Conversation Time (Tegaea)

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

The training room of the Firemane villa was large and spacious. It was filled with countless training dummies and a simple command on a console could open doors to unleash training droids, ranging from remotes to simple battle droids to elite commandoes. Even a MagnaGuard or two had graced this hall to serve as an opponent for the woman who claimed this place. Likewise the room itself was well stocked with adequate exercise and drilling space and equipment for training. Various sets of weights, benches and tension machines shared the room with...several ridiculously big rocks. Rocks so big that they would probably crush a man if they were dropped on him.


After having spent a significant amount of time lying down on a bench and pulling weights and then pulling herself up on a rail, Siobhan was raining down blows upon a punching bag. She had been working out hard, maybe one might even say too hard. Somewhere down the line, once the adrenaline and energy had worn off, her muscles would make her feel the punishment and rudely protest against their treatment. However, as far as she was concerned she needed it.


It was also a good way to release certain pent-up frustrations. Her near-fatal encounter with Shadow and the debacle on Alderaan, where she had been so close to losing her mind specifically. When the time came...when she was finally able to hunt down Shadow, she would be ready...and stronger. And so she poured her energy into battling the punching bag, occupying her mind with the enemy she had invented to fight against, blocking imaginary blows with precision, retaliating with kicks and punches that made the punching bag shake for her Force was inside it. Still...her strength was not what she would have liked, and she got tired out more easily without using the Force. Probably the price to be paid for having become so reliant on it..and leading a decadent aristo life.


She gave the bag one last, powerful kick, sending it flying, then looked around. Siobhan was only dressed in shorts and a tight tank top that seemed to cling to her like a second skin and by now was covered in sweat. Her long dark brown mane was uncharacteristically tied back into a ponytail so that it would not get in the way. Wiping some sweat from her brow she dropped down to the ground and assumed a lotus position. Her mind stretched out as she focused upon the large rocks around her, giving herself to the Force. Concentration was evident upon her features as she harnessed the power she was so familiar with - that was probably the problem, this she knew, for she needed to know and learn more.


So much more. Perhaps she should give Coryth Elaris or Mirien Valdier a call on that. For now at least she focused, ripples were felt throughout the Force and then, one by one, the enormous rocks rose into the air. She tensed slightly and poured more energy into the motion as she brought the rocks up in a stationary position around her, levitating them with the practiced confidence of a telekinesis master. If she lost concentration for a single moment and one of them fell on her...well, Doctor Osway would have her work cut out for her. Then suddenly, by her force of will, the levitating rocks started to move, swirling around her at ever-increasing, awesome speed, almost too fast for the naked eye to track.


Everything else that went on around her was apparently something she was completely oblivious to, so absorbed was she in her task. The breathtaking speed of the rocks kept increasing as they swept through the air and swirled around her head. Sweat matted her brown hair and forehead, yet she persisted in her task.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“She’s been down there a lot recently, Mistress,” Chesna said.
Tegaea didn’t reply, gazing into the viewscreen of the camera. Her wife going through the motions, pushing herself…but why? Tegaea had a pretty good idea.
“Yes,” she finally said. “Handle my calls, Chesna. I need to talk with her.”
“Did you want me to…” Chesna begun.
Tegaea raised a hand. “Marriage is not all book clubs and fun. Sometimes you have to deal with the problems as well as the joys. Thank you, dear.” Leaning over she switched off the viewscreen and descended down to the training room.

Tegaea walked slowly down the stairs and entered the control code to enter the hidden area below. She placed herself in the doorway as the rocks whizzed around.
She knew Siobhan would notice her eventually.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


The enormous rocks kept whizzing through the air at a breathtaking speed that was too fast for even Siobhan to track with her eyes, and so she used the Force. The slightest drop in concentration could spell disaster. She might not have the actual Muuntur stones at hand but the rocks were...very heavy. Some like a ton or more. The sheer strain and exertion was evident upon Siobhan's features, but she refused to stop. One day she would have to take Shadow down and she would be ready for that. She was not some weak, fainting blossom that needed others to protect her and fight her battles. She had battled Sith Lords and faced Lotek'k, the Terror from Beyond, and she could do so again. And if Kaeshana was ever threatened, well, she would be needed. There was no question about that.


And so the rocks kept shooting through the air as she allowed nothing to distract her from her task even though by now she was suffering from an intense headache but she willed herself to ignore it. Pain was just weakness leaving the body. Indeed, every moment of pain was just a lesson to be learned, something to drive her to try harder, for she could not allow weakness in herself.


It took her some time before she sensed a familiar presence. Quite how long Tegaea had been watching her was another question. For just a moment Siobhan's concentration dropped and the rocks began shaking in the air. It even appeared like they would tumble down, which would have been particularly unpleasant since one was quite close to her head. But then she managed to stabilise the rocks before they fell and with an exertion of will caught them with her mind and pushed them away from her, making them land safely as her powers controlled their fall.


She took a very deep breath as she finally came down from her Force-induced high. Clearly her body was now making her realise just how much she had pushed herself. She tried to get up and stretch but it seemed her muscles had fallen asleep on her and protested strongly. Well, it would bloody learn to do as she told it. "Hey, Tegs. Sorry for not noticing you sooner. Was occupied. Something up?" Siobhan asked as she gripped the bottle of water that was standing next to her and took a big gulp before pouring the rest over her sweat-covered brow. She could sense that there was a talk upcoming and that she would not like it.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tegaea watched as the stones wobbled, then settled down to the ground safely. She couldn’t have even moved one of them if she’d tried, let alone several. The power that her wife so easily controlled was something that had never worried her or made her jealous. Rather, it was a part of life she did not understand and so left it to Siobhan. She suspected the same was true for Siobhan and her business dealings.

Tegaea perched on one of the stones. “No, it’s no problem. I wanted to talk with you. I think we need to discuss some things.”
She felt bad for being vaguely ominous, and raised a hand.
“It’s nothing bad, and it can wait if this is a bad time. It’s just…I’ve noticed recently you’ve been distracted, unhappy. I know you’re recovering your strength after Alderaan and the run-in with Shadow, but I sense there’s something more to it than that.”
Of course, she didn’t ‘sense’ it in the way an empath would, but through intuition, and because she knew her wife pretty well after all these years.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Apparently this really would be a serious conversation. Admittedly given the way her body was protesting and refusing to let her stand at length Siobhan would probably be in no position to partake in worshipping the Great Goddess Ardarvia. Bloody body refused to do as she told it to. Perhaps she should have her remaining organic leg replaced with a bionic one. Admittedly that would make her even more vulnerable against electrical attacks, but there were ways around that.


Artificial lungs did not sound that bad either when you thought about it. Siobhan turned to face Tegaea, wincing and looking slightly nervous at the ominous note Tegaea's initial words were taking before she looked calmer. "Look, I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about. Slowly getting the flood of memories sorted out in my head," she responded, the words coming almost automatically as they left her lips. "I got played like a marionette and beaten twice, learned my lesson. So I have to be tougher. I've spent too much time playing around and being soft. I know I can kill Shadow the next time our paths cross. The real one. Not some bloody robot."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Are you sure that’s everything?” Tegaea asked. “Recently I’ve noticed you’ve been frustrated with business stuff. And that’s fine, if you want to take a back seat in those things, I can handle them. But I feel like it’s more than that.”

“I don’t feel the Force, obviously, and a lot of that sort of thing I leave to you and others. But I like to think I understand you, and I’m concerned about your quest for revenge. I’m not saying give up on it by any means. Shadow deserves to be punished for what he’s done to us all…but this single minded obsession with it is dangerous. Don’t let it consume you. Next time we’ll make sure he goes down and stays down…together. I can’t fight him with a lightsabre, but we are not alone. We have Angelii and cruisers and even Grrbyrr! Together, we can stop him, I know it…if you let me.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


"I'm not frustrated," Siobhan sighed. The response had come almost automatic. "I'm just, let's be honest, not really needed for most of it. I play dress-up for business meetings and look pretty for meetings, but I'm no more needed for most business things than when I was Exarch. We all know how well that went." Well, as a matter of fact it had ended in a complete disaster.



At least her next attempt at standing succeeded and now she did not seem at risk of falling over. What water was left in the bottle quickly vanished. "I'm not obsessed, I'm focused. Something I haven't been until recently. If I'd done my job properly he would have been permanently dead years ago and that queen Raya would've never tried to kill you. Look, I appreciate that you're here and I learned the lesson. Next time I come across him, I won't go in alone. Got Mirien, Cory, Angelii...even Eyrecae. And once I'm through with him he'll be in pieces and there'll be no essence left to body-hop."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
At first Tegaea didn’t look convinced, but finally, after looking into Siobhan’s eyes, she nodded.
“Okay, love. But if anything gets too much, or you need to talk…talk to me.”

“As for business…I know it’s not fun to be the third wheel. So let’s try something else, hmm? How about I put you in charge of your own area? You can hold the meetings you need, organise the equipment on your own, without me butting in. But, since you’ve had the limelight hogged from yourself by me, I’ll give you a good PA who can help out. Our troops section needs expanding and refitting, so if you want to take over that side of the business you can. We can discuss any big decisions that need to be made just like a regular company, but I’ll leave you to run it as you wish otherwise.”

“Or, you don’t have to have any part in running the business side. You’re our greatest weapon and Kaeshana’s champion. I want to make you happy, Siobhan, happy and feeling like you’re useful, so tell me what you need.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


For the record, Siobhan would probably still mope if she was no longer vice president. Inconsistent much? Most certainly. Bloody woman was fething complicated and could not make up her minds about things. Sort of similar to her writer, come to think of it.


"You'e not hogging the limelight from me, love. Please don't think that. You're the leader, I'm not. I've come to terms with that long ago. Among other things it I have to be polite to less people I feel like punching. And I like you being in charge. You're really hot when you're like that," she said bluntly. In a way Siobhan felt bad about complaining, but at least it seemed like the conversation was going well since she hated arguing with her wife. It was odd but while she strongly craved action and bloodshed Siobhan had a strong need for harmony in her domestic life.


"I don't want to leave all the work to you...maybe running a section for myself is what I need. With our expansion beyond our little corner of space here our troop does need an overhaul and reorganisaing. Not like we can rely on the Protectorate for anything. And, well, I did have fun setting up operations on Tabaqui for us. Think it was my first negotiation that ended with everyone still having their heads on their shoulders."


It had surprised her - and this writer - that the encounter with the Mirialans had not ended in Hernando Cortez-style bloodshed. The timeline is a bit fuzzy and so this writer is not certain when this interlude in the lives of our lovebirds takes place in relation to the Gehenna operation, though for the sake of simplicity they shall presume it takes place before.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Then how about I put you in overall charge of the non-Kaeshana worlds? Dahomey, Etti and any other ones we gain can be your responsibility, reporting to me.”

This one suspects that the only reason that Siobhan’s mission did not end in slaughter is because of Eyrecae’s antics made her the responsible one!

Tegaea put a hand on her wife’s shoulder and gave her a kiss. “See, this wasn’t so bad after all!”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


At least that meant Eyrecae had an effect beyond smashing people's heads to paste with her hammer!


For her part Siobhan seemed to brighen up. "That sounds good to me. I've been handling most of our joint ventures with Salacia in Sanctum space and I'm fond of Dahomey. A good portion of the planet's still unexplored and it could certainly use some defences. Got some ideas for it." Such as building a military base to fortify Abomey and set up a disciplined, native force of sepoys as a supplement to the Firemane mercenaries, perhaps even a pool of soldiers they could deploy offworld.


She leaned into the kiss. "No, it wasn't. I'm sorry for being...difficult sometimes." That was probably like saying it was difficult to pull a nexu's teeth. "You're the best wife anyone could ask for...and I am happy with you. Think I should go shower. I'm all sweaty," she sniffed slightly. This may be the moment for some lame innuendo, but unfortunately kiddies may be reading this. Silly kiddies should go do something useful. Like randomly shoot people on the streets since that sort of thing is family-friendly. Her drive for vengeance and to 'be strong' seemed calmed...for now at least, though she would not cease until she had found Shadow and either of them was dead.

She withdrew from her wife. "I am happy with you..Tegs. I just want us to be ready. If something happened to you..I could not bear it." Siobhan knew exactly what she would if she lost her wife. It was a road she did not want to travel on.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Excellent!” Tegaea said, relieved at the pleased expression on her wife’s face. Then, she wrinkled her nose slightly. “Good idea, love,” she said. “Come upstairs and meet your new PA when you’re ready. I’ve trained her well.”
How well, one asked? Since there might be kiddies around, this one shall mention academic and technical courses which are entirely safe to the innocent mind.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Siobhan made a face. "I thought you liked me when I'm hot and sweaty!" she quipped as leaned in to give her wife a kiss on the nose before pulling away and departing from the training room. "I'll make sure to put all her capabilities to the test."


However, before she fully exited and walked up the stairs that would take her out of the training section she stopped and turned around to face her wife. "Tegs...thanks for talking to me like this. I know I get, well, extremely fixated on things a lot." That was probably one of the most accurate assessments she had ever made about herself.


Anyhow, with these sweet words spoken she left the training area on the ground floor to hit the showers. Presumably she would also change her clothes since you did not meet your new PA, however informal your relationship might be, in a tight tank top and shorts, though admittedly that would have given the woman a very enticing view of her new boss' body.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tegaea smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way….”

Once Siobhan had washed, dressed and gotten herself ready, she would head upstairs to find Tegaea with an Eldorai in the office. She was one that Siobhan might have seen around a couple of times, but not in any level of detail.

“Siobhan, this is Maerys Medea. She’s going to be your PA from now on. I hope you’ll find her up to scratch.”
Maerys nodded a polite greeting, but looked a bit cautious, standoffish. She had small glasses in the traditional secretary mode, and a datapad in hand.
Tegaea was not giving out any signals about whether this was a PA who would resent personal attention or was fine with it. Presumably that was up to Siobhan to find out.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

Siobhan definitely noticed the girl - who was probably older than she was, given the weird way Eldorai aging worked - now. She sort of had the air of a hot librarian about her, even if she seemed a bit standoffish. But those glasses were really cute.


It still annoyed her a bit that a certain hot Jedi librarian - the hottest ever - had resisted her advances. In any case Siobhan kept things professional and politely extended her hand to Maerys. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms Medea. Welcome to Firemane. I look forward to working with you," she said wamly. Needless to say Siobhan was dressed to the nines again since she loved her shiny suits. Apparenly the fashionista attitude was there to stay.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Maerys shook the hand a little stiffly. "Thank you, Lady Kerrigan. I look forward to working with you," she said primly. It wasn't sure if she actually was looking forward to it, or whether she was being polite, or what was going on.
"Excellent! Well, I'll let you two get acquainted," Tegaea said, leaving the office.
Maerys peered at Siobhan over her glasses in the old librarian tradition. "Lady Alcori has given me some provisional notes and information. Would you be able to elaborate on my duties?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Siobhan noted the stiffness and prime tone but outwardly at least made nothing of it. Prim and proper could be cute...well, maybe she really did have an obsession with hot librarians. "Of course. Please take a seat" Siobhan said in a friendly tone, gesturing to the young Eldorai, who was probably a lot older than she was because elf aging was weird that way.


"I've been made responsible for Firemane's operations beyond Kaeshana. Dahomey, Etti IV, our joint base with ARGH on Bespin and our joint work with Salacia on Tabaqui. I need someone who can work as an adviser and PA. Perform secreterial duties in my office to keep things organised, liaise with our agents on the spot and assist with negotiations. I'm going to be reconstituting my office to fit my new duties, so I need someone who can help me stay on top of things and make sure what we do is presented the right way," Siobhan spoke, settling down in a luxurious leather armchair behind her expensive Kashyyyk wood.


"Before we go through your work and Firemane's operations in detail, would you like anything to drink?" she queried politely.

 

[Daera Varias]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
"Nothing for me, Lady Kerrigan, thank you," Maerys said politely.

"I am well qualified for all of those roles. I will do my very best to make your office a model of efficiency and utility. I will begin whenever you wish and if I have any questions I will contact you. Thank you for this opportunity, Lady Kerrigan."
She smiled slightly, then looked back down at her datapad.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


"You're welcome. It's a rather varied field. Tabaqui's especially complex because the planet is stuck in the dark ages and divided between feuding tribes. We've established friendly relations with a force-using tribe of Mirialans, but things are tentative. At present our main interests lie in protecting the Salacia employees while they carry out their research in our joint base. If we can stay out of intertribal warfare, that's for the best, but things are seldom ideal. There have been skirmishes with tribes that have turned to banditry, but they're technologically very primitive." No, sir, Firemane did not have any plans to subjugate the natives and turn the planet into a colony.



"Etti IV is a defence contract and military adviser programme. We provide the government with modern weaponry and advisers for their troops, sometimes bodyguards for VIPs and corporate leaders. Captain [member="Delila Castillon"] is our woman on the spot and you'll liaise with her a great deal. She's abrasive, but good at her job. On Dahomey we started out with purely mining interests but now provide training for the militiia and assist in policing the planet. We've got a lot of clout because my wife and I led the Omega Pyre liberation force that toppled the warlords and that gives us a political role, since the Protectorate's not doing much to develop the planet."


As it happened Siobhan was quite attached to Dahomey. It had been her first conquest and whenever she went there she was treated like a queen. So she had a number of ideas she wanted to implement. Aside from the obvious, namely a disciplined force of sepoys and setting up a military base to fortify the planet, these surprisingly also included Firemane sponsored educational facilities to help develop the planet by spreading knowledge to its youth - and making sure they liked Firemane - and, even more surprisingly perhaps, measures to preserve the dwindling Cylix population. Dahomey safari sounded like a good idea! Based on their negotiations with Danger ATC should create trade stations so that the rich minerals on the planet could find a market.


"Bespin is the most straightforward. We have an outpost in the gasuous layer of the planet where we mine cortosis in cooperation with ARGH." Due to that the best Angelii warriors now had the awesome Seraph Battle Shield. Needless to say mass-producing cortosis items was still not possible, but the mining operation ensured a steady supply. "I'll have Chesna give you access to the necessary files."

 

[Daera Varias]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
"Thank you, Lady Kerrigan. That is a wide variety of interests and settings. I would be happy to undertake all of these operations for you."

Chesna was summoned, and the possible demi-goddess looked positively formal and business-like. However, they clearly knew each other somehow.
"Ms Medea, nice to see you again," Chesna said softly.
Maerys tinged just the slightest bit pink. "And you as well, Chesna. I believe you have access for me?"
"I have given you access to all the sensitive areas you need." She handed over a datapad.
"Thank you, I look forward to working with you."
"Oh, and likewise," Chesna said, winking at Siobhan as she turned and left.