A Secret Worth an Empire (Taeli Rae)

[Nimue Stormson]

Word had been sent to Master [member="Taeli Rae"] from Effekt. It had been known by some that she and the Empress were old friends, but none knew how deep that relationship went in truth. The message had been sent directly from the Empress Nimue Stormson herself. Unlike her usual invitations that were full of grand sentences and phrases, or subtle innuendos hinting at their "nighttime affairs". It was a single, clean and clear sentence.​

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"Please come at once."​

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As per her usual treatment of guests Nimue would have a guard awaiting Taeli at the landing port into the royal city of Effekt. The one that stood closer to the royal palace was open, meaning less of a journey for Taeli to deal with before arriving inside. From there it would be a clear path to Nimue's quarters. If she were to ask the guard or anyone else about what the Empress wanted they would be as unsure as she was. They would give their own ideas, believe she may have been sick or worse.​

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"She's been meeting with doctors." one guard would tell her. "Scientists. There's been many to come to the palace in the past. But she always meets in secret. She may...."​

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He would go silent after that and only gesture to the Empress' door once they arrived. It was clear the Empress wanted to see Taeli alone as well. Everything was kept in secret, a clear sign something was wrong. But that would be between the two once they met, and only them. ​

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[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

Having received her old friend's message, and somewhat relieved to hear she had actually survived the turmoil that had gripped the galaxy following Akala's attack and the Netherworld event. Landing her Sicarius-class Infiltrator at the landing pad near the palace, she was met by a guard from Nimue's royal entourage.

As she followed him inside, she certainly didn't look like she did last time she had been here. Wearing a shimmering light green dress, a pair of black framed glasses on her nose that highlighted her purple eyes, Taeli would also feel different to a Force user. Here, she wasn't afraid to lower her spell of concealment and show how much she had stepped into the light. Still . . . this guard was just too gossipy for her tastes.

"I'm sure she wanted their advice on something, but I'm sure your Empress is fine," Taeli said softly as they reached the door to Nimue's private quarters. "I can show myself in, you may go about your other duties."

Knocking on the door, she cautiously opened it and stepped inside, closing it behind her.

"Hello Nimue," she greeted.

 

[Nimue Stormson]

The Empress had been sitting by the fireplace, gazing into the embers, before hearing the knock on the door. She took a deep breath as a smile of relief came on her face. Sure enough, as she stood, there was [member="Taeli Rae"] standing at the doorway. She looked a little different the last Nimue had seen her, but then again so much time had passed that it wasn't too surprising. At least she still looked good. The Empress herself was wearing only a flowing green robe this time. No fancy crown of rings or anything of the sort. For now she was just another woman seeing another woman friend. She finally walked over with open arms, saying nothing, and embraced Taeli. ​

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She kissed her on the cheek before saying "I'm glad you came. You look as lovely as last I saw you." She pulled her at arms length to have a closer look at her before adding "I heard about the events of... Netherworld, was it? I wish I'd been there, but my own planet was in turmoil over war. But at least we both came out with little scratches it seems."​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

"A lot changed for me during and after that event," Taeli said, returning the embrace and kissing Nimue on the cheek as well. "Maybe not physical wounds, but it was an emotional roller coaster for me. I'm glad that whatever war you were fighting ended in your favor. You look good too, but I'm curious. Can we sit and you can tell me about why you called me here on such short notice. Your message sounded . . . urgent."

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue nodded at her remark about psychological scars. Nimue had a few herself. Some caused by having to kill her own people, the very ones she wanted to protect and govern with ease. The war had done much to her, not the least of which being how she unleashed everything against her enemies. There were still echos of scream that haunted her sometimes. But given the fact [member="Taeli Rae"] was persistent to know why she was called NImue's attention was more on that. She brought Taeli over to the foot of the bed and sat her down while standing in front of her. She sighed as she knew this would be hard to hear before explaining, looking back to the picture of Emperor Victor Stormson above.​

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"There was something I've never told anyone, Taeli. Something I've always feared would hinder my rights as Empress.... You see when Victor was alive we... were expecting a child. One born of our own union. But my family... the ones who'd tried to use me to help take over the Empire, they saw this as a treasonous act against them. As such... they poisoned me. I survived but the healers.... couldn't save our child. And as a result I was made....barren. I could no long have a child by natural means. That was before... but now..." She turned back to Taeli and went on with "I've found a way, Taeli. I've done it." She sat down and held her friends hands in her lap and exclaimed "I'm going to have a baby!"​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

"Congratulations, but how . . . no hold on let me guess," Taeli said, smiling wide. She was happy for her friend, she had been through much in her life, even more than Taeli had even known about. Her family seemed to be just as cutthroat as the Sith apparently, but she suspected they had been handled in some way that suited their actions. Justice would always come about . . . given enough time.

"So your guard said you've been meeting with a variety of scientists and doctors soooo, if you were barren naturally . . . I'm going to guess you went the genetic route. Hmm . . . to do that you'd need your DNA as a baseline, but you would need others to actual create a stable being. Maybe five or six others to share genetics, since only one or two would be insufficient in a laboratory setting and probably wouldn't survive the process. That means you would need . . . Force user DNA since it's stronger and would survive the conditions your family left you in."

A lightbulb went off in her head as she spoke, oh that sly minx.

"Where did you get mine?" she asked, her purple eyes twinkling behind her glasses.

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue was about to answer her first question before, to her surprise, [member="Taeli Rae"] had managed to answer it along with any and all follow-ups she may have had. Nimue just sat there i with an almost dumbfounded look on her face as she deconstructed every possible route and reason behind her actions. Nimue was impressed though part of her was upset she spoiled her grand talk of how t happened. At least she didn't figure the part about how she'd gotten her DNA, along with all the others.​

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NImue only held a childish grin as she answered "It took a lot of coin, but they found it for me. Along with the others." Her tone went more serious as she said "But there's a reason why!" She sighed, holding her hands a little tighter, while explaining "I loved Victor, more than anyone else I've ever met. But you, and others, have managed to sate this...this emptiness inside. It's been with me ever since he passed. But not on your own. I love you, Talie. Truly. But I've had so any others to bed....and none of them have....." she stopped herself, knowing how bad it sounded. It wasn't her intention at all though. She skipped it and continued with "The DNA in this child is yours. Along with several other force users I've....grown feelings for in the past. So suffice to say, this child will have not one but many mothers and fathers..." ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

"I think I would prefer to take an aunt role with your child," Taeli said, taking her friend's hand in her own. "Avoid some of the confusion and all of that. I'm happy for you, truly I am! A child can bring you the joy and love that has been vacant for so many years in your heart. I'm somewhat honored you called me to reveal this to first, as I'm guessing you haven't told anyone."

Tapping her chin in thought, she was curious who the others who had their DNA in this child were.

"Do you mind me asking who else is mixed in with your child?" she asked, getting up to hug Nimue again and now reaching out with the Force, she could sense the bundle of life growing.

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Hearing her want the role of aunt overall Nimue chuckled in her throat and said "I think it best. It'll be hard to explain to a child how it's 1/ 10th of a number of people." After that she listened to her friend's congrats before she asked who else's DNA was in the mix. She sighed and said "That's part of why I've only told you. I feel the others will....not be as kind to knowing I've used their DNA for this. And there are a few. A Jedi Master known as DragonsFlame. Another who I knew as Jericho. There was as Sith knight who taught me the ways of combat, I....I was rather fond of him. And the there's a certain King of Keth I maybe have had romantic feelings towards. And one other who....who I prefer not to say. It's best not know for now." After that she sighed again before saying "All of these people, including you, [member="Taeli Rae"] , had managed to fill my heart more than I've ever felt in the longest time. But they can't know. None of them. Not now at least..."​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

"You have my word I won't reveal anything to anyone," Taeli promised with a small smile. "I don't any of the Jedi and I generally avoid my . . . colleagues in the last few weeks and months. Hmm King of Keth . . . king of Keth . . . hold on . . . do you mean . . . Kesh? Oh Force, why am I not surprised Solan would be involved with something like this."

Face-palming hard, even if she was friends with the Dark Jedi king, Taeli couldn't help the groan that escaped her lips. If he ever found, she would never hear the end of it that they technically had a child now. Oh Force, oh Force, oh Force.

"I'm still curious how someone got my DNA since it's hard to find traces of me around the place someone knows where to look," she said, her smile still on her face to show she wasn't angry or anything. "One has to be careful when they are around Sith after all . . . which I've been avoiding a lot recently."

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue only shrugged before saying "I cannot truly say. I paid good for them to bring it to me themselves. They have...good people. I suppose. But none of that matters. What does matter is this." she brought Taeli's hand onto her stomach. "This child will be born within a few moths. I...I want you there. I need to know at least one downer it there to see it. I can't trust many, but I know I can trust you. Please say you'll be there, my love." Her eyes beamed and almost begged. She knew she'd say yet but it was almost a desperate attempt to make sure that was the only answer she'd give. No hesitation or the like. ​

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[member="Taeli Rae"]​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

"Of course I'll be there," Taeli said, smiling even wider. "Plus if someone tries anything, you'd have a master-rank Force user there to . . . dissuade someone from such foolishness. I'm guessing your people, being staunch traditionalists, would frown upon a child like this being next in line to the throne?"

 

[Nimue Stormson]

"They would frown upon it's heritage. And because it's not....natural." She explained. "But I know some who would give their lives for me. Servants who've been with me through much. I can trust them." She sighed again before saying "Thank you, Taeli. My sweet, sweet Taeli. You'll see. When it comes this child....this child will change everything." She finished by leaning into Taeli's shoulders and resting her head romantically on it. ​

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Nine months later...​

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Nimue screamed in her bed while her servants rushed around to help with the birth of her child. It was night. Her water had broke long before. This child seemed less than anxious to be born. Hand maids and guards were doing their jobs while the Empress continued to groan into screaming from her bed. All the while her hands were gripped tight. One around the sheets and the other around [member="Taeli Rae"] 's hand. The wet nurse continued with telling her to push and breath, sweat and tears streaming from NImue's face. ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

Taeli only sat nearby, letting the fingers in her left hand get crushed in Nimue's grip. She had to fight the urge to issue orders to the servants and handmaidens, but they knew what they were doing. She would just stay here to be support for her friend, the Force was all fluctuating around her and the entire room.

"Keep strong Nimue, your child is almost here," Taeli said, giving off soothing waves of Force energy for her friend to pull on. "A few more pushes, deep breathes, deep breathes. Almost there."

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue's teeth gritted as she felt the pushing sensation. Her handmaidens continued to wipe her forehead while another tried to hold her trashing arm down. The wet nurse continued to tell her to push despite all the more screaming. And then, suddenly, everything in the room began to shake. It start off small but began to grow more and more. It built before no one could stand straight, The wet nurse was still holding while sitting on her stool but the guards and handmaidens were starting to stumble. Things fell off the shelves and broke while Nimue, to her own shock, looked around in confusion.​

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She then turned to [member="Taeli Rae"] and said "It.... it's not me! I'm not doing it!"​

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Her attention went back to the birthing and, in one final echoing scream there came a sound. Everything subsided. The only sound that could be heard now was a wailing child. Nimeu tried to look past the propped up sheets as she heard it crying, wanting to see what it was. The wet nurse stood and revealed a child wrapped in a blanket.​

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She finally declared "It's a girl!" ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

AS the room began to shake, Taeli knew immediately what it meant. It wasn't emanating from Nimue, but the little girl that was being pulled from her was radiating power within the Force. Uncontrollable waves of energy shook the place for a while longer, and then faded away as the baby gave its first cry and the wet nurses declared it a girl.

"She's beautiful, Nimue," Taeli said, handing the girl gently over to her friend, the baby swaddled in blankets of the royal colors of Effekt. "And powerful in the Force," she added in a whisper only her friend could hear. It wouldn't do for any word to leak out about the girl and the shaking being connected, her people still needed to get used to the idea of the Force and the modern galaxy still.

 

[Nimue Stormson]

The declaration of it being a girl brought tears of joy to Nimue's eyes. She insisted to see the baby, watching as the wet nurse handed it from herself to [member="Taeli Rae"] and then to the empress. She was gentle, as any mother would be, while the child seemed to calm. Nimue was speechless as she overlooked her baby, the the time crying with a quivering smile on her face. She kissed it's head while seeing the color of her hair. Brown. She had a feeling she knew which side she inherited that from. And Taeli's words of her being strong in the force were another sign of how powerful this child was destine to be. Like her mother, perhaps more. The heritage this child carried was great indeed. All the while Nimue looked back and forth between her child and Taeli, trying to think of a name.​

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Finally she said aloud "Morgana..."​

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Hearing this a gaurd declared "Hail! Princess Morgana!"​

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He and everyone of the servants dropped to their knees. The child was only born a few moments ago and already she was being bowed to by her future subjects. Nimue looked out to all of them, her tears starting to dry while looking back to her baby. She'd calmed now, only making small little noises as she continued to fumble in her sheets. It was then that Nimue looked back to her servants.​

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"Thank you. All of you." she began. ​

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The wet nurse, speaking for all of them, said "We were honored to bring your child into this world, your highness."​

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"And I could ask for no greater loyalty." she replied. "And you're sure no one else knows about this? Only you and I and Taeli?"​

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"Yes, madame. We've all sworn under pain of death to keep this secret forever."​

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"Good..."​

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Suddenly Nimue handed Morgana to Taeli and then, in one felled motion, reached her hand out and snapped the wet nurses' neck with the force. The other servants gasped before the doors slammed and locked. Nimue looked at them with cold eyes as suddenly her shadow began to form into a giant serpent. The familiar Taeli had helped her create. She set it upon the, watching as everyone screamed and tried ti run, only for the giant beast to bite and devour them one by one. The guards tried to fight back but would not last long. Within a few oments the only ones living were NImue, Taeli and the baby.​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

As she handed baby Morgana to Taeli, Taeli was distracted just enough that she couldn't stop what came next. The familiar serpent slaughtered everyone in the room, all while Nimue watched coldly from the bed after she snapped the wet nurse's neck with the Force. Taeli felt slightly horrified by what she had just witnessed.

"That was unnecessary Nimue," she said, her purple eyes flashing. Nimue was a Dark Jedi after all, and while Taeli could understand the reasoning behind what her friend did, she had changed sufficiently enough that she couldn't condone or forgive the action. "You could have just asked me to go into their minds and wipe their memories. There was no need to kill them all."

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue shook her head before saying "No one can know. After the war....no one can truly be trusted. No one...but you." she looked back to [member="Taeli Rae"] before taking her baby again. Morgana had calmed enough that Nimue gently petted at her blankets with a single finger. "Taeli.... you have to do something for me. Something very important." She said as she began to choke with tears. "I...I need you to take her away. Tale her somewhere safe." She looked up with tears starting to fall from reddening eyes. "If anyone finds out about this....it could be devastating. She needs somewhere to grow, to learn, to be....to be better than her mother." She seemed to be ashamed to say it but felt it was true. "I want her to become something great. When she returns....she will take my place. But I want something better than a strong leader. Effekt needs....a good leader. But she won't learn it here." ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

"There was a better way," Taeli said, but then Nimue started to speak and Taeli could feel the sadness and heartache just this request was. Taking the girl away to become something great . . . something good, did not mean taking her back to the Sith. That would end poorly, Taeli knew that all to well. She did have an idea on that front though.

"If that is what you really want, I can take her to the Jedi," she said, sighing a bit. "I have several contacts within the Order that I could leave her with, no questions asked. In fact . . . let's just say I'm not a stranger to Jedi worlds anymore. I'm quite friendly with the Grandmaster since I've distanced myself from my colleagues."