Aftermath

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


You could simply transfer your essence into another body. Even a clone, the thought popped up inside Siobhan's mind. I could. But it's unreliable. Besides, I like this body. It's a broken mess that's been stiched back together repeatedly, the inner voice whispered. The knowledge is inside your mind.


She sighed slightly, calmning down a bit. "You're right. I have endured and overcome worse. I will not be conquered by an illness," she said a bit dramatically. Slowly she got up. "Thanks for sticking by me, love," she planted a fond kiss on Tegaea's firemane.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Any time, Sio.”

She rose, taking the datacard from Siobhan in order to get a holocall connected with Doctor Alise Pender. With the call ringing she handed it to Siobhan.

“Doctor Pender speaking,” the voice came through over the line. It was soft, calm voice, not unlike Doctor Osway’s.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


"This is Countess Kerrigan," Siobhan began formally. She sounded a bit stiff. She did not like calling doctors. "My personal physician, Doctor Osway, recommended me to you. I'd like to make an appointment." She paused, looking around, as if to make certain that no one was listening in. Her kids were rather nosy. "It's about potential heart issues."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Doctor Pender’s tone did not waver or change.
“Countess, I have been expecting your call. Doctor Osway has filled me in with the potential situation. It does not appear to be critical yet, but we must look into it immediately. Prevention is better than a cure.”

“I have an appointment which I can make available for you tomorrow morning. Shall we say tenth hour? I want you to fast for twelve hours before hand of all food. Liquids are fine. Also refrain from any stressful or strenuous activities from now until then. Is that acceptable, Countess?”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


"Yes, that time fine by me. No food, no stressful activity," Siobhan nodded, then a frown creased her features. "Wait, does sex count as strenuous if it isn't too hardcore?" she asked half-seriously. A few new gadgets were bound to arrive today, so this was obviously an important question to ask.


No matter how serious the condition is, I alone am in charge of Firemane and will remain it, she resolved. She had come from nothing and ascended to the very top. No one told her what to do. No one would ever tell her what to do. She alone sat upon the throne and commanded Firemane. She would not allow medical issues to stand in her way.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Normally such a question to a stranger might be met with consternation. The good Doctor though merely chuckled.
“I would keep it to one round, vanilla only,” Pender said, clearly amused. “But make sure you get plenty of sleep.”

The call ended soon after, and Harmony entered gingerly. She had a cup of tea in her hand which she offered to Siobhan.
She clearly wanted to ask what the situation was, but was too professional to ask a personal question, especially one so awkward.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Siobhan reached out and accepted the offered cup. At least her hands were no longer shaking. It was a small victory. "I'll be fine, Harmony. I'll see a specialist tomorrow. I will not be undone by something as...pedestrian as a disease," she declared with some bravado "Besides, if all else fails, I can solve any health problems I might have by body-hopping into a clone or something like that, can't I?" she asked rhetorically. She brought the steaming cup to her lips and sipped it.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Harmony looked a little puzzled for a moment, and then she nodded.
“Oh yeah, I saw that in last year’s ‘Game of Empires’ episode on Palpatine’s resurrection. I thought they made it up, it was all so silly. I mean, really, a wooden starship and a steampunk Jedi? But it’s a real thing, huh?”

She paused. “Well, just don’t hop into me. As much as I like you, Mistress, I like being me more.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


"Yes, Harmony, it is real. Wooden starships and steampunk Jedi are not," Siobhan declared authoritatively. Oh, you poor, naive summer child...there are more absurd things in the Galaxy than you could possibly imagine. Including a Summon Monster X spell.


Then she got a trollish grin on her face. "You know, now that you mention it...you have an amazing body. Soft, full lips, ample breasts, a tight, firm booty to die for...and all that beautiful black skin. I really want it now," at that she pulled the harem girl into a deep kiss, while her hand roamed over her glorious arse. "Kidding. I'd miss you too much."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“I should hope so!” Harmony said, pouting. She folded into the kiss though willingly.

Tegaea entered behind them. “Well I see you’re in good heart, love!” she said jovially. She gave Harmony a pat on the booty and then gave both a kiss.
“Some more tea, love?” she asked.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Kiss, kiss. "I got two hot ladies to look at...and do more than look. That tends to cheer me up." That was probably one of the most honest things Siobhan had ever said. "More tea would be nice, love. Harmony, since you don't want experience the honour of housing my divine essence, you can give me a foot rub."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
And so the scene faded to black, not so much because it was getting into risqué territory, but because the ladies needed their privacy.

When the scene came back into focus later that day the trio was at lunch.
The twins had been given a little briefing by Tegaea not to try and stress out their Aunt Sio or ask her about how she was. One could see they were both dying to ask.

“Aunt Tegaea, might I partake of another slice of bread?” Livy asked.
Tegaea offered the plate over. “Partake’s not the best word to use. Most people won’t know what you mean.”
“I do not think we should limit our vocabulary on account of the ignorant who are not here,” Livy replied sternly.
Tegaea sighed. She had been schooled by a small child. Great.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


"Livia Kerrigan-Alcori, no one likes an arrogant, snobbish know-it-all. The ability to say complex words doesn't make you intelligent - or superior. If you want to make it in the world and not end up alone, I'm afraid sometimes you will have to 'lower' yourself to the level of the so-called ignorant, as you put it. It's called socialising, dear," Siobhan interjected sternly while she helped herself to some eggs. Harsh? Yep.


"Besides, partake is the wrong word," she added imperiously. Perhaps she was being a bit too sharp, but she did not like her wife being lectured. Livia was a bright girl, but she had yet to understand the difference between book learning and wisdom. This was only natural because she was a child.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Livia looked like she’d been slapped. Her lip quivered slightly.
“I’m sorry, auntie, I…I just want you to be proud of me!” she said, burst into tears and fled.
When Adril looked a bit too smug, Tegaea looked at her sternly.
“Adril Kerrigan-Alcori,” she began, repeating her wife, “It’s not polite to gloat on the misfortunes of others. Your sister and you are very smart girls, but that does not give you the right to lecture others. We’re not saying this to be mean, we’re saying it to help you. If you don’t learn now you never will.”
“You are being mean and unfair!” Adril groused as only a small child could. She stomped off to find her sister.

Tegaea shrugged and looked to Siobhan. “They both have a lot to learn, got to catch it early,” she said. She finished her meal and then rose. “I’ll go check on them, but we need to keep up the fight here. If we could take the best parts of both and squeeze them together it’d be perfect…but it rarely is that easy!”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


"In the real world, Adril Kerrigan-Alcori, you don't have your way all the time. If all you do is stomp your foot any time someone is 'unfair', no one will take you seriously," Siobhan added in an equally stern tone when the little girl ran off after Livia.


She turned her attention back to Tegaea. Truth be told, Siobhan did feel a bit bad about upsetting her girls, but they needed to learn. "Agreed. I was too soft with the other girls. It was to their detriment. If I'd taught them discipline, they would have turned out better. I failed them as a mother. I will not do the same with Adril and Livia."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tegaea nodded. “I’ll go after them. It’s important for them to learn that we’re not really mad with them, but that we’re not going to give in or change our minds. Boundaries, staying consistent with decisions and rewarding good behaviour are the keys,” she said.

“At least this time we have them young enough to make an impact.”

She headed into the girl’s room with Harmony. She found there two very unhappy young ladies, but with a bit of effort she was able to get them into a cuddle.
“We both love you very much, Adril and Livia. When we tell you something, it’s for your own good,” she said softly.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


There were no holopics of Aba or Riona in Siobhan's study. But there was one of Nato. Little did the Lady Kerrigan know that she called herself [member="Glade"] these days. Picking it up, she examined it. It was a memory of happier days.


"I stand by my decision. I tried to help you. Force knows I did...and you spat in my face. You...hurt me," she said quietly. Anger swelled up inside her. "But...I failed you. I should have seen the signs earlier. And I fethed up on Kessel. I regret that - deeply. I won't fail my grandkids...the two you left me. Your daughters will be loved and thrive. I will teach them the discipline I failed to pass on to their mother. They will succeed in life."


Then she put the holopic down and angrily wiped away the stray tears that were forming inside her eyes. She placed a call to Firemane command, demanding a status update on the confiscation of Cadalthor property. Presumably Sergeant Solveig and Sahal had things well in hand.


If a few snooty elves had been kneecapped or otherwise put in their place, Siobhan would not complain. The arrogant bitches deserved it. Then she headed over towards the bedroom Livia and Adril shared. Hopefully both had calmed down a bit.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tegaea, who had mainly gone along with most of the family adoptions because her wife wanted it, did not keep any pictures of the lost children around. She had pictures of Adril and Livia along with Elpsis who she considered as close to a surrogate daughter as she had.

When Siobhan entered she’d find the two girls being read a story by Tegaea.
“…and so the mighty Gorax bellowed and beat his chest, but he could not find Wicket and the other Ewoks,” Tegaea was reading. She stopped when Siobhan entered, smiled.

“I’m reading the girls the ‘Caravan of Courage’ from the Ewok adventures.” Small children liked Ewoks. They’d like them a lot less if they knew what they’d done with the Stormtroopers killed in the battle….

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


When she arrived in the bedroom, Siobhan had finally stopped moping. Listening to Tegaea play storyteller, she smiled. "I always liked those stories. My mother used to read them to me." Had she? Probably not. The elder Mrs. Kerrigan had never paid much attention to her daughter.


For the record, just in case anyone starts yammering about the mythical qualities of Kerrigan blood, Sio's family had been composed of mundane nobodies. She was the only one to become a person of significance. She had very little contact with her surviving kin.


She stroked her wife's firemane and planted a kiss on it. Her eyes turned to her little girls. They looked calmer, but still unhappy with her. She could live with that. It did not change her outlook. When she spoke, her tone was soft, but tolerated no contradiction.


"I won't interrupt the storytelling session for long. I trust Tegs explained the situation with you. She and I love you. I am stern with you when called for and I will continue to be so. I will not coddle you. There are no buts I will accept. I do this for your own good, because more than anything else, I want you to thrive and succeed in life."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Livia nodded slowly. “I understand, auntie,” she said softly. “I’ll try and make you proud of me.”
Adril though, true to her namesake, was more than a little willful. “Yeah, alright,” she said sullenly.
Tegaea coughed pointedly.
“Yeah, alright…auntie,” Adril said grudgingly. But then she smiled a little. “Does this mean that Livy can’t use all those long words anymore?”
Livia gave a ‘hmmph’ which a certain Jedi Master would have been proud of.