Age of Constructs

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Watching the awe and wonder in the little girl's face was a gift. Leaning against Alric, with her arm slipping around his waist gave her a bit of joy. Joy of the like she hadn't had over a year ago. Strange how things had moved so fast. How everything could flip on a credit. If someone had told her two years ago that she'd be married to Alric Kuhn and raising a little girl, she'd had laughed in their face. That had never even once occured to her. That sort of life she'd had written off. The woman of her past had been a bitter, lonely woman whose work had become her life.

It was different now.

"Mhm... bigger than ours too." she'd follow up on Alric's comment. If Myra's eyes could get any bigger, they did then. Elysium was already a large space station. To think that this shipyard could build ships larger than that was mindblowing.

A chuckle followed as the youngling would turn to peer out of the singular glassteel wall panel that allowed one to see as they traveled. The lights would come and whiz by. Tiny hands would press against the glasteel, watching everything in wonder.

"Does it blow your mind that you were once that age?" she'd ask her husband, her voice a low murmur by his shoulder.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He shrugged.

That seemed like such a long time ago, might have called it an eon. He frowned for a moment, trying to think of what childhood had been like. His earliest memories were of his parents yelling at one another, his mother accusing his father of adultery, his mother throwing a bottle. There were his sisters of course, but he didn't remember much of them from that age. It was ironic really, since both his sisters would become so central to his life and how he viewed it.

Alric supposed he remembered the bad over the good as a sort of lesson. He would have to make sure that Myra didn't.

"We all were I suppose." He mused out loud finally, not giving away his darker thoughts. "She's better then Lily was at her age."

That was said in a hushed whisper to Danger.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

That prompted a small chuckle snort that Danger did her best to hide. Myra, however, had excellent hearing, so the little girl swung her head around to look at the two with curiosity. Her expression asked what was funny, and Danger immediately gave a small shake of her hand.

“Just a little joke sweetie, nothing to worry about.” the lift came to a stop and the doors slid open. Serendipitous timing.

“Come on… I hear they have a really nice garden here.” well, things had to be set up for the workers to actually live on the shipyard with up to date residence halls and all the trimmings required. Items would still need to be brought in from various trade stations, but all in all, the shipyard was self sustaining. Which worked in their favor for ensuring that it kept out of sight and out of mind.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

The garden would be on one of the support levels. Everything was divided up rather nicely, mostly for organizational purposes. That had been something most stations followed for nearly as long as space stations had existed, though some old ones were a more random cluster of locations then anything else. For the Foundry Organization was paramount however. Though the companies who bought into The Massive Shipyards were all divided up into certain sections it was also important to keep everything else separate.

For instance, if a worker from one of the docks were to enter the Gardens and spread some kind of contamination that would be...bad.

Though the Foundry had multiple ways of getting food, the station did aim to be self sufficient. With less traders coming to it and less supply freighters the Stations location would remain unknown, that was for the best given the nature of it's purpose. Of course eventually the location would get out, and that was why Vanir's entire corporate Fleet was stationed here, or rather, would be when The Foundry was finally completed.

Security within Security.

Alric smiled slightly as the turbo-lift shuttered to a stop and the doors opened to reveal the Gardens.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

The garden was what Danger had expected it to be. With Arceneau Trade advancing in going green technology and sustainable hydroponic gardening, stepping into the vast atrium like chamber was familiar to the woman. The garden would be sectioned off from other sectors, so as to ensure that no contamination could slip in. This didn’t mean that there weren’t other smaller green areas for the pleasure of the inhabitants of the shipyard to enjoy.

Myra went skipping forward, Mister Tuggles at her heels. One of the key items of fascination for the little girl had been how green gardens could be. As her young life was filled with images of the post apocalyptic Dromund Kaas, being around vibrant gardens or planets with oceans was as if stepping into a dream.

While the little girl went on to explore, Danger slipped her arm around Alric’s waist. She gave a small smile, watching Myra ease back into the familiar curious little girl she typically was.

“And how was Lily worse?” she asked low, now that Myra wasn’t around to hear them both talk. There was humor in her eyes, as she turned her torso to face the Tetan.

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"She was a brat." There was really no other word for it. "Not in a selfish way."

That had to be the ultimate clarification. Oddly enough, neither Lily nor Rose were ever very entitled. They should have been, given how Alric had spoiled them, but neither of his daughters had ever had a take everything attitude. He supposed it might have been because of their Mother, though half of him thought that maybe the two of them had just developed on their own. Either way, there were vivid memories of Lily pushing the envelope. "She would always just see what she could get away with."

"Sneak out to get ice cream every night." He continued on as he watched Myra. "Stay up to play with her Sister long past bedtime."

Alric smiled. "Things like that."

Nothing too extreme really, especially considering what could have been.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

“And how much of that I reckon was due to your encouragement, hmm?” she’d coo, mischief and devilry in her green eyes as she gave her husband a knowing look. Oh, she knew well how he could instigate or even be the one at the forefront of causing mischief. The fact that he had likely spoiled his daughters due to his own experiences in childhood made it all the more likely.

“I reckon you were the on the one going out in the middle of the night tryin’ to get yourself a bowl of icecream.” her body would lean against his, not enough to prompt him to put some weight on his bad knee, but just enough for the warmth of her supple curves to meld against his.

“Playin’ games til well after midnight i’m sure.”

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He raised an eyebrow. "That's absolute slander."

Alric said sternly.

Of course, there was a certain amount of truth to it, but Alric wasn't about to admit that openly. He had tried to raise his daughters well, to the best of his abilities in fact, but the simple truth was that in certain areas he had somewhat failed. Discipline had been one of those areas. Of there had been times when he had played the stern parent, but more often then not that roll had fallen to Silara. He supposed that had only come naturally, though neither Rose or Lily had ever had true discipline.

It was surprising that they turned out so well.

"I'm a very good parent." Alric said with a smile. "Excellent even."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

“Mhmm..” there was a slight squeeze of his waist, and had younger innocent eyes not been sent at their direction, she’d have taken the opportunity to travel lower.

“Top shelf, I reckon,” Danger coo’d, waning into a soft chuckle as she then gave him a small nudge of encouragement to continue their walk and follow Myra.

“We’ll see how well you deliver.” she’d tease, bringing her arm back out to hook around his own. The small clip of her heels would echo lightly as the youngling came bouncing towards them. She would gesture with excitement at a section of the garden, where a line of small fruit bearing trees sat. There were apples, and citrus, but what caught her attention were the pears. Myra had a penchant for pears.

“Oh, you want one?” Danger inquired, lofting a brow. She wasn’t quite sure what the procedures were for in this instance. Plucking one off the tree may not be the best of ideas, no matter how tasty. Alric would know more.
“Perhaps we can wander and see if we can find an attendant, hmm?” she would offer instead.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He shrugged. "Maybe."

For some odd reason Alric doubted that they would find anyone.

This area of the base wasn't exactly fleshed out well, true the gardens had begun to grow, but the attendants were likely...well droids. Most of the time it paid to have droid farmers instead of real ones. Farming was labor intensive, that was truthful of whether it took place on a space station or the ground. Droid laborers meant there was less actual work, less people paid, and less people whining about how difficult their jobs were. Of course, Alric could understand that, but he wasn't about to blurt it out to Myra.

"Come on." He said with a smile. "I think if we find anyone it will be over there."

Alric pointed to a far away building that had been constructed to the side of the gardens.

One wouldn't have really guessed what it was from far away, but Alric had seen the blue-prints. The building was a sort of storage house on this vast area of the Station, meant to keep droids and equipment, but also an operations room.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Myra gave a little bounce of excitement, then went reaching up to take Alric's much larger hand with her own. Mister Tuggles came to trot alongside them, his large wet nose bumping against Myra, prompting a small, rare giggle. The fact that the youngling was able to make noises indicated and reinforced that she was able to still talk. It was just due to her trauma that made her mute.

Since they just had breakfast, it was unlikely the child was hungry. But a small indulgence in a pear wouldn't do much harm. As they went ambling towards the storage area, Danger gave a small glance up towards the Tetan.

"I hear that things are getting more and more complicated in the Core Worlds." she'd say, curling her fingers around his forearm as they continued their stroll. How would this affect them? Affect Vanir? Arceneau Trade Company? Unlike Alric, Danger had not completely moved away from the corporate conglomerate.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

That wasn't unexpected. The One Sith, The Alliance, even the Mandalorians now were all moving at once. He wouldn't be surprised if things were going to get more heated over the next few months. There had been a reason that Vanir had chosen to build their new jewel out here in the middle of nowhere. Though it was far from any tradeports, it was also far from any conflicts. Ships, fleets, hell entire armada's could be built out here and no one would even be able to touch them.

That was the point.

"I know." He said as he slipped his arm from around Danger and instead found her hand. His fingers interlaced with her own as he allowed more of his weight to be pressed on his cane. There were troubles up ahead, for the galaxy, not just for the core. "It'll only get worse."

The Titan didn't want to scare his wife, or his daughter, but the truth was there. War was coming once again, true war. There had been a lull for a while, but now? Now things were heating up. Coruscant was going to be taken, the Mandalorians would erupt in battle, and even the Sanctum was beginning to turn it's eyes towards the faces that were growing around it.

"Maybe it's time to buy a farm." Alric joked quietly, looking at all the green around them.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

There was comfort in feeling the tightening embrace of their interlocked fingers. It was a serious situation. One that they would have to consider carefully. Not just for their family, but for everything else. To a degree, Danger was bound to get involved one way or another. That is what happened with a trade conglomerate as Arceneau Trade. With the degree that it had spread, its neutrality allowed ATC to move in between various territories as a neutral entity. However, ever since the Galactic Republic had set up arms against free trade under the former direction of the Prime Minister, things had been a bit more uncertain.

"A farm?" she gave a small half chuckle, a mix of both humor and dry sarcasm. "And where do you reckon this farm would be at?" she asked him, as they came towards the vast storage atrium. Myra had jumped up ahead, pressing herself against the wide viewports that allowed her to peek inside. Here the food was processed and placed in storage for the shipyard. About a third of the size of the gardens themselves, it was sectioned off in short term and long term receptacles.

"I'm sure I'll get involved one way or another..." she'd said quietly after, a slight furrow on her brow. Her tone a bit more serious than the last.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"Some planet." He said quietly. "Somewhere."

There were thousands, no, millions of worlds that were habitable.

Some were already populated, but a great majority had been untouched for thousands of years. Vanir had an exploration arm, so did ATC, finding something where they could live, in peace, in quiet, that wouldn't be hard. There'd been those who had done it before, and they were happy. Though perhaps Alric and Danger were just a tad too involved on the galactic stage. He had extricated himself from the running of Vanir Technologies, but even now he was poised in the galactic Center. The Eve Foundation and Arkuhn were growing, and he doubted he would say uninvolved for long.

A frown pulled on his lips.

"You don't have to." He said quietly, squeezing her hand.

It was a dream he'd tried before, disappearing. He wouldn't do it again, not in the same way. It wouldn't be running, it would be taking a step back, a real step back.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Danger knew what he meant by that. That she didn't have to. Unfortunately, it wasn't so easy. Not for her. Not for Arceneau Trade. She offered him a small smile, green eyes tracing over his features. They swept over the angles of his face, the groomed beard, the slicked backed peppered hair, and the deep blue of his eyes. Those oceanic orbs were studying her, a slight pinch of his brow indicating that he was in deep thought.

"I may have no choice." she said simply. For the better part of her life, Danger had bled her lifesblood into Arceneau Trade, into every bit of network connection she'd assembled throughout the decades to bring her to where she was now. Those connections were what ensured a measure of stability not only for Danger, but for Arceneau Trade and the galaxy itself. It was no boast that her company served to transfer goods to remote corners of the 'verse. If that was in any way hindered, there were countless of lives that would be affected by it.

It is what happened when there was a chink in the infrastructure.

"There are too many variables." she said, turning to set her gaze upon Myra. "I've recently come into a contract with the Mandalorian Empire." she told him.

"They desired the Immortal Class from InterGalactic Solutions and the Maladi from me for their defensive fleet."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

"They're about to go to war." Alric said flatly. "It's inevitable."

Danger would already know that, somewhat. Though she wasn't involved with Saeva directly she knew well enough about what Kiran and his company did, especially when Alric spoke to his old friend over a holo-call. War was coming to the galaxy once again, but this time it wasn't the Sith and Jedi that would be central. "Kiran is moving against them, Honey. He was hired by some of the United Clans. I don't know which ones, but I know they plan on eventually dragging all of them in."

That could only mean war. Kiran was good at what he did, perhaps the best. If he had been hired to do something he would see it through, and from what he understood things were balancing on a knife edge.

"You know I'll never stand in your way." He said quietly to her, squeezing her hand and stopping for a moment. "But...we've been involved for so long. We've had a hand in everything from wars to bringing entire systems back together...maybe...maybe it isn't our place anymore. We finally have...us, we have Myra."

He looked towards the little girl, an odd sense of guilt in his eyes, his other hand unconsciously touching the back of his neck. "We have a life...I don't want the galaxy to take it away from us."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Danger knew that Alric would never attempt to hold her back when it came to her personal decisions with her company and where she stood with it. However, the concern and worry that darkened his eyes told her that regardless, what he said held merit. Out of them both, Alric knew exactly what was the extent politics and war could snowball too. Especially with the One Sith. Right now, they were on the defensive due to the Galactic Alliance. An Alliance that to a degree, had seen some favor from Arceneau Trade and Vanir through subtle undertones.

It was true. It took them decades to get to this point in time. To finally find a measure of peace and joy. After all the heartache and emotional hovercoaster, that they were here meant the 'verse to Danger. Yet after she'd embedded herself so deep into the fabric of the galactic commerce, how could she simply step away? Did she even know how?

"I know." Danger would tighten her grip within his. She caught how he would rub at his neck. It was a new tick she'd seen him develop ever since he returned from 'death'.

"But I've no idea how Arceneau Trade will be able to stay out of it." if he had any idea, she welcomed his advice. But for the present time, it didn't seem there was a way to.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric bit his tongue. The suggestion he would have made was a bad one, at least in the scope of Danger's life. She couldn't abandon what her family had created, what she'd worked so hard on all these years, what she'd fought for, he knew that. He knew better then to tell her to leave it all behind, to abandon it and focus on what was in front of her. Alric couldn't tell her that, as much as a part of him would have wanted to. A part of the Former Titan knew it was wrong.

Another didn't care.

He was a selfish man, Danger herself had said it. He had been selfish over and over again in his life, taking what was best for him, making events happen so they suited him. It was his way, his own selfish little way.

He wanted to tell her so badly, to push her away from her passion and guide her towards a new one, but in the end, Alric simply couldn't.

"I don't know." Alric said quietly. There wasn't anything else to be done. Taking Arceneau Trade away from Danger, asking her to step away would do more harm then good. The company was a part of Danger, she couldn't just leave it, despite what he might have wanted. The old Tetan shifted slightly, then squeezed Danger's hand in reassurance. "But, I know that selling weapons won't help you to remain neutral."

That was something he had first hand knowledge of. Vanir had never labeled itself as a weapons manufacturer, but it produced all kinds, mostly experimental products on a limited scale. Titan however, Titan had produced a massive quantity of warmachines, perhaps some of the worst that the galaxy had seen in millenia. There had been no neutrality there, and parts of the galaxy still vilified Alric for his hand in the company and what it did.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

@Alriic Kuhn

Whatever words would be said were briefly interrupted by Myra gesturing over at the two to come over. She had found the entrance. Happily opening the door, the little girl went skipping in until she realized that there were others in the storage area. The overseers. This one in particular was an Ithorian, his large stalk eyes peering down at the little girl. For one who had never set eyes upon an Ithorian, Myra was understandably startled.

She gave a small ‘Eep!” of surprise, prompting her with a small start. She immediately gave an about face and went running back to Alric and Danger, where she hid behind the former. Two large gray eyes barely peeked out a few seconds later to make sure she had not been followed.

Ooloo Bar was the head researcher and overseer of the Gardens. Who best but an Ithorian for the job to ensure full production and the health of the plants.

“Oh!” he too gave a start. Surprise would color his olive features. “Good afternoon.” he began in well natured greetings.
“I do not typically receive guests at this hour,” there was humor in his black eyes.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric placed a gentle hand on Myra's head. It was more of a motion to stop the girl from fleeing further then to actually get her to calm down, mostly because he didn't want her to run all the way back through the gardens.

As soon as the little girl stopped in her place Alric bent down and spoke to her.

"Don't worry, Honey." He said with a warm smile.

"He won't hurt you." There was truth to that. He was a gardener, more then that he was an Ithorian. Ithorian's were rarely violent, in fact, Alric had never met an Ithorian with a propensity for doing harm. By and large they were a peaceful people that cared about the living of the galaxy, whether they could speak or not. He struggled to think of a more Gentle species. His voice dropped to a whisper. "He's an Ithorian, I know they look a little weird, but they're very nice."

He doubted Myra had seen many Aliens on Dromund Kaas, least of all Ithorians.