Location: Fortressa -
[Outside Meeting Rooms/Lounge]
Mr. Taff seemed to take her simple deductions in stride. It was a quality that most Chiss seemed to display, thinking logically, and finding sound resolutions to all problems. A pale smile, cheerless and colorless, crossed chilly features when he mentioned turning his efforts into trap.
“That has potential. As long as you know your enemy, better than they know you.”
Of course, he brought up [member="Ginnie Verd"]. He would not see the regret, not the pain, that welled beneath her breastbone at the mere mention of her name. He would not know that despite the brave and dauntless face the Vicelord wore that he, too, suffered the loss. The thought of losing family was soul-wrenching to an Echani. The circumstances of her sacrifice…It was even worse. So much worse. He apologized for his leave and a soft sigh rolled through her. His replacement was already underway out of necessity. They could not leave it open lest they fall behind other nations in technological advances.
“I wish you had not.”, she murmured truthfully, seeming to grow distant, as silver eyes darkened at the memory of Maramere.
There was only so much sorrow the heart could take.
“By the time we found out about the arrangements it was already too late. Not to mention, I’m not certain, we would be entirely welcome. She died for our people. We failed her.”, Srina responded as honestly as she knew how. Her eyes closed. Guilt was a mesmerizing thing. She had never met Ginnie Verd. She had not known her. Yet, through Darth Metus, just as she suffered through his first fiery death, she know this chocolate eyed woman. She was smart, intelligent, and resourceful.
She was gone.
“The office of the Vicelord will mourn alone.”
The topic of conversation shifted and Srina was almost grateful for it. She did not like discussing things that required tact and delicacy for long. She could kill a man in a hundred different ways without breaking a sweat, but when it came to loss, the Echani felt inept. The price had been clear, mathematically. One life versus the lives of hundreds.
One. It was the logical choice, the correct choice, but it didn’t make the consequences any easier to swallow. Her ghost kept returning.
Over and over…
Srina wished nothing more for her than life or some semblance of peace.
Though her face had smoothed of all concern, she still worried, that Mr. Taff was expecting some sort of opposition at this function. He seemed positive that he wanted her to accompany him. Why else, if not for some sort of protection, or anticipation of a problem? He went one to admit that he could not dance, and that infact, he had loved before. Srina struggled with the concept. It was foreign to her, as if he were speaking another language, in a decibel that she could not hear.
“I can accompany you, Mr. Taff, if my timetable permits it.”
She paused, that being said, once again rolling his small speech over in her mind. It felt like she was missing something vital from this exchange.
“The feeling that you speak of…I do not know it. I’m afraid I can’t begin to understand that which I have never known. Forgive me, my shortcomings, because I cannot say the same. That being said, if this is still what you wish, you are a good and loyal friend. I will save the date.”
[member="Rex Taff"]
He was in his stealth ship, so most of the defences didn't see him coming and those that did would still register it as a CIS ship. He was quite glad he left that on his ship for now. He could splice it off later. He entered a hanger bay and walked into the main ship. No one commented on him as he went as they recognised his armour pattern. If the old minister for science was here, he was here for a reason. He opened himself to the force looking for Srina. Either he would find her or she would find him.
