Private Hypergate Medicine

[Onrai]

Quinn Varanin
Ord Mantell

Ord Mantell's newfound prosperity had proven to be quite beneficial. That the Trade Federation had approached regarding making deals for the newfound sources of tibanna gas had already proven to that. Tourism was through the roof and the casinos were full of avaricious patrons hoping to beat the house, break the bank, or simply to hit a jackpot beyond their wildest dreams. Onrai's efforts had been rewarded, especially since every casino by law was now entitled to display house odds at every table and on every game. The sense of certified fairness had encouraged prominent gamblers from around the galaxy to come to Ord Mantell in an attempt to hit the big one.

She doubted they would, but perhaps it was a possibility.

Within the museum that had been the former Government House, in the entertainment capital of Whorlport, Onrai had begun to work on an incredibly ambitious project. Having traveled to the Old City of Tython and observed the hypergate hidden within, Onrai wondered whether or not it would be possible to create a hypergate and connect it to the gate in question, allowing for nigh-instantaneous travel between one of the critical core worlds and her own. Aside from the potential economic values, the ability to make a swift retreat from one world to another would prove particularly valuable.

So it was that she was at the museum, enjoying the relics of the Mantellian past while waiting for updates from the team producing such a creation.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Onrai //:

The quiet of the museum startled me with the echoing sound of expensive heels. A woman casually worked her way down the pathways of art, enshrined for protection and admiration. A twinge of concern surrounded her heart, wondering if she would ever become priceless like the art behind the glass. Quinn paused at relics she had recognized in her studies under her mother and Master. Each tells a story of the planet and its past, stories that only fueled what the future held for Ord Mantell.

It was a planet Quinn had never found herself fond of. It was boring and lacked the luster of planets such as Eshan. Yet, being practically banned from her homeworld, she learned to appreciate others. It had been some time since she had returned to Ord Mantell, but it seemed time hadn't tarnished it as much as it had other planets.

"Ms. Varanin," a woman's voice echoed as she stood behind the Princess. Quinn ignored the summon momentarily but then relinquished her attention to the elder. "Um," the woman started, startled by the sudden attention of the Princess, "Did you wish to know more about the piece you're looking at?" The older Echani woman stood near the young royal; she had been entrusted to keep the Princess company and answer any question she had. Quinn paused, reading the nervousness of the other Echani. One thing that stuck out was that the woman hadn't grown up with Echani parents or wasn't raised in the culture's way.

"No, I'm fine. You don't have to waste your time with me anymore. You're free to go." The Curator of the museum stood dumbfounded for a moment and then bowed. She didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing that she was dismissed so easily by the Princess. "I will be ready to answer any questions you have, Ms. Varanin." Quinn paused for a moment and nodded, silently acknowledging the curator. As the woman walked away, she focused on another relic, standing near another woman ( Onrai ) who seemingly was a guest just like herself.

 

[Onrai]

Quinn Varanin

The piece in question was an oddly worn sculpt of statuary. A central figure was carved out of brilliant stone, its facets and form half-preserved on one side of its face clearly identifying it as a woman of some great and ethereal countenance. Kneeling at the figure’s feet was another robed figure, a man judging from the intact facial profile, ornately garbed in the trappings of a socioreligious leader. The otherwise impressive shrine was marred by acid rain, the woman’s features half-etched to an unnatural smoothness and the back of the man’s robes disintegrated just as much to a formless lump of stone that some colonists would call “smooth as a baby’s bottom.” Vanessa continued observing the statuary, noticing the older Echani woman.

“A shrine piece.” She said, in response to Quinn’s observations. “Recovered from the long decrepit ruins of a Cathedral Ship during the recent rapid terraforming of the world. Chancellor Contispex the First kneels before the Goddess in supplication as she bids him her mandate to spread her worship throughout the galaxy.” It took a moment to place her - she knew everyone who was local to the world, after all - before a sense of recognition came to her eyes as she turned to give her full attention to the Varanin.

“It’s been a long time, Quinn. I haven’t seen you since the apprentice tryouts many decades ago.” The fact that Vanessa appeared identically to her former self minus the more simplistic black robes was certainly a curiosity, but not unexpected - her transfiguration and youthfulness were certainly normative for a Sith. The odd sense of wrongness, of aberrancy, though, was present, a sense that behind her lurked the sort of abominations Quinn’s mother had once summoned via the Taurannik Codex many decades ago yet lived in beneath the sense of apparent human form.

“What brings you to my new paradise world?” She asked, curious as to Quinn’s thoughts on the transfiguration of the Bright Jewel system from a wretched junkheap to a clean and efficient multipurpose set of worlds.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Onrai //:

Quinn listened to the voice that spoke after the other woman was dismissed. Tilting her head, she could see the scene that the woman was describing, and she was curious as to why this man put all his faith into a demanding goddess. Couldn't she enact her will without worship if she was powerful enough to be a goddess? She had several questions that seemingly didn't have answers. As she turned to face the woman, she thanked her for her wisdom. The woman responded by recognizing her.

"Oh," She started, her mind searching to place the brunette beside her. "Yes, it's been some time, doesn't feel like it, though," she responded; it was curious she stated decades, but somehow, and some way, it did feel that long ago. Quinn was young and stupid, but those years were filled with heartache. The young Princess smiled a smile meant for politeness as she relaxed her shoulders.

"The years seem kind to you," Quinn commented on the woman's ageless appearance. The Sith was one of two things, old and decrepit or young and beautiful. Onrai, like many other Sith before her, chose the latter. Quinn looked back at the relic, examining its story once more. "My mother always said I was too sheltered growing up, and my time in the Empire has shown it." Familiar hazel eyes would look back at the Sith Lord, Quinn being a nearly identical clone of her birth mother, Spencer. "So I decided to venture to different planets, particularly ones my parents seemed interested in. Maybe I could learn something beyond their training."

Quinn's eyes wandered at the different artifacts and then raised an eyebrow. There was an odd sense like the Sith before her. Something wasn't right, and she could feel a chill cling to the nape of her neck. Quinn tried to ignore it, knowing that the woman was a colleague of her parents. Indeed, no harm would come to the estranged Princess. She tried to ignore it and focused on revitalizing the planet's system.

"Paradise?" she questioned. "From what my parents have told me about you, I feel like this isn't something that I should be surprised at. You were skilled with plants and biology if I am correct?" Quinn did her best to pull information from her parents' stories and warnings about the galaxy at large. "So, how did you turn this place into a paradise? What experiments are you conducting here?"

 

[Onrai]

Quinn Varanin

“A part of me misses those days. Life was a lot simpler.” The former Sith Lord mused over her current situation compared to back then. Raw, unfettered acquisition of power and maintaining control of it had been good, certainly, but with her more recent enlightenment, there were, to say the least, bigger things to consider. Power for power’s sake was no longer a viable way to live. In response to Quinn’s compliment regarding her still youthful visage, she smiled, bringing a hand up to her cheek. “It’s more than years, certainly, but thank you. I’m glad to see the galaxy has been good to you as well.”

The now-inquisitive nature of Quinn did bring a smile to Vanessa’s face. “I can understand that. There’s a tremendous amount of information to learn, especially if one wants to dive into the greater mysteries of the galaxy.” There it was, the first hint, the first fragment of Vanessa’s present schema. “Knowledge is power, especially about things most forgotten. And if there’s anything I can give you knowledge-wise, I would be more than happy to. Familial obligations, certainly, but sharing knowledge of what I’ve come across is always a good thing.”

As Vanessa came over to Quinn, the aberrant sensation remained present. Quinn’s comments about her past research and scientific endeavors caused her to laugh. “That was simple work compared to rapid terraforming processes. I first started with Kinoss and Ool back in the time of the Maw, only to refine my techniques once Ord Mantell was secured by the Empire. The air is pure, the surface is either filled with efficient factories or comfortable scenery. Gambling, food, and entertainment are now luxurious as opposed to squalid. The burden on my followers - many of whom are survivors of the empire your mother once ruled - is light, and they live productive, enjoyable lives. Even the Galactic Alliance never considered improving such, which makes this a coup of propaganda for the Empire.”

She pondered for a moment. “I suppose there is one experiment I’m conducting that might be worth showing, aside from a general tour of the world. Come.” She motioned for Quinn to walk with her as she headed to another place within the museum complex.