Four of a Kind

[Anya Venari]

“My lady…the…machine. It makes noise!”
Tylania opened her eyes. Young Calana had entered her chambers with the communicator held at arm’s length as though it was going to explode
“Thank you, dear.” Tylania extended her hand and it flew gently to her hand without her standing. “You may go.”

The Paragon looked at the device. She smiled – Incoming Call: Siobhan Kerrigan.
She reckoned she could do better than a shimmering blue hologram. She hit the mute button and reached out. She had felt Siobhan’s presence close by, relatively at least.

Closing her eyes she tapped into the power inside her and sought a connection with Siobhan. She felt it reach and connect…though with some surprise.
When she opened her eyes it was as though she was sitting in a meeting room on the space station far above. Siobhan would see her seated, hovering slightly above the ground, right before her.

“Good morning, Siobhan. I felt we could do this more personally than by communicator.”
Who said space skype wasn’t useful?

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]

Siobhan had not set foot on Tygara in recent months. In fact, she had not visited the planet since the day a cabal of Eldorai nobles stabbed her in the back and tried to scapegoat Firemane for the failure of the Kaeshana Rebellion. Any communications between her and the Eldorai had occured via holocomm. She'd even made a point of not socialising with the Eldorai members of the Order. Time had passed and Firemane had moved on, but she was still bitter about it. For this reason Firemane had reduced its foot print on the planet.

Nonetheless, she'd accepted Tylania's request for a chat. The Vashyada were, by all accounts, decent people whose main sin was being underdeveloped due to being locked in a forest. So she felt more positive about them. So she awaited Tylania's response to her call on the Arx. By now the move was complete and the station had become a fully functional Company HQ. The communicator rang for a while, but she got no response. Maybe there were connection issues. Or the sound of the 'talking machine' had spooked a wood elf. Siobhan sipped some Atrisian tea from a ceramic cup. Then finally Tylania responded. In a highly unexpected way.

Siobhan had seen all sorts of weird stuff, so she did not blink. "If I'd known we'd be this up close and personal, I would have worn one of my special dresses," she said wryly. One of those that really showed off her cleavage and hugged her curves.

Noise came from beneath her table. "Dear, don't fret. Our friend has just decided to astral project." The source of the noise became clear as a young Twi'lek emerged. The intern had been earning her keep by worshipping Siobhan's feet.
"Oh, I'm sorry," the girl looked from Siobhan to Tylania and back. "Forcey things. So this is like...skyping with space magic," she muttered, looking a bit confused. "Should I, uh, go, Mistress?"

Siobhan gave the girl's lekku an indulgent pat. The Twi'lek was probably Elpsis' age. Siobhan had moved firmly into cougar territory and did not feel bad about it in the least. "No, no, stay right where you are and continue with what you're doing," she spoke sweetly, turning her gaze to the Lady in White. "So what I can do for you, Tylania?"

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tylania raised an eyebrow at the scene, but smiled.
“I see that your staff are undergoing vigorous training,” she commented. She had a pretty good sense of Siobhan’s ‘appetites’ even before this.

She returned to the reason for their discussion.
“Siobhan, I wanted to have this meeting because I feel the time for our isolation should end. The reasons for that isolation are two fold; firstly I did not feel it was my place to make my people advance beyond their usual speed. Secondly, the lack of resources in Yarkul would have necessitated our emigration to, and likely conquest of, other lands. This too was not something I was prepared to do.”

“However, I think the time for such things is over. My people are not wealthy in the standards of the galaxy, but we do have some things to offer. For one, our healers are useful no matter the era, and for another the power of the Force in the deep forests allows us to find many wonderful – and dangerous – things there. Crystals, Force sensitive or suitable for the…what are they called…lightsabres? Yes, we have these in the deep woods. Finally, our skills of concealment and stealth are the best which can be managed without a cloaking device.”

“So what I propose, Siobhan, is that we form a closer alliance. The more bold of my people can join you and learn about the galaxy, and in return teach what we know. If you have suitable locations for the Vashyada to live elsewhere we can setup fresh colonies there. I hope we might come to some agreement which will be beneficial to both parties.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


Siobhan had high expectations of her staff. Which was why she took such a hands-on role in their training. So far she was quite pleased with her intern. The girl had been rather obliging when Siobhan decided that she needed a fashion makeover. She'd replaced trousers with short skirts and wore low-cut blouses that showed off her cleavage. If Siobhan had her way, Tylania would experience first-hand just how voracious her appetites were.

"Lady Kerrigan is a very wise woman. I've learned a lot from her," the intern declared loyally - or sycophantically. She was certainly very eager to study at the Lady's feet!

"Indeed you have, my sweet" Siobhan spoke smugly, rubbing the Twi'lek's lekku with her foot. Anyhow, there was business to discuss. Her expression returned to a neutral, taciturn one while Tylania spoke at length. "I see. Interesting proposal. Forward-thinking," the Lady remarked. Her tone was polite, but neutral. The Vashyada were poor by galactic standards, but it was true that they had many useful skills to offer.


"Are your people behind this? As you say, they've lived in isolation for centuries. Sudden change can be...disruptive and construed as a threat, since people are inevitably exposed to ideas that clash with established norms. I helped the Eldorai get uplifted, and they repaid me with betrayal and kept sulking about wanting to be self-reliant, while evidently being incapable of it. To put it plainly, I will not be rushing to Tygara's aid if it is threatened. No offence meant, I know there are manifold differences between them and the Vashyada."


The Vashyada lacked the Eldorai's penchant for schisms, religious wars and habitual backstabbing. Their greatest 'sin' was being primitive due to centuries of isolation. Even the way they practiced slavery was tolerable to Siobhan. However, they were also deeply fractured. "The way Firemane and the Vashyada approach the Force is also divergent."

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“There will be resistance, and I understand that resistance. To go from thousands of years of isolation to suddenly having all one’s assumptions and beliefs stripped away is hard. The King and Queen understand my position, and the various chiefs and petty rulers are behind my plan as well. I think starting small would be wise, such as with one of my people who departed just a few days ago with a certain Angelii, Jedi and…well, we’ll get to that.”

“The Eldorai have developed along a very different path to my people. I know little of them aside from visitors and from an occasional concealed visit I have made to their new settlements. Their traditions are centralised, authoritarian and xenophobic. Only in the later do the Vashyada match, but for different reasons.”

“I cannot speak for my cousins, Siobhan, only for the Vashyada. In that, I tell you that we are far fewer in number than the Eldorai, and that few of those will voluntarily take up an offer to leave and explore, but there will be some. If you give us a fair chance we will repay your trust with loyalty.”

The last point made her silent a moment.
“It is,” she said at last. “I am no prophet though, and I deem you are not either. Our beliefs are not so divergent, merely the means by which we accomplish them. A balance of light and dark can create a useful melding more useful than one or other alone.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


"Balance, huh? What a heretical thought," Siobhan joked. "Personally I've had little use for extremes on either spectrum. Theology aside, you want to move gradually. But you may not have as much time as you'd like. Tygara lies on the fringes of the Galaxy, but just because it's remote doesn't mean other powers won't take an interest in it. Tygara can fight off raiders and barbarians, but that's it. The Silver Jedi were useless protectors and they've run away."


She could imagine how the Eldorai would react if a hostile power tried to take Tygara from them. The upper class would bail and blame everyone but themselves. Naive fools like that stupid choir girl would blather about the Goddess. Maybe there would be another coup attempt. It would be comical if it occured while their worldship was still in hyperspace. Meanwhile, the rebels would continue being ineffectual squabblers. Fortunately, none of this was her problem.


"Regardless, I believe we can work together, provided you understand the limits of what I can offer. Your people will also need to be vaccinated against diseases, otherwise there will be mass deaths once they're exposed to the outside world. The Vashyada are the least tech-savvy of all Eldorai races. So adjustment will be difficult, to say the least. But your people are a hardy lot, used to hard work and lack your cousins' history of infighting and slaughter. The Vashyada Firemane employs are very diligent, so I'd be glad to add more to their ranks," she frowned slightly.


"I reckon once word of this gets out, the other Tygarans will knock on my door and say they'd like Firemane aid as well." She figured some Eldorai reactionaries would sulk about the 'primitives' being uplifted. Part of her felt like stirring the pot a bit.

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tylania nodded. “You will have to forgive me too, Siobhan, if I do not understand the exact way of things. Ancient I am, but neither my creators nor the people here ever had much use for market economics. I understand buying and selling of course, but on a galactic scale I simply am lost. Our products are perhaps not the most profitable, but there are seams of gold and silver my people tentatively exploit. Perhaps you might find them useful, are those metals valuable to you?”

“With that in mind, your vac-inations are a wise move. I have heard of them, and I know many of my people died when brought to foreign lands. If this will protect them from disease, I welcome it. As for technology, I think it should be manageable if we start simply. A blaster is no different from a musket in principle, a space ship a boat for the stars and so on. We can get into specifics later.”

She pondered. “In my youth I remember there were space ships and stations where many people lived unaware of the space outside. I think that might be wise to start with. Gradual escalation.”

At the mention of the other rulers she nodded. “Indeed. I am not sure how the myriad Qadiri will react. Possibly with relief if they think the ‘sky-people’ are leaving again. The Xioquo…who is leading my fallen sister’s people now?”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


She raised an eyebrow slightly. "Yes, gold and silver are quite valuable, dear. I can use those. You bring up an interesting thought," Siobhan remarked gently when Tylania brought up the idea of space ships where people were unaware of the space outside. "Perhaps even make the vessel resemble a forest a bit to mitigate the culture shock. More like a space habitat. You really have to see the stations I've built. As for weapons tech, energy bows and bowcasters are just a high-tech variant of what you use now, and in some cases better than a blaster." Maybe the Vashyada would end up a bit like the Wookiees. The Wookiees appeared primitive with their connection to nature, honour codes and tree cities, but they were actually pretty tech-savvy.


"Liavondra is the Xioquo's queen now. She's a Lightsider. I figure you'd like her. There are threats to her rule - insurgencies, intrigues from unreformed matriarchs and so on. But having their old beliefs shattered has been beneficial to the Xioquo. Out of all the Tygaran races, they might be the fastest to adapt. They've always had an affinity for tech and the centuries they spent in caves might mean they have a better time adjusting to life in ships. It will even allow them to see the sun." Both races had a history of bloodletting, with the Vashyada always being on the defensive. It would be ironic if the Paragon and the Light Queen were able to move past that and get them to work together.


She paused for a moment. "The Qadiri...well, they're a quarrelsome lot. Semiramis hitched her waggons to mine out of self-interest. She has her share of rivals and many Eldorai look down on the Qadiri as much as they do on everyone else. If it comes to them wanting my help, I have a bombshell to drop on them: I want slavery gone. It can go gradually, it can even be abolished with compensation for the owners, but I won't tolerate an institution that barbaric."

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“The galaxy truly is upside down, a Light Xioquo,” Tylania said with a smile. “I think it might be wise to bring all of us together. These things must be decided. Silly rivalries matter no more. What is done is done, but now we must take it upon ourselves a new page of our history.”

“I would love to come visit you in person. This method of communication is good, but does not compensate for being there in person. Would you perhaps be so kind to send a shuttle down to me? Unlike Ashira I cannot teleport myself…though I guess it did her no good in the end.”

She grinned wolfishly. “Which reminds me, I’ve recently had contact with another of my sisters. A certain Eyrecae Alzari the Paragon for the Qadiri, but abandoned and lost many centuries ago. Due to a certain collection of events though a Jedi, a rogue Angelii and an adventurous Vashyada have joined this Eyrecae in an adventure across space. So there is yet another Paragon to…conquer, if that is your plan one way or another.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


"Oh, really? The last Paragon has awoken? Well...that is interesting. She was the Warrior, I recall. Or meant to be at any rate. I can imagine who the Jedi is. Dear Phylis cannot cease digging up old mysteries," Siobhan said sardonically. "Who's the 'rogue Angelii'? Someone I know?" Hopefully not that really dull, bitchy one. If another Paragon had awoken, it was imperative for Siobhan to either defeat her in single combat or conquer her in the bedroom. There was no middle ground.


"I do agree that we should meet in person, my dear. I'll send a shuttle down. Then I can show you my new station. I've made the Arx Aeternea Firemane's new headquarters. Far more practical than being tied to a planet. If the others want to meet, they can come. I imagine they'll find the sights intriguing." The ball was clearly in the elves' court. After all, Siobhan was providing a service, not the other way round.

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“I see you have history with Jedi Miss…Master Phylis Alince. She seemed a good sort.” Shockingly, this one’s characters tended to have neutral to positive opinions of each other unless they were clear enemies.
“The rogue Angelii was Kaida Taldir. Ah yes, you know her,” she said, observing Siobhan. “A very taciturn, grim sort, but capable and loyal to those she deems worthy.”

“I would love to meet you in person once more. Please send your shuttle, I will have to get used to space once more, it has been a long time. Until that time, may your light never dim, Siobhan.”
The projection faded.

“Can you do that, Mistress? Seems a neat trick,” the Twi’lek asked a little cheekily.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


"I am a powerful and wise Mistress with manifold skills some consider to be...unnatural," Siobhan said haughtily and somewhat plagiaristically. "If you are a good pet, I may show you some. For now...I think you need to be reminded of your place." Presumably the scene faded to black as Siobhan showed the Twi'lek the ropes - and whips and electrodes.

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tylania opened her eyes and stood, stretching after the long period sitting. Her apprentice Calana entered as she did. The young Vash had clearly been waiting, maybe even looking in to try and see what was happening, but would have only seen Tylania speak in an alien tongue.

“My Lady?”
“Tell me, Calana, have you ever wanted to see the stars?”
A look of bewildered thought crossed the girl’s face. “I…don’t know, Lady. It sounds terrifying.”
“Take my hand, dear, do you trust me?”
“Of course, Lady!”
“Then I promise no ill will befall you. Gather our things, we leave at once for the outlander settlement.”

By the time the Firemane shuttle would touch down Tylania and Calana would be there. The former was dressed simply in her white dress and with a plain gold circlet on her brow. Calana, beneath her mix of fear and resolution, was dressed much more conventionally.
“Watch your step, ladies. If you need a turbulence bag, there’s one under the seats. Don’t mess up my clean ship, will you?” the pilot called. “Understand? Bag!” she repeated. She was of the ‘repeat things louder and slower to foreigners’ school of cultural understanding.
“Of course, Lieutenant. You may leave whenever you wish,” Tylania replied in perfect Basic. She helped Calana buckle in and settled back. It had been…a long time.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


"Hang in tight, ladies. You're about to see the future," the pilot said cheerfully...and a bit patronisingly. Anyhow, the shuttle took off from the clearing. Gaining in altitude, it soon left the forests of Yarkul behind it. Eventually, even Tygara vanished as the spacecraft pierced the atmosphere and reached the void.


Countless celestial bodies dotted the vast expanse. The shuttle traversed a fathomless void that seemed without end. Eventually a ginormous space station came into view. "We're approaching the Arx, ladies," the pilot saw fit to inform her two passengers over the intercom. Her voice was still unduly loud. The station resembled a massive pentagonal pyramid.


"40km in length, slower than a tortoise. Got enough space for fifteen million residents. Good luck coughing up the dough to pay rent if you want to be one of the lucky few who get an apartment. All the big shots live there." Here lay Firemane's new headquarters. While appallingly slow and lacking in capital armaments, the Arx could take a beating and then some. Moreover, it gave Firemane a central hub that was not bound to any planet or star system. Moreover, it gave the corporation freedom to operate without being subject to meddling from interstellar or planetary governments. Regardless, the shuttle would dock in one of the many, many hangars Firemane had reserved for its use.

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
For Calana, and even Tylania, the sensation of lifting off was unsettling. What was worse, the ground fell away rapidly. Soon all of Calana’s entire realm of experience was smaller than her finger held to the window.
It continued to get smaller until the blue sky parted to admit the darkness of space. Stars…so many stars everywhere. Constellations never seen before by the pair of them danced. Ahead, a vast monster shaped like a mechanical kraken, arms open.

Calana had closed her eyes, muttering to herself, occasionally whimpering slightly.
“Calm…relax, daughter,” Tylania passed a hand over the girl’s brow, and Calana un-tensed slightly.
As they came in to dock the pilot was smiling and waving.
“Come along, come!” she said, like they were pets being trained.
Tylania nodded and stepped down. Her feet didn’t touch the metal deck, instead hovering slightly above it.

Waiting for them was...Chesna.
The usually happy Eldorai was looking uncertain as they approached.
“Tylania…it’s nice to see you,” she said awkwardly.
“And you, sister!” Tylania said. She let her feet touch the ground and gave Chesna a hug.
Chesna, at first standoffish, but then leaning into it, eventually pulled back. “Siobhan wants to see you.”
“Then lead the way. This is Calana, she is stepping into the stars for the first time.”
“I sometimes wish I could be so naïve again,” Chesna replied. She turned to Calana though and smile. “Welcome aboard the metal beast! Follow me!”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


The two wood elves would be led into the belly of the metal beast. The experience would probably be more than a little disconcerting for sweet Calana. Tygara had faded away, being just a tiny dot in the vastness of space, which was dotted by celestial bodies.


As they traversed the metal beast, they would behold various office buildings and lavish apartment complexes. This 'province' was called the Presidium. Here the wealthy and privileged lived. Upscale boutiques could be found here...as could high class brothels. Moreover, Firemane had set up its headquarters in this section. Needless to say the Company's big shots got the best real estate available.


However, Tylania and Calana would not be led to a shiny office. Instead their destination lay elsewhere. Instead they were escorted to the lavish gardens. The botanical gardens had been brought into being at the behest of Siobhan and she took a great deal of interest in its development and care. It was not Yarkul, but it ought to make the wood elves more comfortable than a sterile office.


There were biomes, greenhouses, flowers and plenty of plants. There was an artificial lake and a waterfall. Siobhan was extremely rich and what better way to show off than to simulate a forest in a ginormous space station? At least that's what a moderately eccentric business magnate with too much time and money might have thought.


Anyhow, they would encounter the Lady herself. She had just been inspecting some orchid flowers. She wore a well-tailored - and definitely expensive! - women's business suit with a neat skirt, silk stockings and boots that boosted her average height a bit. She was still forced to lean on a cane. Two aides, both buxom, pretty and female accompaned. They wore indecently low cut dresses with plunging necklines, showing off their stunning curves. Of course, the Lady was not without guards. Kar'zun and Dahomians were on patrol.

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Calana stumbled after her guides in a daze. She’d never seen so much metal in her life, but this monster went on and on. She’d looked out the window, but could make no sense of what she saw. How could she be seeing the stars…weren’t they on the roof of the world? And was that green blob down her where she’d been?

For Tylania though it was more of a journey of remembrance, not just due to the station, but also because her sister was here.
“Do you remember the time above Lehon when…” she began.
“I don’t want to,” Chesna said with unexpected heat. “That is from a time which is not me now.”
Tylania glanced at her sister. “I see. As you wish.”

They came at last to the vast garden. Calana actually knelt in the soft grass and touched it with her hands to make sure it was real.
Tylania too felt happier walking on the natural ground.
“Come along. Plenty of time for tree hugging later,” Chesna told Calana a little sharply.
“Ard…I mean Chesna, do not be so harsh with her. You may not wish to remember your first time in space, but it was jarring for us all.”
Chesna said nothing, but strode ahead to bow before Siobhan. “I have brought them as you command, Mistress.”

Tylania offered a polite curtsey, and Calana did the same. “Thank you for your invitation, Lady Kerrigan. This station is magnificent in size. The only one I have seen to match it was the Star Forge above Lehon. You may have heard of it?”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


"Thank you, Chesna," Siobhan said politely. She could tell that the normally eternally chipper primeval Eldorai was...grumpy. "I'm glad you could make it, Lady Tylania. I hope there were no inconveniences during your trip," she addressed the Demigoddess gracefully, giving the other wood elf an encouraging smile. She reckoned that she was an apprentice.


The two 'attendants' likewise curtsied. One of them was a Vahyada who was about Calana's age, but obviously far more adjusted to life in space. The other was a Xioquo. Both races had a history of animosity, for the Vashyada had often had to defend themselves from Xioquo slave raids.


Tylania's query caused Siobhan to frown in puzzlement. "Star Forge? I am afraid I do not get the reference. Was it some sort sort of factory in space?" she pondered this for a moment, remembering that the last time Tylania was in space would have been millennia ago. "Something to do with the Rakatan?"

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Yes, a great factory station powered by the star of the Lehon system. I have learned just recently that it was destroyed by a Jedi after the Sith used it thousands of years ago. My apologies, it is my only frame of reference.”

She smiled and laid a hand on Calana.
“Lady Kerrigan, this is my ward, Calana. She had been learning under me for a few years now.”

Calana stared up at the regal Siobhan, then to the two women by the Lady’s side.
“Lady, it is an honour. Are you the Queen here?” she asked.
The Xioquo giggled slightly, probably earning a stern look.

“Lady Kerrigan is more powerful than any petty Queen, but her power is not monarchical, but based on wealth and strength,” Tylania explained. She was not flattering Siobhan, but offering an understandable explanation.

“The trip here was without issue. Your shuttle pilot kindly gave us some assistance,” she said politely. She was too nice to point out the truth.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


Siobhan gave the 'attendant' a stern look. "Iuitl," she spoke crossly.

The Xioquo looked contrite. Sort of. "I am sorry, Great Karishzar."

"Do not disparage a guest of your Mistress," Siobhan added, then turned her attention to those guests again. "A pleasure to meet you, dear. There are many ways to wield power without being burdened by a crown. You could say I am this place's Lady Tylania. I imagine your first time in the stars may be a little overwhelming for you. But we all start somewhere. Even the haughtiest Eldorai were frightened when they left their planet for the first time."


Her tone was cordial, warm even. A stark contrast to the racist pilot. One wondered what Siobhan would do to her if she knew the truth. Presumably things would get unpleasant for the aforementioned pilot. "I could show you around the garden a bit. Then there are some matters I must discuss with Lady Tylania in private. You should be in good hands with my attendants."