Private The Quiet Between Jumps

[Lysander von Ascania]

Danger Arceneau​

Mother Arceneau,

I swear my mind’s been punching through the stars long before the hyperdrive sang its song.

Taul sure was a blur of bug spray and glitterstim.

But it offered a gift: more glitterstim.

Now I’m carrying enough to light up Coruscant’s underbelly for a night.

I’ve been staring at my datapad, trying to come up with a clever reason to message you. Something tactical. Something that sounds like I’ve got it together. But truth is, I just wanted to talk to you again. I’ve been enjoying our messages more than I expected, and now that our job’s wrapped, I just couldn’t resist the urge to reach out.

Your messages stick with me longer than most things do.

I’ve been teaming up with this perpetual pissy Mandalorian lady who still hasn’t removed her fancy beskar armor since we met. So, my suspicions all these years are correct.

It’s basically proof that Mandalorians skip showers like it’s part of the creed.

Pretty sure her vambraces are fixin’ to grow lichen.

Anyway, you won’t believe what job we’re taking next.

Black Sun’s offering 50,000 credits per exotic beast delivered alive to Nar Kanji’s fighting pits. The list’s a nightmare too: Felucian Rancor, Rathtar, Zakkeg, Gundark, Oggdo.

I’ll send word after I wrangle one. Or two. Can you imagine me with a Rancor in the cargo bay? And don’t you worry, I’ll grab a quick holo-snap and send it your way so you know I’m not lying!

I know you’ve got an entire galaxy to manage, but if you ever feel like sharing more of your world.. like what you’re working on, what’s been making you cuss louder than you did at me back on Ruusan, what's your edible coping mechanism.. I’d love to hear it! No pressure. Just curiosity.

One last thing (again). If you had to ride out a sandstorm with either a Jawa who’s been plotting revenge with a flamethrower, or a Hutt in a hoverchair who plays the banjo and won’t shut up about his exes.. who do you saddle up with?

P.S. I need an exact count of cigarillos torched today. This is for science. And concern.

Mostly concern.

Warmly,
Lysander

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Lysander von Ascania

I’m starting to get little curious regarding your tendencies at picking up more narcotics as your wander along the ‘verse. You ain’t trying to see what sort of cocktail of vices you can get into before your heart keels over right?

Just be careful. There’s a few mixings with those drugs that can land you in a bucket of Giju you never intended to be in.

I am assuming then that this Mandalorian was the cactus you were referencing from before? If this has to do with that bounty hunting holo pic with the scientists you sent me the other day, then I find myself more than a mite bit concerned that you got the gear you need to keep you safe. Let me know if you need anything.

I ain’t surprised about Black Sun offering creds for those types of critters. I did more than my share of beast delivery down Hutt Space with the Cartels and Black Sun when I was your age. Now those were some fun times.

Honestly my work ain’t that entertaining. Working on setting up a few recharting of hyperlanes to make sure the convoys can once again get back to schedule. The Convergence karked things over more than Id like but it is what it is.

And of course I’d the Jawa. Sounds far more entertaining. Ain’t nothing like vengeance to keep the chill of the bitter cold at bay. That I can testify myself.

Ain’t great for the liver in the long run, but for the night, it ain’t bad.

My edible coping mechanism is Corellian Whiskey. Neat. Three fingers worth. Don’t mind ice but can’t be too careful of where that water comes from. What’s yours?

Goodness boy, why are you so keen to learn about my vice intake. Five alright.

So tell me more about this Mandalorian. What’s her name?

For Science. And Concern. Maybe a background check too.

~ Danger

​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Danger Arceneau ​

Danger,

You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’m still in full control. They don’t seem much different from carsunum if you ask me.

I probably would benefit from a few upgrades before I go courting these beasts. Something to help track the terrain, maybe a scanner that won’t spazz out in a Felucian swamp.

And better cuffs for the sentients I need to take alive. I’ve already had one pair malfunction and the target was delivered with a knot on his head.

I do appreciate the offer, but I can afford my own gear these days. Korriban’s still sending a steady stream my way, and the jobs are starting to stack up. Truth is, your messages do more for me than credits ever could

As for my favorite edible? Well, I’m partial to candied meilooruns. You bite through the sugar shell and it cracks, juice spilling over your tongue. It sticks to your teeth, makes you lick your lips, and leaves you thinking about the next one.

Or the spiced nut mix from one particular vendor on Nar Shaddaa who swears it's a family recipe but smells like it’s been smuggled through a few systems.

And wookie‑ookies? Stars, I swear I haven’t had one in forever. Didn’t have time to grab one when I passed through Coruscant. And Arkania? Doubt they’ve even heard of them. I can still remember the smell though

Corellian Whiskey though? That’s not nutrition, that’s more of a hobby.

If we were meeting for business, what’s actually on your plate? Something tells me it's not nerf nuggets.

You said five cigarillos for the day.. but is that five total, or five before noon?

It’s a fair question.

The Mandalorian’s is Skye. Don’t know her last name. Not yet. I imagine she’d be less of a cactus if I were more.. gracious? I suppose that’s the proper word. To be fair, she’s under no obligation to work with me.. but, for reasons I can’t quite name yet, I find much satisfaction in provoking her.

What’s the strangest job you’ve ever taken just for the story? Or the most credits you’ve ever turned down?

I’m headed to Ukatis now. Only been there once in the last year and a half, and it’s been even longer since I’ve seen my sister. I don’t imagine it’ll be a long stay. The Outer Rim’s home, and I’m too invested there to leave for good.

And keep it to five cigarillos, and not a one more.

I’d like you still breathing next time I see you.

Don’t make me come count them myself.

Warmly,
Lysander

 

[Danger Arceneau]

​

Lysander von Ascania ​

​

Lysander,

Five before noon? That'd put me in an early grave, boy, and I've worked too long and too hard to let a vice snuff me out quicker than the Trade Federation ever managed. I'll keep to my five total. You can rest easy knowing I'm still breathing and sharp enough to write you back with both lungs and wit intact.

Now, as for you and your swamp-wrestling escapades… You may not want my credits, but don't think for a second that means I won't keep my eye on you. Korriban's coin spends fine until it doesn't. Seen more than one promising soul convinced steady work would keep them safe, only to find steady was just another word for trapped. Don't go falling into that pit. Make sure every chain you wear is one you picked yourself.

Your candied meiloorun made me smile thinking back of Makai Dashiell and his Choco-Chews. That boy wouldn't be seen without 'em. Had Myra tied up something fierce in irritation, saying Makai paid more attention to the candy than he did to her. And Wookie-ookies… well, you bring some back next time you pass a stand, and maybe I'll forgive you for teasing me with the memory.

Skye is it? Goodness gracious, you're poking the Gundark for the thrill of hearing it roar, Lysander. Don't mistake her for something tame just because you get a rise out of her. Satisfaction in provoking folk is a young man's game, and it'll get your teeth knocked in if you don't pick your marks wisely. That said, I suspect she'll give you a lesson worth the price of admission.

Strangest job I've ever taken? I reckon that would involve taking in and finding occupations and homes for the dozens of female Jedi clones discovered in a Kamino cloning facility that had been slated for auction by the Black Sun Syndicate some decades back. The sort of life they'd have led had it gone to fruition if the Corporate Sector Authority hadn't allowed me to take it on would have resulted in the sort of depravations I'd never wish upon any being. Never been more relieved that my connections served their purpose than then. As for the most credits I've turned down? Let's just say the moment a deal stinks worse than a Gamorrean cookpot, no amount of zeroes is worth the smell sticking to your soul.

Ukatis will test you. Old soil has a way of reminding us where our roots lie, even when we thought we'd burned the field behind us. Be kind to your sister, if only for the fact you still got her. That's a rarity in this galaxy.

I've lost my older brother Remi to a cruel act of fate decades ago. His death meant that Arceneau Trade now sat on my shoulders. And while this may have been a different place had he lived, I still miss him something fierce as the only blood kin I had left that I didn't hate.

Take care and make sure you eat well.

~Danger

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Danger Arceneau
​

The Queen of Trade,

The Trade Federation, huh? You’re almost dropping that like it’s supposed to mean something to me. Who are they, and who do you need me to take out? I suppose I’ve got enough sway in the Holy Worlds and beyond to pull together a little team of Sith if it comes to that. Wouldn’t even have to twist an arm, I know some of them would sign up just for the thrill alone.

About what you said.. the chains, the trap. I get it. I think I do! I’m not brushing it off. But right now, I feel like I can handle it. I’m not blind to the way things can turn, and I’m not so stupid as to think I’m untouchable (until that glitterstim hits). Just knowing you’re watching my back, even from a distance, means more than I can put into words.

Your belief in me is enough.

And Wookie‑ookies? You know if I bring those back, I’m eating at least half before they ever reach you. Call it a Sith’s tax.

Or quality control.

Or both!

As for Ms. Skye I’ll be honest. I hate Mandalorians. I don’t respect them. They’re no better than the Ashla worshipping dweebs in my eyes, just another creed wrapped in armor and ego.She’s no exception. I’m trying to understand her better, but she’s always got her temper up about something. Whatever though, she’s useful, and I’m not above working with someone I don’t like if it gets the job done.

Naboo instilled that lesson home harder than anything else.. you don’t have to like someone to make something work.

But I just couldn’t fake it any longer.

That job you told me about with the clones.. that’s heavy. I can see why it stuck with you. Black Sun seems to be slick in the worst way possible. They smile when they measure your neck for a noose. Or at least, that was the vibe I got from Nar Shaddaa recently.

Ukatis will be brief. Unless it’s about credits, I have little desire to be in the Mid rim. I know it sounds like slapping a band‑aid over a ‘lil blaster wound, but everything in that region carries too much pain for me.

Peace is a lie.. but I still hope you find moments outside of work to relax. Even if it’s just a drink(non-alcoholic) in your hand and your feet up for a few minutes.

Spore Industries is up and running now. The primary branch is on Brosi, another in the Commonwealth region. It might sound illogical, to tie something like this to emotion.. but I wanted you involved from the start. That was always my wish. It just felt right to me when everything was being planned. Maybe it’s because I trust you more than most. Maybe it’s because I wanted you to see what I could build with my own hands, my own credits, my own will. Something that’s mine! Also that you’d have a place in it too, but my partner in this venture has the kind of ties to the shareholders that I never did.

Speaking of, I thought you should be the first to know, Spore Industries has formally entered into an affiliation with Aura Industries. Buuut this isn’t just a handshake; it comes with new capabilities. They’ve already passed along the knowledge to create Maelridae.

Honestly, this is the sort of thing I should probably save for when we’re face to face.. but I can’t help myself.

Now that I can make them, I keep imagining it: giant crates of these blind Sithspawn, each one tied up with a fancy pink bow, delivered right to the front steps of every Jedi Enclave.

Picture that.. like those old jack‑in‑the‑box toys. Only instead of a clown popping out, it’s fangs and teeth. Plus one unmistakable hiss!

I promise I’m not trying to be annoying about it, but I’d really like to see you soon. For all the connections I might have, it’s always the ones closest that seem to slip away. I haven’t seen my cousin Malum since the Galactic Kaggath, which was right after it felt like I’d finally found an older brother. Then I lost Sibylla, who was far too good for me. And honestly, who knows when I’ll see my sister again after this trip.

It’s made me think a lot about time, and about the people we keep, or lose, along the way in this journey called life.

If it’s just caf and a quick hello, I’d totally make the effort, even if it means venturing into a region of space I try to avoid.

Ok, I’ll admit, I’ve always been curious about Tatooine!

It almost sounds like I’m trying to invite myself, doesn’t it?

Just say yes.

Anyway. Take care of yourself. And don’t be afraid to give those poor lungs a break sometime!

--Lysander

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Lysander,

Well, considering the Trade Federation likes to sink its fingers in just about every hyperlane from the Leventine Spur to Terminus. If the name ain't familiar, I'd recommend you look into 'em, for they be the ones you'd likely have to deal with if that company of yours needs to start exporting or... creatively transporting goods from one region to the next.

I've my own agreements with them, but they also have a hand in the banking industry and tend to push their own agenda from time to time. Same as any company, but they do have a greater reach than most.

And if there are few less Wookie-ookies, well reckon that's a tarrif I'm willing to pay for your company.

Think of the time with this Mandalorian of yours as just another lesson on how to deal with the greater galaxy. I've learned the hard way there will be folks that we don't quite get along with, some that would tempt us to react in spiteful ways for sweet satisfaction in the moment. But I leverage that it is best to first consider the pros and cons. If the relation is of a benefit to you, either directly or indirectly, short-term or long-term, try your best to keep it as neutral as possible. Just enough to keep the connection going whenever you need it.

Acquaintances can just be that, acquaintances. But I've long learned that networking is the fuel that stirs progress and business, so perhaps while you may not be so keen on this Bounty Hunter, maybe you can gather some skills and connections that would better suit you later.

Even if that time with your sister is short on Ukatis, take it with a grain of salt and do what you can, but also, don't put yourself into too much heartbreak than needed. Sometimes one has to just burn a few bridges for one's mental peace. I've done the same myself a few times, one that lasted for nearly over a decade with Alric Kuhn -- yes, my departed husband. Things turned for the worse back when we first met and there was a betrayal that I thought I couldn't walk past from. At the time, I couldn't stomach seeing him anymore. I had to end it. For as much of my sanity as peace of mind.

If that is what you need to do with everything in the Outer Rim, then do so. Just make sure you weigh those ramifications first and be certain that is exactly what you want to do first.

Bridges are harder to fix once they've been charred through.

If you need any assistance regarding green energy or Morodin science, let me know. The Commonwealth is actually a stable place to set up shop. I've good relations there with Arceneau Trade, and they will honor their agreements as long as you follow their rules and regulations.

I am well pleased you connected with Aurora Industries. Taeli Raaf and I go back decades, and she is one of the few women I trust completely when it comes to business. She has a good head on her shoulders and her mind is a brilliant one when it comes to her creations.

This Maelridae sounds like a rather curious pet... or guardian creature. If they are tied to Aurora Industries, I am sure they have quite the capabilities. I am glad that you are excited about their production and would like to know how it all turns out.

Hmm, reckon we can set up some time to meet up. When are you free? I can make time for you anytime, just let me know. We can have lunch or dinner, maybe you can spend some time here with me and you can show me your proposals and projects for Spore Industries. Win me over enough and I'd be keen to set up a contract with you as well. I'd be more than happy to have you come to my enclave on Tatooine.

Don't worry about lil ol me. Heart's still ticking and lungs are still breathing.

Just don't ask me to run. Feth that. I've gone past the age where I'd take to sprinting anywhere.

Take care, son, and stay safe.

~Danger

Lysander von Ascania​

​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Danger Arceneau​

Mother Arceneau,

Night has become the only time to think clearly enough to write. By the look of it, I let it all get away from me. Again. I even missed an excellent opportunity to sit down and have a proper lunch. I thought about writing more than once recently. Lately, I find myself choosing when to speak more carefully. Each time, something needed doing first. You know I don’t stay still very well. That hasn’t ever really changed. Storm’s probably the wrong word, but you get the idea. Always moving, rarely stopping long enough to take account of everything. That could be a decent way to understand the Tapani Sector right now.

And well, some things travel better unshared. Of course, that choice was made with the safety of those close to me in mind. I’d rather carry that weight myself.

There’s a little more room for it now than there was. For now, at least. One can only hope, despite the path they choose.

I’ve got responsibilities that don’t leave a lot of flexibility. Yet they suit me more than I expected, even if they’ve changed how I go about my day to day. I used to believe power made itself known. Turns out it rarely bothers. If something is in the way.. it gets dealt with.

Coruscant was never a place I liked. The appeal makes sense, the logistics especially, but it never quite sat well with me. Still.. it’s ours now, and hard to imagine leaving anytime soon.

Part of me doesn't expect much enthusiasm from you, especially from someone heavily invested in existing shipping lanes. But some outcomes are already in motion by the time they reach me.

I just play my part.

Some things don’t fade with distance. Ruusan is one of them, and so is what you did for me there. I just thought you should know that.

As far as the Trade Federation goes, surely they understand risks better than most, and will learn there is no return here. We're not exactly a profitable operating space. But should they impose themselves anyway, they will only find death.

Maybe it's time to remind the galaxy why you were crowned the Queen of Trade. If there were a way to favor some form of cooperation, I would be inclined to assist.

A Galactic dark age is a Sith golden age.

-Lysander

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Danger did her best thinking at night. Always had.

The office was quiet but for the low hum of Epica traffic bleeding through the transparisteel and the faint scratch of stylus against datapad. A cigarillo burned down slowly between her fingers, blue white smoke curling towards the ceiling as ash held with practiced patience as she read Lysander's words again. Then once more, just to hear the cadence of him beneath the sigils.

She let the silence sit a spell before she began.

Lysander,

I reckon night sharpens the mind because it's the only time the galaxy stops demandin' pieces of you. I won't scold you for missed lunches or long silences. You were never built for stillness, and I'd be a poor woman indeed if I expected you to suddenly learn it now.

You're right about storms. They don't announce themselves. They just rearrange the landscape and leave folks wonderin' how the ground moved beneath their boots.

I won't insult either of us by pretendin' I didn't know where you were. I've had eyes on you for some time. Quiet ones. Careful ones. Guards who understand distance and restraint. They were never meant to leash you, only to make certain the galaxy didn't decide to collect you early.

Given what your kind can feel, I suspect you knew. Or at least sensed the absence of malice. If the Dashade lent a hand when things turned sideways, then they did exactly as instructed.

I should have told you sooner. That's on me. But I hope you understand the why.

Coruscant concerns me, and not for sentimental reasons. It's a pressure plate world, same as the rest of the Core, always has been. Too many hands, too many ambitions, trading hands faster than the finest laced lunaweed known. I've seen this shape before. The Dark Empire wore it well, right up until it strangled its own supply lines and called it control.

I am not fond of innocents payin' the bill for ideology, and I'm less fond of infrastructure bein' smashed simply to remind folks who's holdin' the hammer. Hyperlanes are arteries. You cut enough of them and the body don't care who won the argument.

The Convergence already left half the Outer Rim gaspin' for breath. I've been tryin' to stitch the Expansion and Colonies back together with what thread I can find. It is slow, delicate, but necessary work.

And truth be told, if we are talkin' about the Core worlds, it is Empress Teta that weighs heavy on my mind. My husband rests there, and I ain't keen for uncertainty when it comes to graves. When the lanes steady, I intend to go. If paths cross and circumstances allow, I would not object to seein' you in the flesh rather than through reports and secondhand missives.

You're not wrong about trade or the Trade Federation. But know this -- feed people, water them, heal 'em. Most will choose peace simply because it lets them go home at night. A dark age may suit the Sith, but it starves everyone else. Starved systems get desperate, and desperate systems burn credits and create radicals just as easily as cities.

As for enthusiasm -- don't mistake my investments for inflexibility. Lanes change. Powers shift. Trade Queens adapt or they end up footnotes. If there is a way to favor cooperation over annihilation, I will find it. If not, I am still very good at remindin' the galaxy who keeps the shelves stocked.

Tell me what you need. Influence, movement, supplies, silence. Use the backup. That's what it's there for.

Ruusan didn't fade for me either. Sons don't.

I'm here still, for whenever you need me.

~Danger

Lysander von Ascania

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​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Danger Arceneau​

Danger,

Nights also have a way of stripping away any excuses I find myself running through in the daylight. Easier to perform when the sun is out you could say. Maybe it’s in the quiet where the truths I avoid finally come to sit beside me.

I don't think I'll ever master the art of slowing down. That pace feels stitched into the very fabric of who I am. Not long ago, I was knighted in the siege’s aftermath near the palace. Oddly enough, I felt nothing at the time. Everything felt hollow.. but it was in that moment that it dawned on me: the journey is the reward. The destination is just a place where the road nudges me onward again. Since then, I’ve also taken a seat on the council. I wouldn’t say out of ambition, but because it’s where I’m needed most. Some days, I find myself wondering if my calling is simply to stand firm at the center, to keep everything from collapsing inward.

To be honest, I never truly noticed the malice you mentioned. I’ve never been good at recognizing care, be it loud or quiet. Nonetheless, despite all that, I want you to know I'm grateful. Thankful for what was there, even if it was hidden.

I didn’t know your husband rested on Empress Teta. I won’t offer condolences either. Those always feel like trying to put a bandage on stone. But I do understand your concern, and will keep that in mind should discussions ever steer that direction. There are conversations that can’t be carried by datapads. Some truths need to be spoken where the air remembers the people who shaped us. Or inspired us. I wasn’t allowed to stand at my father’s burial, not with the path I walk, but I always visit whenever I’m back on Ukatis.

Coruscant has been lodged in the back of my mind for a while. I’ve come to think of it as a holy site.. a place people journey across the stars to reach. Like.. a center of pilgrimage. Sacred in ways because too much blood has been spilled on its streets. Every faction, every side, seems to see their final judgement in it. And now that it’s been scarred, I suspect people will fight for it until the end of time.. not for what it is, but for what they need it to mean. Not a terrible place to make my last stand when the time comes. There’s nowhere left to run.

Eventually things will become a free market hellscape. Big corporations will suffer. Maybe not right away, but the system guarantees it. Some with credits, others with blood. I can't promise to protect your interests perfectly. But I'm willing to roll up my sleeves and stand beside you, so you don't get crushed by the storm that's going to be unleashed.

There's nothing I need from you. I never wanted anyone's credit or influence. For the longest time I just needed someone that didn't run when I stepped into the dark. I became good at killing, but it never mattered much to me. I like writing and singing. No one remembers that version of me anymore.

Your message is enough. I don’t need anything more than that.

I’m going to try to rest now. Goodnight.

-Lysander