Private Communion

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Tegaea Alcori

"I see. The name is appropriate," Xalda remarked. She followed Purity, leaving the somewhat too familial maleling. He seemed to be performing his duty as a vendour of spicy food well enough though.

"Water suffices. Thank you," she responded as they sat down. She carefully folded a napkin on her lap, then took some more bites from her food. She furrowed her brow slightly. "Tempest, Purity, Clarity. You all have expressive names and the same colour of skin."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

Elpsis Kerrigan Karrigan'Xalda

“I shall certainly do so. I will dress for the occasion,” she promised.

Once Royal was gone she set about getting cleaned up and dressed. She also made a few notes for things to raise at their next meeting.

It had been hard, at the start anyway, to live in bare metal rooms. Everything at her distant home was or had been alive at some point. From the hides and wood of the walls to the animals which often stayed in the huts in the cold weather. Now, there was practically nothing in this room which had once been alive. But, she had gotten used to it, but was still frequently at the parks on the ship, if only to touch and feel the living plants again.



XXX



It seemed to Tegaea that ‘getting out more’ was Siobhan’s answer to anyone introverted. It was often hard for extroverts like them to understand how people who were more shy felt.

“She’s very talented. I think it’s better we ease her in slowly to matters. We don’t want to expose her to too much. Well, more than she has been already by being around us!” she joked.



They headed to the next room which just happened to have a functioning bar in it. Tegaea, with practiced ease, produced a bottle of wine and popped the lid.

“Wine?” she asked, pouring a glass herself.



XXX



Leonina observed her for a moment, then nodded. Elpsis was absolutely serious. “Good. Then she is under your command. Now, if there is nothing more, Lieutenant, you are dismissed. I will have the necessary orders drafted by the morning.”



XXX



Purity peered at Xalda with a frown. “We are all from Dahomey,” she explained, puzzled. “Our names are ones we choose when we become adults, they speak to who we are, what we are doing, what our purpose is.” She coughed slightly. “Sometimes our parents have an influence on our names too.”

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Tegaea Alcori

"I see. Thank you for explaining." That seemed to be a Xalda catchphrase. Who picked your name? Had Purity's parents suffered loss? Did they want to protect their daughters' innocence and purity from horrors they had experienced? She frowned slightly. "Human cultures is different. I do not mean this in a bad way. You have so many tribes, traditions - all spread out across the sky-ocean. With the Xioquo, there was only one. I suppose it was because we were all locked in one cave under the Tyrant's thumb. Could not expand, or grow much food."

With the demise of the old order, the old uniformity of the Xioquo had broken down. The change had been both more and less drastic than the one the Eldorai Matriarchy had undergone. More drastic because their entire social order had been toppled, less because they had not fragmented into a myriad factions. "I bear the Karishzar's name by choice. Many of us chose it after Liberation." She paused for a moment. "What is Dahomey like?"

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Tegaea Alcori

Siobhan shrugged. "I wonder if she's already been bedded. Maybe the poor dear has yet to know a woman's touch. I reckon Tempest may soon be zapping would-be lovers of her little cousin." The image seemed to amuse her. "Perhaps we should introduce Livia to her. They can talk about...sciency things, work on projects and all that. It might even humble Livia a bit."

Siobhan was not anti-intellectual per se, but her academic interests were grounded in what she considered to be practical. If the pursuit of an esoteric subject would not yield practical results that would benefit her in a clear way, it did not interest her. She had, as she put it, graduated from the school of life instead of that of the class room in an ivory tower. She gave her wife a nod and fetched herself a glass. "Yes. I'm happy that you're getting more deeply involved in Firemane affairs," she added after a moment. Of course, one imagined that Sio's tolerance of contrary opinions had some clear limits.

xxx

"Yes, ma'am." With those words, Elpsis saluted the Brigadier, then turned on her heels. She spared Diona in the cell a glance, then left. Once she had stepped outside of the cell block, she exhaled. For good or ill, Diona would be part of her unit. She would have to find a way to work with her. A way to not see Serene Springs when she looked her in the eye. And she would have to kill her if she became a threat.

She ran a hand through her scalp, then fished her communicator from her pocket. She dialled Natalie's number. It took a few moments before the Essionian picked up. "Yes?" she spoke curtly without preamble. There was very loud music in the background. It was thunderous, filled with loud, distorted guitars, a dense bass-and drum sound and vocal locals.
"Elpsis. How far are you on the countermeasure?"
"Work in progress."
"Got an ETA? And can you turn that down? How can you work when it's that loud?"
"I work best with some music on," Natalie countered, but obliged somewhat. Elpsis' eyes hurt less. "Be ready tomorrow."
"You sure? This is serious. I'm not letting any of the slaves get blown up because we didn't do the job right. I can send some techs over to help out."
"I'm aware. Lives at stake, and all that. I know what I'm doing. And your people will just trip over each other trying to impress the boss. I've got Mara. Nice girl. Bit mousy, but smart."
"Fine. Just as long it's done. And, Natalie, Diona's joining my platoon."
"I see." There was a pause. "Maybe you'll be wanting a killswitch before long."
"I don't do chit like that. If she becomes a threat, I'll burn her alive."
"I know what I'd have done, but I'm not you. Do what you think's right, girl. Make sure the line doesn't get blurred. If she's a resource, use her. But don't read more into it. Gotta go. See you tomorrow."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

Karrigan'Xalda Elpsis Kerrigan

“Yes, it must have been terrible,” Purity said, not in a dismissive way, but in a feeling of genuine empathy.

“On Dahomey we were abandoned for 800 years by the galaxy and so we grew apart from the other peoples. Many other worlds were similar, all separated and all broken up by the sky ocean as you call it.”



“Dahomey is…hot. It is like a mix of Amikaron and Kahjwar. There are veldts and plains, jungles in places, rarely anything else. The sun was hot and the seasons were extreme either dry or wet. I miss it a little because of my family, but I prefer now I have left because of the better climate….”



XXX



“I suspect that Tempest is going to want to veto most of the suitors, probably scare them off. For the best I guess! As to her status and preferences, I’ve not asked. I’m sure Tempest will investigate soon enough. But I think Livia and her might get on. Also Mara might be disentangled from that Natalie and be given an alternate view on matters. I don’t mind Natalie, and she is useful, but she is an influence on the innocent.”



“I had my time as the retired CEO, playing games and being a lady of leisure. And you know what? It got mighty boring at times. There’s only so many holidays or ladies one can take before you crave something more. So exploration will continue – Tephrike wasn’t the best start we agree – and we will find other locations.”



Next time she would not take Elpsis so there was not a repeat.

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Tegaea Alcori

"Yes. Both our people suffered hardship then...but we can arise now," Xalda said earnestly. "There are so many islands in the sky-ocean. I've only seen a fraction." Not all encounters had been pleasant. Tephrike had been too close to home.

She frowned when Purity described Dahomey. "That does not sound nice," she muttered. Her people's idea of hell was a desert with a merciless, burning sun that never set. "I mean no disrespect. It is your home. But if I were to walk in the burning light, I would have to be fully covered. I like the forest and the mountains though."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Tegaea Alcori

"Natalie has her uses. Especially on matters we must disassociate ourselves from," Siobhan remarked. "As long as she toes the line, that is." She did not entirely trust her. Insurgents and terrorists were difficult to control and Natalie's loyalty was not to Firemane.

"But Mara is a naive and impressionable girl. It would be best to introduce her to someone who's on the same wavelength as her and can anchor her more strongly in Firemane. She's become active among the Unchained, so it would be beneficial for us to have someone there with a favourable opinion towards us."

She chuckled slightly. "Exploration does have the benefit that you encounter new ladies to take to your bed." Like gender-flipped Kirk. One imagined that Siobhan would've found the Prime Directive idiotic and found Picard annoying and preachey. "That aside, I'm glad you're continuing with it. Space is vast and most of it is unexplored. There's no need for us to chain ourselves to a few worlds that are already oversatuated. Especially since they switch flags every few months." She heard some noise from outside the bar, frowned. "The prodigal daughter."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

Elpsis Kerrigan Karrigan'Xalda

“I admit though I grew up in the hot climate I prefer something a bit milder now. Not cold, though, I think I like the cold even less than the hot! Tygara had a nice climate where I mostly was.”

“Our unity is our strength now, and we can prosper even though evil and tyranny stalks the stars if we remain strong.”



She rose to her feet. “It was nice being able to talk and get to know you like this. We should do this again sometime,” she said with a shy blush and glance at the ground.



XXX



“I think Purity would work as a good counter influence on Mara,” Tegaea said with a nod. “With those together I think both of them will be strengthened.”



Tegaea was about to reply when the door entered and Royal ushered in Elpsis.

“Elpsis! How did your meeting with Brigadier Leonina go?”

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Tegaea Alcori

"I would like that. You are very kind. Perhaps I can introduce you to my family. The other Karrigans," Xalda said softly. Her birth family was long gone, but Xioquo did not distinguish between biological and adopted family.

She pondered something for a moment. "You are going home? I will escort you back. There are evil-minded people in the streets," she added by way of explanation. In her mind, it was perfectly rational. The world was filled with people driven by malice, who considered those weaker than them to be prey. And for some reason the humans did not control their malelings properly.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Tegaea Alcori

((You can give Royal some dialogue if you like)).

"Alright," Elpsis said simply, not really bothering with niceties. "Diona's gonna join my unit. She'll be coming with me tomorrow."
Siobhan raised a critical eyebrow. "The woman who tried to kill you and stood by while you were tortured is supposed to watch your six. What folly. This isn't some kind of Jedi order."
"If she betrays me or tries to run off, I'll kill her. Boss lady signed off on it. Made the call even. And while you think my judgement's ain't worth chit, you trust hers, don't you?"
"Mind your tone, girl. I do wonder what drove her to this perplexing decision. Any other foes of Firemane you wish to befriend while you're at it? You already have a Red Sith and a Jedi zealot." Siobhan shook her head in irritation, not bothering to answer the probably rhetorical question.
"Just the one." Frustration swelled up inside Elpsis. "I trust her. As frakked up as that is. And I'm not asking for your permission. Just telling you what the person you put in charge of the case decided and that I agree with it."
Siobhan took a sip from her glass. "It's your sword to fall on, girl."
"Better to fall on a sword of your own making than live safe in a golden cage."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

Karrigan'Xalda Elpsis Kerrigan

Purity paused, then understood. Of course, the Karrigans were all family, they were the unofficially adopted children of Siobhan Kerrigan. It would certainly be an experience.
"Sure, I'd like that!" She was less convinced by the prospect of crime on board the station, but even she could tell it was a way for Xalda to spend a bit more time with her. She offered her arm. "I'd like that, Xalda, come with me!"

XXX

The tension between mother and daughter was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Tegaea gave a gesture and Royal left the room, unable to conceal her gratitude at escaping the awkwardness.
Tegaea knew she was tapdancing into a minefield, but she took it anyway.
"If Leonina signed off on it she clearly saw some usage for Diona. Diona knew she served a rotten state, and though I'm not sure she is as fully remorseful as I might like, it's why I setup the meeting. We make use of what we have."

Knowing that getting the news from her would be better than from Siobhan she rose. "Elpsis, if Siobhan has nothing more, I have something important to discuss with you. Shall we?" she asked, gesturing to the now vacated office.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Tegaea Alcori

"Remember Elpsis, you're directly responsible for her comportment. And you have an entire platoon to look out for. That takes precedence over teaching cosmic lessons," Siobhan said as a parting barb.
"I know my responsibilities well, Mother. I understand it's a bit difficult to see people when you're on a mountain so high everyone looks tiny to you. I'm the one on the ground and I'll my damnedest to make sure my people make it through in one piece."
Siobhan had to get in the last word. "Remember that when the times comes to put words into action, girl. And when those who have to see the larger picture make the choices you can't and expect you to follow through."
The door closed behind them as mother and daughter left the bar. Elpsis muttered something in Prosabia. One can imagine it was unprintable in polite company and presumably not PG-13. "Mum," she said simply.

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Tegaea Alcori

"If bandits assail the fair lady, I shall slay them," Xalda declared, though not in a boastful manner. Rather she sounded completely earnest. It had apparently not occured to her that people called bandits muggers here. Maybe she was using an outdated dictionary.

Regardless, she took Purity by the arm and let the Dahomian lead her away her from the table. The hour was late, yet the streets seemed as busy as ever. Indeed, certain parts of the sky-city were just getting busy. Throngs of people were entering the pleasure temples the humans called night clubs.

"It has taken time to get used to how...flooded the sky-city is. I thought Tlaxqui was crowded," Xalda remarked, shaking her head. "I have seen pictures of a human world in the stars. An entire world consumed by a city. Coruscate. Towers so high the inhabitants never see the earth. It looked ugly. I hope Tygara is never cursed to such a fate."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

Karrigan'Xalda Elpsis Kerrigan
Purity controlled a giggle with difficulty. Then she saw that Xalda was perfectly serious. It was likely a translation issue.

“I am glad my gallant champion is here to protect me then!” she said with a smile.



“Yes, I’ve visited Coruscant and I found the endless cityscape to be…horrifying. Sounds weird considering this station, but this is different, I know this is artificial. On the ground though you have endless towers crammed with people and it seems unnatural.”



At last they reached her apartment block. “This is my place. Thank you for a fun night, Xalda,” she said shyly.



XXX



Tegaea sighed. “Well, that went the way I expected. Elpsis, my dear, I know we’ve not had much time to talk, but we’ll leave that until after I share this news.”

If it went really badly Elpsis might not want to talk to her much or ever again. Hopefully it’d be fine.



“I’ve been discussing with Siobhan. You know her views, and I have a good idea on yours towards her. Therefore, I’ve come to a decision about an option for you.” Obviously Siobhan had approved and worked on it, but perhaps it was best to say it had mainly been Tegs to prevent Elpsis outright rejecting it on principle.



“There is a station Firemane owns named The Forge. It’s our hard course training centre. No one can doubt that you have strengths, Elpsis, and training is one of them. I want you to head up an elite training unit there for the Order of Fire. You will have defences and a small naval force there under a senior officer. You will also be able to react to local issues there in that region. You will be able to assemble companions to assist you there…including Nyssa should you wish.”



She did not mention the ‘it’s a long way from Siobhan’ but that was implied.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Tegaea Alcori

Elpsis gave her mother a long, intent look. One of the downsides of having an empath for a daughter was that she had a certain ability to read between the lines. It was not mind reading, but good intuition. Of course, it was not infallible. People of all stripes see what they want to see, perception filter and all that. Those empty, milky eyes could be unsettling.

"Is that what you told her? Or did she say she wants me out of the way and you came up with this?" she asked. Harsh words, perhaps, but time had made her cynical. She shrugged. "I'll go. I want to be back at the frontier. And it's a better environment for trainees. They need to be out there, seeing the world outside of space Coruscant and doing chit, without getting thrown into a grinder. But Lady Tylania also asked me to accompany her people on their new worldship for a while. I can't break a promise to her."

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Tegaea Alcori

For a moment, Xalda wondered whether Purity was making fun of or teasing her. She'd looked like she'd been about to laugh. The Xioquo was a serious woman and seldom joked. However, then her expression brightened.

"They would fare poorly in a siege. Riots would break out when those who live in the shadows realise that those in the sky hoard everything," Xalda remarked. She was, of course, applying a personal experience. The Xioquo had suffered a food crisis during the last stages of the war. Regardless, the duo reached the apartment block without incident. "Thank you. I enjoyed the time we spent together. I shall see you tomorrow. Mother Earth watch over you."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

Karrigan'Xalda Elpsis Kerrigan

Tegaea shrugged. "Bit of both. I'm not dumb, I know you two have a problem, so I provided a solution where you can be useful to us, do something which uses your skills, and keeps you out of Sio's way. Go with Tylania, it has a similar effect which will be good for everyone. I don't want you gone for good, and I'll make sure I come visit as often as I can. Things are difficult between you and Siobhan. You both want things the other can't or won't give."
She sighed. "And because my pride is substantially less of a hindrance to me, I want to apologise for how she's treated you. How I've treated you. I've not stood my ground as I should for my daughter. She's not shown the care an adoptive mother should. I want what's best for you, so try the Forge out after your mission and your time with Tylania. When you've done a rotation out there we can discuss again your future.

She sat, taking Elpsis' hand and guiding her gently to the couch beside her. "I can't send Tempest. She's needed here, and whilst she has the rank to command the station many would see it as giving you two a comfy assignment together. Now, I don't care much about that, but she has a command now and I can't steal that from her. She can visit though."

XXX

"You're more right than you know," Purity said sadly. "It is the way of things that those with power take and give only as much as they are forced to by their morals or pressure. We can only do what we can do."
"Anyway, may the Force be with you," she said. It was about the most 'mystical' thing she could think of. She took the Xio's hand a second and then scuttled inside, hoping Xalda hadn't seen her blush.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Tegaea Alcori

"Better late than never, I guess," she muttered, though loud enough for Tegs to hear. Elpsis had a quiet voice because raising it too much agitated her throat. "Things won't just magically be ok again, alright? I was hurt. Maybe I'm not the 'model daughter', but I stuck around when the others deserted, went nuts or died. I fought and bled for this family. Then I bring Laira home and get belittled in front of her. You were there, too." Her voice had risen and her throat flared up. She took a few calming breaths.

"I know people think me ungrateful because of Tephrike. Mother does, maybe you do, too. I'm not. I probably didn't deserve what you did for me. Actually screw that, I know I didn't. And yet here I am, trying to make the best out of things and...and honour those who didn't make it back. But I'm not some cardboard cutout from a propaganda movie or a drone. I'm a person and that means I got my path to walk. I've spent enough of my life with people tryin' to mould me into something I'm not," she shook her head. "Whatever, I'll go."

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Tegaea Alcori

Xalda understood that 'the Force' was how the sky people called the spirits' power. It sounded strange to her, but she did not need revelation about all of their customs. Briefly, Purity took her hand into hers.

Xalda looked down at it, noticing the contrast between her callused, dark grey skin and Purity's smooth black. However, the physical contact was over the moment it had begun. The Xioquo had good sight. Was it just her or did the human seem to redden? Regardless, ere she could say something, Purity had already entered her apartment.

Xalda stayed for a moment after the door had shut behind her. Her crimson eyes gave the are a quick sweep as she stretched out her senses, making sure no one had followed them and no one was lurking in the shadows to wish the scholarly maiden ill. Then she turned on her heels and left.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

Elpsis Kerrigan

“Things will never be magically OK. But they might one day be better if we work together, and it starts somewhere.”



“And with that in mind, Elpsis, this is a middle ground. Somewhere between the Daughter of Fire caricature and the rogue Elpsis wandering the stars is an option where you don’t have either extreme. We’ll see how it goes for you. I do admire your desire to earn your rank the hard way, to grind your way up. It’s harder to do in a fixed and set business where everyone expects you to simply get promotions because you’re the daughter of the boss. When I was doing it near 30 years ago there were no rules, no organisation, we were making it up as we went. It’s not like that now.”



“Stay safe on your mission tomorrow, Elpsis. Bravery is a noble trait. Stubbornness is sometimes a weight rather than a gift. Not…that I’m really one to be giving advice on that!”



She offered a hug for Elpsis, if she wanted to take it it.