Doomsday Clock (Siobhan/Galina)

[Daera Varias]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]

(Continued from Arkas Dominion)

The Queen led Siobhan and Galina into a sideroom and closed the door.
“I’m not sure if this news will be…suitable…for Galina.”
She saw quickly though that the girl was not going to be parted from her mother and sighed.
“This must not go to anyone but Tegaea, as I will need both your help. We have discovered a…problem. We believe that, set in motion accidentally or otherwise by the Lost Kar’zun, there is a body heading towards Kaeshana. This ‘body’ is…well we have estimated it to be 50km long, 18km wide and 8km tall. As I hardly need tell you, any impact with a body over 5km long is considered an extinction level event.”

The news of that sunk in like a lead weight. “Fortunately, our deep space probes picked it up as it passed through the orbit of the next outermost planet. We have…approximately…a year before it arrives. I have consulted all our experts, Elanil Saedaris amongst them, along with scientists and soldiers from across the Protectorate. Even were things not so dire they have no immediate way to destroy something so large. Our attempts to knock it off course using weapons, mining drills, even ramming other objects into it have proved ineffective. It is simply too large.”

Anya, clearly under a lot of strain, was barely keeping it together, but she managed. “That is why I sent Kaida out. If there is another Eldorai world…we may be able to remove some items and people for there. My search for peaceful, habitable planets is ongoing, but I am hoping that we find something very soon.”

“Kaeshana is my home, the home of my people, but in the face of this threat, I can see no option but to evacuate. The logistics of this are…immense. Siobhan, not everyone will make it, and that hurts, because I know I have to do what I can to save my people. I am the Queen, and even if we are nothing but a test-tube creation, they are my people and I am proud to be their leader. I will not ask you to help me – you have done so much for my family as it is. However, if you are willing…we need your help, Siobhan.”
Her composure cracked and she began to cry, though she looked away to try and hide it.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"], [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]


Silence abruptly descended on the room after Anya had dropped that bomb shell. It took Siobhan several moments before she was finally able to open her mouth and speak, as she absorbed the shocking revelations and the meaning of the Queen's words set in. "Kaeshana...my...our home will be destroyed? Our home," she held on tight to Galina's hand, very much wishing that her daughter would have been spared the horrible news, so soon after they had managed to get out of the underworld.



"Anya...I'm...I'm sorry...I love this planet. It's been the first place I've considered my home, as opposed to just a place to live. I promise no one other than Tegaea will hear of this. I'll have to talk with, but, actually screw that, I know my wife will think the same way. You're part of the family, I won't abandon you. And the Eldorai are my people, certainly more than most humans are," her voice almost cracked as she struggled to keep her composure.


She took a very deep breath. She felt a bit uncomfotable speaking about this without her wife's input. Tegaea was so much better at handling this than she was. Then she walked towards Anya and gave her a gentle, one-armed hug. After all, her other hand was being held by Galina!


"Firemane has built super freighters recently. Not many, but there's a couple and we can make more. They can evacuate tens of thousands each. And there's the Connestoga freighters constructed by Silk. Very expensive, but they can be modified to provide space for tens of millions. Hell, if we design the appropriate hyperspace tugs, we can move the Tirathana and transport people with it. As Exarch...you can get your hands on Protectorate ships. OP's in shambles and they bloody owe Kaeshana for keeping it from collapsing." Much as the collection of fools, cowards and blustering incompetents on Fondor refuses to admit it, she thought with a trace of bitterness. If she had possessed any last vestiges of faith in the Protectorate, it had died the moment she heard about what had happened on Corellia. Her days of fighting for it were over and that would never change.


She turned slightly to look upon her daughter. "I will give you a home, Galina. I...promise. We will find one," If she had been capable of crying, if her mechanical eyes had allowed it, she would have. However, many, many would not make it, this she knew. They could move heaven and earth and save so many in the 'Eldorai Ark', but there would be those who would be left behind. So many would die, everything would change. Their home would be lost. Questions were racing through her mind, far too many to process.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

If the young redhead had her way, there would be no separation between her and her mother. Her eyes darted nervously between the Queen and Siobhan more than a little unsure about what was going on. Listening carefully, she cocked her head to the side making sure she'd taken in every word. Basic still wasn't her best language by far, not even now. It took a moment for her to really process what the words meant to her.

"Home isn't a place, home is wherever you and mum are." Trying to be encouraging for her part. She just knew in her heart home had less to do with where she was physically, and more to do with where her family was. As long as she had then, little else mattered. Though it didn't stop her from gripping tighter to Siobhan's hand.

As her mother drew Anya into a hug, Galina couldn't help by step in. For as much as she felt like an outsider in this conversation, it still felt like the right thing to do. Losing a home, a planet there was no way that could be easy. Especially given it was Anya's people.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Anya Venari"]

 

[Daera Varias]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Anya was drawn into the somewhat awkward 3-way hug. It did make her feel a bit better.

“Thank you, Siobhan. That means a lot to hear you say that. Now, we have a lot to do. If you have any resources which can help uncover this lost Eldorai world, please use them. I am working on shipping our relics and the archives to the Tirathana. If you can indeed move the station that would be perfect.”

“In these early months I am moving as quickly as I can without it being noticed. I am having grain and other food bought and stored for the move, I’ve had animals collected to preserve them. I…” she trailed off. The strain was getting to her.

“When the announcement is made, there will likely be panic. This may be the moment when our…myths…are revealed. I fear there will be chaos. The sooner we have somewhere to go and start preparing it for settlement, the better.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"], [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]


Galina was right. Of course she was. But it did not make Siobhan feel any better. Truth be told, at the moment she felt like she had failed her. "I know, sweetie, I know," she said gently. She released Anya from the somewhat awkward hug, though she kept holding on to Galina's hand. It seemed that the moment the Countess really needed the reassurance.


How ironic that this time it was her daughter trying to offer her comfort. As it was Siobhan was barely keeping it together. Perhaps it was just her, but her flesh leg seemed to suddenly be paining her far more. Even her new mechanical arm felt limp and sluggish, phantom pains setting in. "Whatever we can do to help, we shall, Anya. Firemane has been...bit hard by the event, but we'll devote what resources we can. Judging by the fact that corsairs from Arkas got their paws in lost Eldorai, this world must be somewhere in Wild Space close to Levantine territory. We have bases there from which we can search."


At this moment she realised that Firemane would have to begin preparations for evacuation as well. Secrecy would be important until the announcement was made, though the fact that they were still a big corporation gave them some leeway and ability to obscure their operations, partially under the guise of reinforcing old outposts. "I'll have to speak with Tegs. I'll do it right away."

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

After a moment Galina released Anya, but not Siobahn for she still tightly clung to her hand. She simply could not risk the separation. The idea of what was coming, knowing it was a year away, it wasn't long. For her part, she worried little about it in truth. Her only worry was for her mothers.

She tried to smile, anything to offer Siobhan some reassurance. "It will be okay." She finally said looking between the two women. She squeezed Sio's hand a little tighter, just letting her mummy know she was there still. And no matter what she would still be there.

Her eyes wandered to the Queen again, feeling tears well up on her own eyes seeing what the Eldorai was going through. Her only wish was to somehow help, to somehow ease the pains but knew ... knew any words she had were inadequate for the situation. Nothing really would make this better. But she did with her free hand, reached out and took Anya's hand and gave it a slight squeeze, trying just to comfort her how she knew best.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Anya Venari"]

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Feeling the light pressure, the Queen smiled at Galina. “You’re a good girl, Galina, your mothers should be proud of you.”
With that she turned and left. There was much to do still.

When Siobhan and Galina returned home to the (mostly) repaired villa, Tegaea was supervising the renovation.
“Fortunately a lot of the damage was superficial, and we’re getting replacements for the damaged appliances.”

She immediately saw that something was on her wife and daughter’s mind. Something more than appliances anyway!

“Sio? Is something wrong?”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"], Tegaea Alcori


"Yes...I think you should sit down, love," Siobhan said, clearly looking troubled and anxious. "I had a chat with Anya. She said that...the Lost Kar'zun set an asteroid in motion to collide with Kaeshana. It'll...reach the planet in about a year. It's...50km long, more than big enough to destroy all life on the entire planet."


Siobhan paused and took a deep breath as she took another step, wanting to sit down. Unfortunately for Siobhan, her flesh leg was far from healed. As a matter of fact it was crap and, all in all, she was in a fairly crappy shape. Moreover, the stress, fear and anxiety was getting to her. So as she took another step, her leg suddenly gave in. She had her cane, but it fell out of her grasp and she had not accounted for how stiff her leg would be and how it buckled under the slightest weight, sending her sprawling over the hard floor.


Pain shot through her as she made contact with it and she cried out. Pain is terribly effective at paralysing the body and she was not the woman she used to be. Now she tried to push herself up, angry, embarrassed and in deep pain, trying to grip the wall for support, but it seemed her flesh leg was abruptly paralysed and even the bionic one felt sluggish and far too slow to respond. "Damnit. She says nothing can be done to dislodge the asteroid or destroy it. Nothing we have is advanced enough to...save our home," she breathed heavily.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

The queen's words stuck with Galina upon the trip home. But no doubt the strain of what was to come showed clearly up her face as she joined her mum inside the villa. Seeing Siobhan like this, hearing the strain of it all in her voice, the anxiety and worry just frightened her more than she wanted to admit.

Still clinging to her mummy's hand... as she fell Galina tried to help, tried to stop it but couldn't. She glanced most anxiously to her mum, Tegaea. There were no words she could speak, and no doubt that Tegaea would be just as devastated. "It will be okay, mummy. It will." But those were only words, and they certainly weren't going to help the situation. Nothing really would make it better. So, she slowly knelt down beside Siobhan and just wrapped her arms around her, to hug the brunette as tightly as she could.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Tegaea Alcori"]

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Tegaea stared at Siobhan for a moment, mouth open. Was this some kind of strange joke? Was her wife testing her somehow?

Before she could process anything more, Siobhan fell. "Sio!" Tegaea cried, anguished. Running over she knelt down beside Siobhan, helped her to a couch.
Her face was unhappy, deeply torn between conflicting fears for her wife, her home, her daughter.

"I...don't know what to say," she admitted.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"], [member="Tegaea Alcori"]


A cripple. A fething cripple. That was what she had been reduced to. Who could fight and kill monsters, but now was utterly incapable of keeping her family and their home safe. Like it or not, the asteroid of doom was something beyond her powers and she hated it. Sulky? Probably, but perhaps understandable given the circumstances.



With a pained groan she let Tegaea help her up towards a couch, wincing as a surge of pain shot through her leg and back. "Anya wants to start preparations to evacuate...she asked for our help. I couldn't say no. She says that Coryth had a vision...about a lost colony of Eldorai, which ties in with what Chesna told us about the Paragons. It sounds insane...but Taldir and Coryth found Eldorai slaves on Arkas unlike those we know from Kaeshana," she was breathing very heavily, as a matter of fact she was panting as she managed to steady herself. "Our home will be gone."

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Quickly behind Tegaea and Siobhan, Galina followed. Curling up on the couch beside Siobhan, clinging to her. Reaching out her free hand, she reached for Tegaea, keen to pull her onto the couch with Siobhan and her. At this point, there was nothing she could say. Nothing she could really do. It was what it was. Her parents both in shock, agony .. and there was nothing she could do about any of it. All the plans, all of it .. It was out of her hands, and in theirs. Tegaea, Siobhan, Anya, it would be up to them. She could only help support them.

[member="Tegaea Alcori"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]

Watching her wife, usually so strong, so in pain, made Tegaea’s heart ache. However, with an extreme effort she concealed showing it. She know that Siobhan hated it when she fussed over her, that she hated showing any weakness. She also knew that she wouldn’t want Galina to see either of them weak.

And so she turned to the far larger, yet less immediate threat.
“No…no…home is where you make it. If we have to make it somewhere else then that’s fine. We’ve done that before, we know how it works,” she said.
“We will help her, of course. If there’s another planet of Eldorai we’ll find it.”

She was numb to everything now. This distant threat was easy to avoid. They could be gone from Kaeshana in a day, but they had friends and commitments here. A small part of her, the part she hated because of its insidious whispers, told her to let the Eldorai go.

Let them deal with it. Move on, forget them.

She wondered if Force users had this voice in them which tempted them to the Dark Side?

“We’re not going to abandon Anya and the others,” she said a little too loudly, as if to make up for the treacherous thought. Quieter, she continued, “We owe them that much.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"], [member="Tegaea Alcori"]


They could be gone from Kaeshana in a day. Well, realistically it would take more than that, but still. Firemane had been bit hard by the cataclysm, but it was still strong. Relocating operations would be rather costly, but it could be done. A Protectorate world as a new home would be right out because Siobhan saw no future for that nation. One she had once been proud to serve. But they could run away and leave Kaeshana to its fate, find a quiet world away from war and move on. After all, they had done so much for the Eldorai already. It would be a simple choice.



However, though tempting, it was a course Siobhan would not take. Not because a pure as white snow saint, for she was far from that. However, though her positive qualities might be few and far between, she was unflinchingly loyal. She had been honest when she said that she regarded the Eldorai as her people and Anya was part of her family.


"Yes, we won't," she said aloud, breathing rather heavily. At least talking meant she could take her mind off the pain she was feeling, if only for a moment. She could use some bloody painkillers, but she was too proud to ask for those. "I already promised Anya our help. We've got those freighters after all. We also talked about moving the Tirathana. It would need special hyperspace tugs. We'll...find a new home and rebuild. And then leave the galaxy's problems behind us because I'm bloody tired of it."

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]

“As am I, love. I will go and see the Queen and see what I can do to help. We should intensify our relocation plans and start moving some of the heavier equipment out. Is Tabaqui a viable option for storing things?”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"], [member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Siobhan thought for a moment, then nodded. "Provisionally, yes. We've got a good grasp on the situation there and the only one other than us doing anything is Salacia. We'll have to beef up security, but relocations can be explained away as developing the planet more." The alternative was Etti IV, where Firemane had a base and a factory, but that planet was too crowded with megacorporations regularly engaging in corporate warfare. And it was utterly impossible to keep secrets there, whereas Tabaqui was quiet. "I guess we'll be hearing from Taldir and Tempest about the situation on Arkas soon."


Turning her attention to her daughter Siobhan pulled the little firemane closer. Whether she knew it or not, Galina was helping, simply by being there and offering comfort. Her presence was a reminder for Siobhan of the many reasons not to give in to despair. "My little angel. We'll get through this. As a family," she said softly.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina clung to her mummy tighter as Siobhan pulled her closer. There was no trace of a smile, she couldn't. Not now. So many reasons to worry, to be afraid.

"I know we will. We strong. Together we get through." Spoken as she rested her head against her mother's shoulder.

[member="Tegaea Alcori"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]

Tegaea just sat there hugging her wife and daughter closely. At this moment she felt they all needed a bit of reassurance.

Slowly, regretfully, she pulled back. "I'd best get going, my dears. It's not going to be easy, but I need to get started. Sio, can I see you for a moment? We'll be right here, Galina, I just need to speak to mummy privately."

She didn't know if Galina would release her grip on Siobhan or hers hand, but she did want to get some private words in.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"], [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]


With a certain measure of regret Siobhan pulled away from the embrace. They all needed the reassurance, but what they needed even more was action. She gave her wife a nod after she had spoken. "Of course, love. Galina, we'll be right here, your mums just need a private word or two. Chesna can keep you company."


Ever since they had returned from the underworld the young wildling had been joined at the hip to them, even insisting on sleeping in the same bed. Truth be told, Siobhan could not blame her for that. After all, she had been just as insistent on having their daughter close by.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

The young redhead certainly did need some reassurance in that moments as well. When Tegaea asked of her, to let go for a private conversation.. Galina couldn't help but to glance fretfully between the two older women.

She sighed, biting her her lip nervously. "Chesna?" She asked, looking for the woman first. She wanted another hand to hold before she released her mothers' hands. Only then, with great reluctance she finally let go, Tegaea first, then Siobhan.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Tegaea Alcori"]