House Call (open to whoever might reasonably be around)

[Ashin Varanin]

SHRI-TAL
COMPANIONS TEMPLE

Ashin's relationship to the Companions, to Arceneau, and to the local Powers That Be was tangential at best. Spencer's occasional employment with the Companions certainly qualified as the closest connection, enough to let them call ahead and mention they'd be stopping by. The message had mentioned that they wouldn't mind speaking with [member="Danger Arceneau"] or one of her associates while they were around.

An Empire of the Hand shuttle, a repurposed Santhe/Sienar S90 MAAT, touched down outside the temple, and two women emerged. No escort -- the guards remained in the shuttle.

Ashin's taste in clothing hadn't changed since acceding to yet another remote throne, but today she wore something at least moderately formal -- jacket and trousers of a dull red leather, with black boots.

[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

 

[Saffron]

[member="Ashin Varanin"] [member="Spencer Jacobs"]

The melodic sound of water falling from the nearby would barely register the sound of bubbling laughter coming from the Oiran Guildhouse of Shri-tal.

There, frolicking among the polished stone balcony with a handful of Companions in training stood Saffron, adopted daughter of the Trade Queen herself. Utter joy and sheer pleasure would go dancing across her lightly sun-kissed face, a product more of her time spent outside among the temple that they now called home.

The newest addition to the Oiran Guildhouse was this Shri-tal chapter, allowing a small refugee in the form of an additional training house for the Companions. This was a sanctuary, where no customer would be serviced and a hedge of safety and protection for the Guildhouse was paramount. Danger had made it clear that the safety and protection of all under her care would be of the utmost serious matter.

More laughter would come echoing down the temple halls. A game of hide and seek. Glista web robes of over a dozen shimmering colors would flutter like the most delicate of Ghostling wings as male and feminine figures would slip in and out and about the large vine colvered pillars.

A giggle would rise from Saffron's throat, only to fade as the sound of distant ship engines would prompt her attention. Curious would dance across her hazel eyes, one hand lightly touching the polished surface of the pillar next to her. Tendrils of golden hair would sway lightly in the wind, and a chill would take upon her.

Visitors? It was rare for any to come to the temple itself. Supplies were delivered normally once a month on a set schedule. Could it be her Ashiin visiting?

Anticipation and excitement would go bathing her youthful visage, lightly decorated in perfectly applied artifice. Kohl would line her eyes, making the gold flicks stand out with vibrant quality. A deep red gloss would stain the fullness of her lips, while a becoming blush would color her cheeks.

She would move with the graceful and joyful stride of a woman confident in her body and in herself, a sweetness that would bring about a glow to her face that would demand a second glance, for it was a face that held with shocking similarity to another woman of power and prestige.

Excitement would push her steps, as the woman-child clone would rush towards the front of the temple, seeking to make way towards the small ship dock where the sound of cooling engines would hail the presence of two figures instead of one.

Quickened steps would slow, the brush of fabric sliding across bare soft curves underneath. A bare foot would lower to brace her weight upon a step, slow, and then take another. Behind her, other Companions in Training would start to flank her.

Confusion would grow upon face.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer followed Ashin especially on a trip like this. There were a lot of reasons beyond the fact that she was the woman's wife and she was the Empress of this new on the rise Empire. Spencer worried about Ashin, especially after everything that had happened. So when she was asked to accompany the woman to this place – a place she knew rather well – she agreed. The alias she claimed while under cover as a companion was Satine. Brushing her blonde bangs aside she stood next to Ashin as she was greeted.

A woman appeared with the others and an eyebrow rose as she stared at the woman. It was like looking into a mirror and Spencer didn't know how to feel about this. Looking towards Ashin, the look of surprise couldn't be hidden on her young face.

“Do you see what I'm seeing?”

[member="Ashin Varanin"] [member="Saffron"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Saffron"] [member="Spencer Jacobs"]

You mean my birthday? she very carefully did not say. Spencer would catch the thought anyway; that was Spencer for you. She flashed back to that whole mess with Circe Savan, a clone named Ashiin, custody issues and Confederate politics. Apparently Arceneau's mother-hennish wings had expanded, if that was possible.

"Good afternoon. I'm Empress Ashin Varanin; I'm hoping you or one of Miz Arceneau's other associates can help me." She motored past the palpable, discomfited confusion, because frankly, she didn't want to deal with it and it amused her, odd as it was. "This system is known for...bizarre plant life. Flora from all over the galaxy. I'm told that intelligent Dromund Kaas dart flowers live in this system, and even a certain sentient black orchid. I live in the Unknown Regions; first contact with plant species isn't infrequent. I've always worked well with dart flowers, and I'm hoping you can point me in the right direction."

 

[Saffron]

[member="Ashin Varanin"] [member="Spencer Jacobs"]

Another step would bring the Companion to the bottom of the steps. Curious murmurs would come drifting behind her, and an odd elbow would nudge a body as curious eyes would sweep over the two visitors.

Saffron's own curiosity would carefully replace that of her confusion. It was more the name Ashin Varain than the title that managed to perk her interest from the mirror like image of the blonde beside her. Her hazel eyes would sweep from Spencer over to the mocha skinned woman, "I am Saffron... welcome to the Shri-tal Guildhouse."

A pause then she would take another step closer, the delicate scent of her perfume close enough to tickle the senses.

"Ashiin..." memory would stir from when she first drew images of an existence. Another step closer, until she was less than a meter away, the whisper of glistaweb brushing her legs.

"You don't look like her." she'd say with just a hint of a drawl, and perhaps that would come off as confusing, for she meant not the former Empress of the Sith Empire nor the leader of the Vagrant fleet -- but of her sister Ashiin. Her attention would then pan curiously back to Spencer, those hazel eyes tracing over the blonde woman's physique as she would her own reflection.

"...like staring at a pool of water." she'd say, recalling what Danger had told her true. Got a face that would stir heads. A name came to her. One she was supposed to link to her own.

Spencer Jacobs. Queen of Eshan.

"Your majesties." she gave a low curtsy, one that prompted the rest of the companions to follow suit. Proper decorum was to be followed afterall. Her head would rise and she would meet their gaze anew.

"I'd be honored to aid in your search, if you so wish it." following the opening of the new Guildhouse, a survey of the local area as well as that of what flora and fauna inhabited it was a priority for safeguard of the inhabitants. What manner of culture, history, and information that could be given over by the SIlver Jedi Order had been readily handed.

And while no visitors were allowed inside the Guildhouse, Saffron was more than able to be a guide outside of it.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Saffron"] [member="Cira"] [member="Spencer Jacobs"]

"Well, that was downright revelatory," said Ashin with some amusement. "So this is where my clone wound up. And yours, Spence."

Chin raised, eyes narrowed in contemplation, she took in the girl and the situation. She found it, frankly, hilarious.

"Thank you for your welcome, Saffron, and your offer. I think we'll start with a copy of your dossier on the system, if your guildhouse has one. Once we narrow down our target, you'd be-" Her eyes flicked to Spencer, and one corner of her mouth quirked up. "-more than welcome to join us."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer listened to the small pleasantries that were exchanged. The woman in front of her was like a mirror and being the empath in the area she picked up on something coming from Ashin. Narrowed hazel eyes focused on her wife as she listened to the request Ashin had for the companion. The grin and the way she spoke made Spencer aware of what that something in the back of Ashin's mind was. A frown and a quick mental spike to the Empress of the Hand, Spencer attempted to remind Ashin that they were here for business.

Not for what she wanted for her birthday. Looking back towards the woman, she nodded. In a hush tone she sharply whispered to Ashin. “I don't see the resemblance.” [member="Ashin Varanin"] [member="Saffron"]

 

[Saffron]

[member="Ashin Varanin"] [member="Spencer Jacobs"]

A small smile would linger upon Saffrons lips, "My pleasure," she'd say, "If you would but wait a moment," a hand would motion for another Companion trainee to join them.

"Please see our guests settled in the garden," she'd relay, which as much of compromise as any to allow courtesy and to remain within the law of the Guildhouse.

"Your majesties, " would come a young rutian twi'lek's small curtsy, "Please follow me." she'd say, before she would lead them from the docking station towards a small cobble stone path that would wind up towards the mountain. The garden in itself had been designed to utilize as much of the natural beauty as possible, merely finding areas and venues that would relay a measure of relaxation and serenity.

"Would you like any refreshment?" she'd ask, granting them both small cordial smiles.

Meanwhile, Saffron would have made her way inside of the Guildhouse. Inside, she would pass more exotic flora from the nearby Silver Jedi territories, to include flora once thought to only be on the Murakam System. The Force would shift, flowers bonded, and Saffron would give a small smile. A quick transmission to Danger would relay the situation and the arrival of their guests. A few more minutes and confirmation would bring Saffron to the garden with a copy of the dossier.

With a smile, she'd hand over the datachip containing that information.

"A copy of the dossier."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Ashin took no refreshment, her mind entirely elsewhere. "Thank you, [member="Saffron"]," said Ashin with a glance at [member="Spencer Jacobs"], and plugged the chip into her portable datapad. The source that had passed her the foundational information, the first hint, had done so in recompense for a favor Ashin had done involving a certain sword and a certain twi'lek. But that hint had been fragmentary and without context, just the name of a moon and a few topographical details. The datapad ran through the survey; a quick scan confirmed what she'd suspected.

"This is what we needed." She gestured with the datapad and rose. "Our thanks to Miz Arceneau. This'll make for a safer planet and sector both."

[member="Saffron"] [member="Spencer Jacobs"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer followed the pair as she looked around her quickly. There was this buzzing sound in the back of her head, it vibrated and grew louder when Saffron drew closer. It was gone when the woman had left for a moment to talk with the twi’lek. Twitching her nose, she did her best to ignore the buzzing. Something was fishy about all of this and Spencer’s defenses suddenly fell allowing her influence to flow freely.

Find the buzzing. It was the only thing on her mind at the moment, mostly because it was an annoyance. The lovely [member="Saffron"] would soon feel the entirety of Spencer’s force potential along with any other force sensitive individuals in the room. Looking at the refreshment, she took it and nodded showing her thanks. Her mind continued to buzz around searching for the source of the troublesome buzzing.

[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Saffron]

[member="Spencer Jacobs"] [member="Ashin Varanin"]

Buzz buzz buzz. But the smile would linger, "My pleasure, I will be sure to relay that to Miz Arceneau." she'd coo out with a honeyed voice. Curiosity would grow in spades. What were they here for and why did they need that dossier?

"Is there anything else I may be of service with?" she'd ask, turning from Ashin to Spencer with an inquisitive smile.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Jacobs"] [member="Saffron"]

Spencer's commentary was conspicuous by its absence; belatedly, Ashin remembered the difficulties they'd found with SLATE on Soledad, and the reason they'd procured ysalamiri from Dromund Kaas. A feedback loop was humming between Spencer and Saffron; she caught the edges of it through her bond with Spencer. With that in mind...

"Thank you, no," she said. "There's a sort of psychic resonance between you two that I think we all find distracting. Spencer and I, I think, will need to go alone." She reconsidered. "With thanks for your help, perhaps another Companion could accompany us as a guide?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

So they were connected. Spencer pondered it, there was some sort of wavelength issue between them. It would explain the buzzing she heard in the back of her head. Once Saffron took her leave, the buzzing disappeared and Spencer signed softly. The headache she had would soon disappear and she could focus on what they were here for. Speaking of why they were here, Spencer was somewhat in the dark about that. Looking over at Ashin with judgement written all over her face, she narrowed her hazel eyes towards the woman.

"So now that you've recovered what you came for...I think. Why exactly are we here again?" [member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

"Not entertainment," Ashin murmured with a grin. "The system map is all I was after. I'll take that Sivas kid and run a quick raid on the valley. From there...well, it depends on how people respond. We may yet draw out some things worth taking down."

She raised her voice. "Thank you for your time, Companion. Our compliments to Miz Arceneau. We'll be leaving now."

 

[Dredge]

[member="Spencer Jacobs"] [member="Ashin Varanin"] [member="Saffron"]
Location: Path bellow the temple
Objective 1: Get answers
Objective 2: Live long enough to understand answers
Bonus Objective: Revenge baby

Feet kicked wildly in the air, struggling in vain like a criminal who had been hung. Gasps for air were muted and were made in vain. The purpling face of an aged man store forward at something that held him in place, his eyes wide and bloodshot from the pressure around his throat. The kicking began to slow after a while and small gasps of effort let him choke out his last words. "Gah- ack... please, no." He said with life leaving his voice. "Shhhh, it's almost over." Said a demonic and vastly inhuman voice with was followed by a thunderous snap of bones. A large armored hand held the limp body of one of the pristine temple's security guards. Tossing it to the side the corpse lay there twitching and spasming in it's death throws. The hand droped down to the side of its owner and balled itself into a fist next to hellish bone made sword. Moving up the armored torso of the figure the helmet dropped into view to reveal the two red eyes of Dredge.

All around Dredge was a small security outpost at the base of the temple where six plus men were being strung up and nailed to the walls of the building and to the mountain path near it. At lest a dozen Graug and Yuuzhan Vong hung disembowled and eviserated corpses from their posts, smiles and small chuckled of laughter on their face. Entrails hung from bodies and the entire area began to smell with the hot sweet metallic stench of blood. "My lord, we haven't much time. The shuttle shall arrive soon." Dredge scowled and looked up to the temple a few hundred yards away. "Well then, perhaps we should get their attention." The insane ex overlord began to feel rage swirl in him. He felt the betrayal and the malice that we brought on by the fringe. He felt the deaths of all the men who died protecting them, but most of all he felt the pain of all the injuries he had aquired defending their "freedom"

Heat began to radiate off the armor of the late Darth Vulcanus and waves of rippling lines pulsed off the darkside nexus that was within him and the sword. Waves of heat began to erupt into fire, that cast a red aura around him. The Graug and Yuuzhan Vong moved forward and began to roar and chant cries of revenge. Some were survivors of O'reen the battle that claimed the lives of hundreds Yuuzhan Vong. Dredge had no idea how to control the power he wielded, he had no idea what vast power the nexus and darkside of the force could give him. But he knew one thing on how to make his powers work. Get angry, and for Dredge that wasn't the slightest problem.

A bellow of rage and a firey explosion rang through the air like the grand finale of a fireworks show. Fire kissed the air and down bellow on the mountain path walked a tall figure covered in armor, and behind him a dozen Yuuzhan Vong and Graug who would follow Dredge into the slaughterhouse that was the power of the masters he might soon face. With a will of energy he let out one loud and clear name. "ASHIN VARANIN!!!"