https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUQuBBBzx-I
Objective: The Mandalorian Quarter
Nearby:
The long, thin shadow of the Nebulon-B medical frigate passed over the northern hemisphere of the planet.
The
Aurbotha had made the voyage from Roxuli to Olstyn. Though the young Beorni would have preferred to have had more time for the errand of mercy to Roxuli, the field hospital on Roxuli had been established and provisioned. And now the Beorni's priorities had been adjusted for him, bringing him here. It was still a fascinating change from the Order of the Silver Jedi, being in the service to the Iron Empire as much as to Master Théo. Or rather, the two being one-in-the-same.
In this case, the Dawnguard of Midvinter and the Iron Empire were collaborating on diplomatic outreach to the Olstyn governance. The bear imagined that Master Théo was likely to feature heavily in those discussions. Being a Heavenshield was quite a remarkable thing, particularly to a Valkyri.
The fact that Master Théo served the Iron Empire would do much to establish legitimacy with the Valkyri.
"You must be excited."
Glancing up from his cup of tea, the small, white bear looked over at Captain Talus -- the officer who commanded the
Aurbotha. As a Consular Jedi, Kiriko's particular skills favored the rear guard. And so, even while not a Jedi Healer, the boy had come to travel in company with one of the Iron Empire's medical ships.
A not unfavorable arrangement, given the boy's penchant for Force Shields.
Seated in the back of a shuttle voyaging toward the surface, the two were enjoying a cup of tea. A particularly aromatic variety native to the Beorni island on MIdvinter, which paired excellently well with the Corellian tea biscuits. A gift from home that had been addressed to Kiriko and Master Théo from [member="Coci Heavenshield"]. Lowering her tea cup, the frigate captain looked over at the bear -- who had a tea biscuit in either paw at the moment. "I understand Olstyn boasts a rather proud Valkyri culture."
Munching happily on the cookies, the bear seemed to pause a moment at that statement. Finally, swallowing, the cub reached for the small tea pot that rested on the small table between them.
"That's what I'm afraid of," the boy remarked cryptically, pouring a new measure of tea for the captain and himself.
The sad tones were not lost on the woman. "I think there's a lot that I don't know about your homeworld," Talus uttered, as she reaching to bring the tea cup up, cradled between her palms to allow it to cool a moment. "The Valkyri and Beorni coexist there, yes?"
Kiriko gave a wan smile, but the gesture was hard to discern against the tapered curves of his muzzle.
"Ours is a rather long and complicated relationship," the bear offered politely after another moment. Still cryptic, but about as best as anyone could typify the relationship that the Valkyri and Beorni shared.
"But your master is Valkyri, is he not?"
The whites of Kiriko's teeth flashed briefly, as a much more characteristic smile displayed the Beorni's fierce grin.
"He is indeed," the boy answered proudly.
That fact, or revelation, only seemed to cause Captain Talus to grow all the more confused. "I sense you have a great affection for him," the woman remarked finally. "I take it this is not always the case between your people?"
The round ears on the boy's tear twitched slightly.
"Ours is a tale as old of time," Kiriko responded. For a moment, the sound of his own voice recalled to mind the storytellers of the Beorni; the masters of oral tradition from whom much of their history was passed.
"And, like all old tales, it enjoys moments of great joy... and great sadness."
"And complicated," Captain Talus noted, still obviously confused, but seemingly accepting of the idea that such was the most she was going to get from the boy on the matter.
The shuttle jostled slightly. The woman across from him seemed somewhat startled, the conversation having passed the time so well that she was surprised by their arrival.
A minute later, the loading ramp was lowered. The woman in the Iron Empire Navy uniform descended alongside the white-furred bear, she on two legs and the Beorni on four. A small blaster was at her side, and the bear carried no weapons. Just
a collar at his neck and
a leather wrap bracelet on his left forepaw. As the pair arrived at the foot of the loading ramp, a human-looking man was waiting just a few steps beyond the shuttle.
The captain came to a stop as soon as she'd stepped off the ramp. Rearing up on his hind legs, Kiriko rose up to his full height and gave a bow toward the fellow.
"You did not mention that there was a...
Beorni among your crew."
Raising up slowly from out of the bow, the white furred bear folded his forepaws in front of him. If he had to guess, this man was Valkyri. In part at the very least.
Captain Talus seemed taken aback by the sudden animosity, but recovered from it well. "Is there a problem?" she asked, in a neutral enough tone.
The man's gaze peered down at the bear only briefly, then he once again locked eyes on the captain and spoke as though Kiriko were not standing there at all. "Where are you taking this..." the man began, trailing off as he seemed to struggle to find an appropriate epitaph. "...
thing."
"The Mandalorian Quarter," the young Beorni stated, speaking for himself.
"If you will permit me, si..."
"Tell your Beorni he should
speak only when
spoken to," the man snapped, again to the captain as though the padawan were not standing there.
"You do my master much disrespect," Kiriko noted. Not in an aggressive manner, but rather in a seemingly forlorn one. One resigned to the fact that bigotry existed, and there was naught he could do about the arrogance of some men.
"I shall convey your words to him. Or perhaps, you would prefer to do so when he arrives?"
"I do not care who your..."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Kiriko uttered, interrupting the man.
"We were getting along so well, I must have neglected to have made introduction," the small Beorni said, before gesturing toward the woman beside him.
"This is Captain Talus, of the Aurbotha. And I am Kiriko of Midvinter, padawan learner to Master [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]
, son of Thurion."
The man bristled. Jaw clenched. Knuckles white. It was a piece of news he was obviously less than pleased with. When he finally spoke, he gravely remarked, "You have no claim to Midvinter,
beast."
The cub merely tilted his head as he looked up at the man. Softly, he answered,
"You say that as though you do."
The man's complexion had started to turn a most curious shade of red-violet. In particular, there was a vein that became quite pronounced against his right temple. "I will not waste any further time with you,
Beorni," the fellow spat, speaking from between clenched teeth. "I shall address this insult with your betters."
"No, you will address it with my friends," Kiriko quipped back in reply, before adding,
"In which endeavor, I should wish you both luck and good health..."
A pause.
"...you may need it."
Dropping back onto all fours, the Beorni strolled past the man without a second glance. Captain Talus followed closely after.
"I was not expecting that," the woman remarked, quite candidly.
"The Valkyri are a very proud people," Kiriko remarked, with a surprising amount of sadness.
"Particularly so about their gods and their history... which, for very long, omitted the fact that my people exist. Let alone that we did so before them, and passed our culture and ways down to them."
Stopping a moment, the small bear turned his head up to look at the woman.
"In this, our existence challenges what they believe about themselves to be true."
"I think I understand what you meant now," Captain Talus said finally. "Long... and complicated."
