Private Tell Them What You Saw | Naboo

[Rayne Lo'to]

Tell Them What You Saw
Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Rayne Runner | Trash Mobile Home
​

After discovering that she had been punched rather unceremoniously by a member of the royal guard, Rayne was instructed by the Jedi to seek out "Her Excellency, the Voice of Naboo." Apparently they were to have sent word so that she may meet with her in the royal capital of Theed. Rayne, for her part, was not eager to meet with this person. "Her Excellency" was certainly a noble title if she had ever heard one. She already felt inadequate talking to all of those Jedi people. Surely this would be even more of a disaster.

It felt wrong to be in such a nice place and be wearing a simple jumpsuit. Not like Rayne had other options of what to wear. She owned very little, just her work clothes and pajamas. It wasn't that she hadn't looked longingly at a dress or two from afar, they just weren't in her budget. Of course, the other struggle she continued to have was the loss of her ship. Without it, Rayne was a bit stranded on Naboo, and her funds were admittedly limited. Everything she needed was still back on Mothership Hera, hidden away in the planet's orbit. If anything, maybe this discussion could at least get her off of the planet. She had doubts that the soldier in question would ever be punished for their actions. It wasn't like she was anybody of particular interest or value. Not beside a king.

Eventually she found herself in an office-sized space, one with a meeting table surrounded by five or so chairs. Even this meeting room was lavish, decorated by various plants, ornate hanging lights, and stained glass sprinkled about in modest implementation. The young Twi'lek woman felt her stomach turn at the sight of this place alone, her Lekku curling in on themselves.

She wasn't supposed to be here.

Even so, Rayne sat herself down in a chair. That is where she remained, stiff and unmoving. Almost unblinking, even. She was just trying her best to focus on staying calm. The last thing she needed to do was wind up doing something stupid in front of the Voice of Naboo.

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Rayne Lo'to

Sibylla followed a step behind Corde, her hands folded neatly at her waist, her expression the perfect picture of composure to the point of serenity. Outwardly, she was every inch the Voice of Naboo. Inwardly, however, she was already tallying the ways King Aurelian Veruna the Second was going to regret this particular delegation of duty.

Voice and King, indeed.

Aurelian had the devilish penchant to vanish the moment the matter involved nobles, merchants, or common citizens with grievances, citing 'pressing affairs' that somehow now involved ancient curios, Force anomalies, or that infuriating little orb that muted the Force and Tech alike. Fascinating, he had called it. The wretched man -- he would pay for this later.

Although truth be told, he'd likely say he was looking forward to it.

The faint warmth in Sibylla's cheeks at the thought thankfully could be blamed on blush. At least that was her way of convincing herself as she scattered the inappropriate thoughts from her mind.

As the doors opened, Sibylla stepped into the office and let diplomacy settle into place over her heartshaped face in a composed but cordial expression. Her regalia whispered softly as she crossed the room, the delicate chains of her headdress chiming faintly against her cheek.

"I apologize for the wait, Ms. Lo'to," she said gently, gesturing for the woman to remain seated. "My previous appointment went longer than anticipated."

Sibylla took her seat, offering an encouraging smile meant to soothe rather than impress.

"Please, make yourself comfortable," she continued with a warm tone, "I understand you were present at the Black Mire. I would appreciate hearing, in your own words, what you experienced."

 

[Rayne Lo'to]

Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Rayne Runner | Trash Mobile Home
​

"I will do my best, Your Excellency..." Rayne answered, careful to add her honorific.

A young woman, maybe a few years younger than herself. She looked like she could still be a teen, if on the verge of no longer being so. She was dressed immaculately, and wore the sort of smile you'd expect to read about in a fairy tale for children. She was way out of her depth.

"Apologies for the... device," she added as she spoke through her vocoder, though it was completely unnecessary. She was just self-conscious and unsure of what was fully proper. "I have no voice of my own... Right. I am a traveling... salvager. I refurbish and sell goods that are... antique. I had brought some of my stock here to sell. The vessel I arrived here on was left at the spot where that... shadow was. I'm unsure of what became of it. It wasn't recovered..."

Now Rayne was beginning to worry as she began to wonder what it was that she was actually doing. Was she making political enemies? She wasn't a politician. All of this was well below her paygrade. Now she was beginning to wonder if revenge was common, or if anyone would perceive her as a snitch of some sort.

The kinds of powerful people who maybe wouldn't want any stains on their reputation. Even so, she continued.

"There was... discussion about entering the substance," the Twi'lek woman continued. "I though it reasonable to offer some of my equipment to aid. I had the head of an old probe droid that I was planning to give so it's recording functions could be used to see into the void, in exchange for a ride off planet. Then, I was..."

A little sweat formed on her brow.

"I was informed that a member of the royal guard had struck me in the head. I'm... unsure of what followed. I was not conscious."

Rayne was really hoping now that she wouldn't regret this...

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Rayne Lo'to

By the time Rayne finished, sympathy had settled in first within Sibylla, followed closely by a quieter frustration; not at Rayne, of course not, but because of the outcome. At the needless roughness of it all.

With a soft jingle of her headdress, Sibylla's fingers moved almost automatically as she drew her datapad closer, drawing and pulling incident logs, guard rotations, medical intakes from the Mire site. Hazel eyes flicked between the screen and the Twi'lek in an attentive but consolatory manner.

"I apologize," Sibylla said, and meant it. "For the injury and for how abruptly this was handled."

She inclined her head slightly, acknowledging the reality without excusing it.

"The Black Mire was a unique and unstable environment, especially with the previous assassination attempt against the King of Naboo, which explains heightened caution." Her eyes lifted, resolute. "It does not justify striking a civilian who was offering assistance."

Her stylus paused as she bookmarked a report for later review.

"You were acting in good faith," she continued in a gentler voice. "And you should not have been left injured, unconscious, and without recourse. I will see to it that this is properly examined."

She took another breath and then gave a nod.

"To begin, I will need details regarding the vessel you lost," Sibylla said, meeting Rayne's eyes. "Its make, registration if available, distinguishing features as well."

Her datapad chimed softly as a new file opened.

"And if you have any receipts, manifests, or prior sale records that can help corroborate its value," she added in a reassuring rather than demanding tone, requesting Miss Lo'to's assistance, "please provide those as well....even partial documentation will help."

 

[Rayne Lo'to]

Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Rayne Runner | Trash Mobile Home
​

"And you should not have been left injured, unconscious, and without recourse. I will see to it that this is properly examined."

"I don't think it was an order given to the soldier," Rayne added. She didn't wanna wind up an enemy of the king, and she was pretty sure he didn't order it. "If... that helps."

When she was asked to explain the vessel she lost, Rayne nodded and procured a data pad from her utility belt. She quickly scrolled through her files, trying to not let all the cheesy romance novels she read be seen, so that she could bring up the vessel's records. She then handed it over.

"There's the salvage record," the Twi'lek stated. "It was Y-Wing dated to about 800 ABY, recovered from Corellia a year ago. I performed maintenance on it and have really only been using it for sublight travel. It's... not really worth much. I just need something to get myself back to my stash."

She knew she'd get almost no money back. What she really needed was a way to get off of the planet. As of currently, Rayne was stranded, and she was mostly getting by haggling. A way to get back to her own bed and fill her belly was the best that she could ask for at the moment. Beggars can't be choosers, and Rayne wasn't particularly fond of begging. She'd much rather get all of this over with so she could avoid any more embarrassment.

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Rayne Lo'to

Sibylla listened closely, taking notes and giving a small, acknowledging nod at Rayne's clarification.

"That does help," she said evenly. "Thank you for saying so."

She accepted the datapad, her gaze skimming the salvage record with practiced ease. Her stylus moved as she made a few quick notes, tagging dates, recovery location, and condition reports. Not much monetary value, perhaps, but that wasn't the true cost that Sibylla was looking for -- wait, what was this?

Cosmic Courtship
Across the Universe. An intergalactic diplomat and an alien prince embark on a journey filled with political intrigue and forbidden passion. As they strive to prevent an interstellar war, their growing bond becomes both their greatest strength and their most vulnerable weakness.

Wait...is this a novel? But As Sibylla read on, her eyes gave the subtlest widening as she skimmed a particularly heated scene --

Oh my.

Sibylla cleared her throat, then moved the tab aside and checked for other relevant items on the ship. Although she did mentally note down the author of the novel....

"I see," Sibylla murmured, then she offered the datapad back to Rayne, never mind the slight pink tint over her cheeks as she tried to maintain her composure.

"You should not be stranded on Naboo because of this," she added with a firm but kind tone, "Especially not after offering assistance in good faith. If you would be amicable, I would like to be able to replace your ship."

After another brief notation, Sibylla looked up again, her expression softening.

"But I would first need to make a quick call to determine the best way forward."

 

[Rayne Lo'to]

Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Rayne Runner | Trash Mobile Home
​

Rayne was a bit too dazed to notice the young woman blushing. She was just happy to hear that she was getting anything to get off the planet. A dorky smile plastered itself on her face as the Voice of Naboo expressed her desire to give the Twi'lek a new ship, so she all but missed the fact that her growing guilty pleasure hobby of reading Lady Velvet had been seen.

"But I would first need to make a quick call to determine the best way forward."

"Oh, right. Okay. Thank you... so much." Rayne responded with a nod. "Yeah. That's fine, you can do that. Do you need me to... like, step out for that or anything?"

She was getting a new ship out of this, so the least she could do is be accommodating.

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Rayne Lo'to Niki Priddy

Sibylla offered Rayne a reassuring smile and gave a small shake of her head.

"No, that is quite alright," she said gently. "It would be best, in fact, in the event Ms. Priddy wishes to ask you a few questions directly."

With that, Sibylla turned slightly and activated the holoarray beside her desk. It chimed softly as a secure channel opened, pale light blooming in the air.

"Ms. Priddy, I hope I have not disturbed you," Sibylla began, her tone efficient but warm. "Please let me introduce to you Ms. Rayne Lo'to, civilian salvager in my office who lost her vessel, a salvaged Y-Wing during the Black Mire incident."

As she spoke, Sibylla lifted her datapad and began transmitting details through an encrypted connection.

"I would like to provide her with a replacement vessel," she continued.

"Something reliable, sublight-capable at minimum. Enough to get her back to her stored goods and onward, but also suited to her work."

Those hazel eyes flicked briefly back to Rayne with a reassuring smile before returning to the holo.

"What do you have in mind?"

 

[Niki Priddy]

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes Rayne Lo'to

The holographic image flickered to life with Niki centered in view. A hat perched atop her head as a smile was shared to the two. Her hand retreating from activating the device with a slight wave as her eyes moved between Sibylla and Rayne briefly.

<Ms. Abrantes–> Her hands came together as she bowed slightly in a small display of respect toward Sibylla and her guest. <Never a bother.>

A confused glance toward her unknown twi'lek companion before introductions were made. A careful nod shared to Rayne before her hand slid out of view for a short time.

<Never a bother.>

Eyes scanning the room now as her brow furrowed slightly. Lost her ship during the Black Mire incident? Her gaze directed to the datapad that had seen better days. Securing the connection on her end as her hand slid back into view with a pleased smile. Her eyes sliding over the pieced together vocoder the woman had. It was not simply suggestions of a being who made their living off the scrap of the galaxy.

But a lived truth.

A noble profession, if looked down upon by certain beings of the galaxy. But scrappers made the places they visited a bit safer by removing the remnants of battles that might clog the major arteries of the commerce or daily life.

Cleaned space lanes and battlefields of the forgotten things. All before hauling their potential sales to whoever had the right amount of credits.

What struck Niki though was the setting itself. A formal office, tense posture of the twi'lek, and a look Sibylla leveled at her own holographic form that suggested a meeting that had perhaps changed course.

<You wouldn't happen to be cleaning up a professionally made mess, would you Ms. Abrantes?> Amusement creeping into her smile before waving her hand as if to dismiss the thought. <Never you mind that.>

Allowing herself a moment to enjoy the look on Sibylla's face before changing gears entirely.

<Ms. Lo'to, I will ask what are you comfortable piloting. A starfighter and a small freighter are two very different dewbacks after all.> The amusement and cheer leaving her features as her hip cocked to one side and a yellow viper appeared in her hand as if by magic.

<If you are looking to remain in a smaller, more manageable vessel, I may have some products coming through design teams in the near future that might suit your interest if what I have currently is insufficient.> Her hand rose as something floated across her holographic image before disappearing only to be projected onto the datapad in Sibylla's hand.

Leaning into her cocked hip a bit more and beginning to speak on the matter of starships and small freighters. <But for scrapping, I do have a Salvage and Support Vessel for salvage operational use that also serves as home and storage. A bit larger than your y-wing but also with far more flexibility in use. Or. A Valiant-class Combat Transport as a simple mass hauler prior to a customized model. I will note that all of these vessels come standard with easy to maintain sub-light systems and a class two hyperdrive that operate on a singular fuel type for easy maintenance, storage, refilling, and expected performance. > Her hand rising to wave once again as a different model appeared on the datapad screen.

<Sticking to a smaller craft. An X-94 Vanguard-class Multirole Starfighter would be a potential fill in for a starfighter option, at least until a custom model is off the line as a test run. Otherwise, I can call up a few items that are still in development for preview if those are not to your taste.>

 

[Rayne Lo'to]

Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes , Niki Priddy

Rayne Runner | Trash Mobile Home
​

"No, that is quite alright," she said gently. "It would be best, in fact, in the event Ms. Priddy wishes to ask you a few questions directly."

"Right..."

Rayne sat up a little again when there was a new person in their meeting, via holocall but still present nonetheless. Niki Priddy. Her hat was quite fashionable. Perhaps the owner of a company? It made sense then why she was in a position to present replacements. Rayne hoped she wouldn't be in debt after receiving a favor like this...

<Ms. Lo'to, I will ask what are you comfortable piloting. A starfighter and a small freighter are two very different dewbacks after all.>

"I've flown all sizes of ship," Rayne answered with her vocoder. Fortunately it didn't have any inflection of tone to betray her stress. "I wouldn't really have any issues with anything you provide..."

Not that she would complain anyways. She was just happy to have a ship.

When Miss Priddy began to list off the options, however, Rayne's stomach began to turn again. They all sounded rather... expensive. She definitely didn't need a combat transport, and while the starfighter sounded appealing it was the salvage and support vessel that truly captured her attention. That sounded... perfect. Was she even really in a position to ask for something like that? Then again, they were freely offering it. Maybe it was better not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"I would say that the Salvage and Support Vessel sounds the most appealing to my needs..." she noted. "If... that is okay, ma'am."

This was shaping up to be the strangest week of her life.

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Rayne Lo'to Niki Priddy

<You wouldn't happen to be cleaning up a professionally made mess, would you Ms. Abrantes?>

The fact that Niki picked up on this right away made SIbylla wonder whether she should laugh or just shake her head. Instead, she did her best to keep her composure, even a faint twitch of her lips said enough.

"Thank you for your time," Sibylla added, then gave Niki and Rayne time to discuss. When the Twi'lek asked if what was discussed was okay, Sibylla's heart-shaped face warmed with a soft, encouraging smile.

Technically, she was cleaning up after the whole fiasco with Aurelian, but in this aspect, she could assure Rayne that this was okay.

"It is quite all right, I would like you to have a proper replacement vessel for your needs."

 

[Niki Priddy]

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes | Rayne Lo'to

Sometimes, distance was a blessing.

The finer creasing of her features hopefully muddled by the faint lines and static filled blurbs of the holoprojector for either of them to notice. Unable to keep her reaction entirely from being seen. It was better than the improper reaction she had desired to dabble in with the fact that her silly jest had been factual.

<I see.> Dropping the topic as she looked to something off screen screen. <One Salvage and Support Vessel will be sent to–>

Niki visibly paused. Eyes moving from a datapad on her side of the call to look between Sibylla and Rayne with a curious squint.

<Ms. Abrantes, will there be an arrangement for Ms. Lo'to to reside on Naboo until her request can be delivered?> The question was simple enough, but her tone shifted slightly. The familiar warmth now cooler, and words hiding an edge beneath them. A stare now firmly settled on Sibylla to examine her response in every measurable sense.

 

[Rayne Lo'to]

Naboo
Tags: Niki Priddy , Sibylla Abrantes

Rayne Runner | Trash Mobile Home
​

<Ms. Abrantes, will there be an arrangement for Ms. Lo'to to reside on Naboo until her request can be delivered?>

A place to reside on Naboo? Rayne hadn't even thought about that at all. She had been a bit all over the place, so she hadn't even stopped to consider that she would be here longer depending on how long of a journey her new ship would be on. A sheepish expression came to her face. This was far too much that these people were offering. Nar Shaddaa, where she had grown up, hadn't been like this at all.

"I can... book a stay in a hotel or something if necessary..." Rayne reasoned.

The Twi'lek was, of course, lying. She couldn't afford that. Not anywhere around here. It would've helped to have her walker, but the Rayne Runner had been left on Mothership Hera because she hadn't expected to be on Naboo longer than a day.

So if they really insisted she wasn't exactly in a position to say no.

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Niki Priddy Rayne Lo'to

Will there be an arrangement…

Internally, Sibylla composed a most satisfactory reckoning. Aurelian Veruna would answer for this, not in credits alone but in time, attention, and those obligations he so artfully evaded. There were meetings he loathed, duties he pretended not to hear, and she took a certain private comfort in the order in which she might present them.

As amused as she was, it was her thoughts, however, that took an unhelpful turn, as she recalled the curious holonovel's excerpt she had glimpsed earlier quite by accident. The notion that he might find pleasure in such penance was entirely inappropriate, and she had to wipe those thoughts immediately away!

She cleared her throat, restoring propriety.

"We can provide an arrangement to ensure that Ms. Lo'to has a place to stay in Theed," Sibylla replied, offering a reassuring smile and a gentle nod.

Then, as though anticipating any objection, she added calmly,

"Through no expense of your own, Ms. Lo'to."

 

[Niki Priddy]

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes | Rayne Lo'to

Her form did not appear to move as Rayne offered a solution.

An answer that did not appeal to the business woman on the other end of the holocall. Hand clenching tight as nails began to press their refined ends into her palm. The cool of Niki's expression deepening to annoyance at the thought of Rayne spending her own credits after being wronged by those who should have, by all accounts, been protecting people around them.

Not simply as example, but by creed.

That such was not the case, and the fact that this situation had even occurred only reinforced how Niki felt about certain beings and their titles within the galaxy at large.

<You will not–> Niki had turned her words to Rayne. Sharp and angry when Sibylla reassured her that arrangements would be made.

The words being absorbed. Cooling anger and settling Niki as the last few words from Sibylla seemed to help the woman return to her prior mood.

<Ah.> Her hands coming together in a thankful gesture to Sibylla. <Excellent. I will be arriving with the replacement ship in roughly two weeks to ensure all of the details are properly handled.>

 

[Rayne Lo'to]

Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes , Niki Priddy

Rayne Runner | Trash Mobile Home
​

Rayne tried her best not to shrink away when Niki seemed to get rather upset at the idea of her covering her own stay. She sure seemed really insistent that she be accommodated. The Twi'lek woman was certainly not gonna say no now. Not that she was going to anyways, but that really sealed the deal.

"That sounds really great," her vocoder answered, "Thank you."

On the inside, though, she was screaming. That little glimmer of intensity was enough to make her wonder what she, or rather the evil dark void cloud of doom, had just gotten herself into. Two more weeks of this?

Anything could happen in that amount of time.

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Niki Priddy Rayne Lo'to

Sibylla picked up the growing anger coming from Niki at the prospect that Ms. Lo'to would need to pay for her own accommodations, but thankfully, offering to ensure the Salvager would not need to spend her own credits soothed the genius engineer shipwright.

She would certainly hate to be on the woman's bad side.

"Good. It is settled. Thank you for your guidance, Ms. Priddy. Please feel free to reach out to me should you need or have any questions." Sibylla then turned to Rayna.

"If you have any questions, please feel free to relay them. For the present time, I will have my Handmaiden Saide assist with getting you settled."

 

[Rayne Lo'to]

Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes , Niki Priddy

Rayne Runner | Trash Mobile Home
​

"If you have any questions, please feel free to relay them. For the present time, I will have my Handmaiden Saide assist with getting you settled."

Handmaiden?

This was going to be a really fancy place, wasn't it? Growing up on Nar Shaddaa wasn't easy. Many would assume that it would make an individual rigid and cold, put them off to that sort of luxury. For Rayne, however, it did the exact opposite. There was always that little worm in the back of her mind that craved that kind of comfort. It was almost a pavlovian response, and like a purse dog she had little will to fight it. Why not let herself spend a few days in some luxury suite?

It's not like she had anywhere to go after all.

"No questions..." Rayne's vocoder responded. "I'll... let you know if something comes up..."

She hoped that this would be the last of her woes. Rayne knew better than to count on such a thing, though. She seemed to always attract trouble.

 

[Niki Priddy]

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes | Rayne Lo'to

<No trouble at all. Thank you for calling, and I do hope to find you well when I arrive, Ms. Lo'to. Enjoy the accommodations to their fullest.> Niki gave a slight bow before the projector shut down.

Her hands finally turned upward. Streaks of crimson darkening her gloves beyond black as she breathed deep. Eyes closing briefly before picking up Revy and moving with slow measured paces towards the range that was being worked on.

She was already plotting the travel points in her mind as the slide racked. The first round emitting a thunderous crack of stress relief in range practice as five Jumpers were being briefed on Niki's quiet assignment.

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Rayne Lo'to Niki Priddy

Sibylla inclined her head, satisfaction settling quietly into place as the channel closed and arrangements set themselves in motion. Rayne's agreement was tentative but sincere, and that, at least, was something she could work with.

"Very well," Sibylla said gently. "You will be shown to your accommodations shortly. Saide will see that you have everything you require."

She allowed herself a small, knowing smile.

"Rest," she added empathically, the headdress giving a slight melodic jingle, "You have had more than enough of upheaval for one day. We will speak again once matters are complete. Should you desire to explore Naboo or the like, please feel free."

Saide came in, dressed in her cowled garment, giving a slight incline before gesturing for the Salvager to follow.

As Rayne was guided from the office, Sibylla let out a small breath, fingers resting against the edge of her desk. As ever, Naboo endured because someone chose to care where others had not. At the very least, within two weeks, Ms. Lo'to would have a new ship for her troubles.

And somewhere, she reflected with mild, private amusement, a King was accruing a debt he would most certainly be made to answer for.