“A good challenge; you could earn a sigil of your own out of this, if you desired it. One that was yours.”

Jhira leaned back and gestured outwards and upwards, heavy gaze searching her friend-and-sister for any sign of coercion or pain. “I’ve always thought of an aristocracy as some sort of civil right’s violation. Demanding a child fit into a specific role, whether or not they are suited for it. I hope this was your choice, Lori-goof?”

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori smiled as Jhira Mereel mentioned wanting to hear about her Rebel activity. Her smile was almost a sly one as there was much tales of mischieviousness to be told. But they'll get to that later. Perhaps on their return home.

"I am safe, for the most part. I can go almost anywhere that I want to and no one would care or notice." It was all in an effort to keep her safe that her family and even some of her friends had pushed her away. They all figured that they knew what was best for her. Maybe they were right? She didn't know. But it wasn't always fun.

"My parents were wonderful. They kept my brother and I out of the spotlight and they let the Commenori government basically run themselves while they raised us until we were 11. There were some.....hiccups, but they never did us wrong. They never hurt us. The worst pain that I have is due to their loss
" And she never found out if her Dad WolfMortum was ever proud of her. His holocron lay on Mnemosyne as far as she knew. But she wasn't so sure if she was gifted enough to unlock it. Such a trick might be simple for Caedyn, but using the Force didn't come so easily to her. She wasn't like them.

Lori liked the idea of having her own skill that may not be useful in the long run, but for their current mission it certainly was. They both desired to see Mandalore get back on it's feet. Yet to do so, the planet needed to be healed as well. This was all a part of that.

Yet once again Jhira seemed to approach the subject of her arranged marriage. There was a pause before Lori would answer her, for her mind was searching for the best way to explain her decision when so many didn't approve. "I made the choice...for my family. And...and for me too. I don't want to just be an afterthought. Elysium is a fledgling Empire. I'm in a position to help steer it in the right direction and if that fails, then I can break it from the inside if I have to. I don't need to rule it, but to make sure that evil doesn't take it over." And as far as she could tell Heath Valhoun was not a corrupt man.

 

[Jhira Mereel]

​

POLITICAL REGION: CIS SPACE
LOCATION: Korunnai Heretics Temple, Shattered Mountains, Malastare
Objectives: Save Tundra Nexu. Talk Loreena into opening her Zoos to a Nexu breeding program. Discover lost lore. Protect Loreena.
TAGS: [ Loreena Arenais-Valhoun ]

The grin that Jhira adored danced across Loreena's face. Jhira couldn't help a laugh, despite the seriousness of the situation. However, that mischievous look did not fully seem to match an assurance that Lor-goof would be safe anywhere she chose to go.

The codicil that no one would care[/] provoked an immediate response. "I care, and would notice. You drop out of all contact for more than 48 hours without giving me warning, and we'll be coming after you." A wry grin surfaced. "That's my rule for family."

Loreena spoke of the family she loved so very much; the family she had given up everything for. Jhira's face was carefully, precisely expressionless yet she could not hide the flares of pain as Lori lightly danced over all the ways she'd been minimized and left behind.

Parenthood didn't end when you were 11. Or 13. Or ever.

Not for Mandalorians. And why ignore the job they were supposed to be raising their children to fill, instead of taking their kids with them? Jhira didn't, couldn't understand. Children and family were 2/3s of the Resol'nare and shaped every single principle of Mandalorian life. Impulsively, Jhira moved to sit beside Lori and slipped an arm around her if Lori permitted.

"It sounds more like they didn't know how to reconcile all their duties, than that they didn't love you. But the hurt is still there for you, and I hate it. I would much rather they were here for you, to be taught better. I am amazed at all you have accomplished, despite being so very alone."

Loreena gave the matter of her political marriage some deep thought, and Jhira waited patiently. The explanation of why Lori chose this Empire was opaque to Jhira. Only two facts really mattered.

Lori-goof had chosen it, eyes open.

And she'd take it out if it went bad.

"If you need me, I will be there for you. Everything from babysitting to insurrection."

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori's eyebrows rose as Jhira Mereel gave her the playful warning of her needing to always be in touch. Indeed she saw it almost like a challenge. "Intergalactic hide and seek? Now that does sound like fun!" She laughed a little, but then her gaze became slightly more serious. Afterall, Jhira's promise wasn't one of fun and games. "I will keep in contact though. I promise."

The comforting arm around her shoulders caused Lori to lean into her, almost to the point of curling up in the crook of her arm. It had felt like forever since she was last held, but bad events had a tendancy of slowing down time.

"I understand why they did what they did. My brother was sent off first, to learn of the Force and after a short while I was sent off to live and train with some Mandalorians. My parents were...high valued targets and it's because of that that they both died before they could become grandparents. If my brother and I were with them then there was the chance that we'd be dead too. They wanted us safe and kept from becoming targets of their enemies. But thank you....your recognition is greatly appreciated."

It was funny how being a target by enemies made her feel less lonely. But that was how it was for her. It made her feel wanted and important instead of just a nobody that could easily be bypassed by someone else. Maybe that was why she went through with the arranged marriage as well, despite the fact that her husband's Empire just wanted her family's name associated with it, as well as MandalArms.

Lori let out a chuckle. "Babysitting? Oh I don't think that you'll have to worry about that. We don't even sleep in the same room." And other times they weren't even on the same ship. Her marriage was complicated, however it wasn't an open relationship. And maybe some day they'd learn to love eachother, but not at this moment.

It would take time. And fortunately they had a lot of that.