Treasure

[Darth Ren Malgus]

She was on the trail of something but she knew not what it was exactly. The archives held some references but always referred to it as a prize of great value.

Value was an interesting term in the description of artifacts and treasure. Only the person seeking the treasure could place value on it once found. A rune compared to credits could hold value, a piece of ancient pottery compared to a gem, yes value was open to interpretation.

Today though was for reuniting with friends. She had sent a message to the Wretched Hive. Who in turn relayed her message to [member="Seydon"] who gave her directions to a place called the Silent Temple. That held all kinds of intrigue to her, what was Seydon doing at a temple? Was he in reflection?

As she made her way there she was cautious this was unfamiliar to her and time had taught her not to rush in. While she knew Seydon would not ever do anything to endanger her something felt off in the force. What was different? She would know in a few moments as her ship settled down.

She exited and began making her way.

[member="Rosa Gunn"]

 

[Seydon of Arda]

Rosa’s comm-piece sang and vibrated off the bedside nightstand. It paused for a beat, gathering vitriol, then angrily wailed on the stone floor.

They ignored the message prompts. Seydon worked to increase his wife’s volume, drowned the irate ringtone alerts trying to interrupt their morning. Rosa was due for a set of conference calls, that would last past the evening. He anticipated several meal-time deliveries: cold-meat sandwiches, hot vegetable and chicken soups he’d prepared the night before, beside the bread rolls still cooling on the far kitchen counter-top he had risen hours prior to bake.

She’d been waiting under the coverlets with her datapad propped between her knees, nonplussed and glancing over her itineraries. Her hair was messed from fitful sleep, scratching her eyes free of crust, appearing at once candid, vulnerable, and invincible. The scar’s taken on Charal twisted with her lean stretches. The blankets sloughed off her shoulders and she sat halfway exposed, stifling yawns behind a slender wrist. Between her heavy blinks, murmuring how she would love an extra few hours of rest, Seydon heard himself murmur how beautiful she looked at first light.

“Oh god-damnit...” The Dunaan rumbled hoarsely. They were coupled, plastered belly to belly across splayed and dewy sheets, hurrying with one another to a place just past nirvana. He was bowed with effort and the concentration of loving, face aged with laugh lines and scar tissue. Seydon was resigned that he would never look so well as his wife, but it mattered as much as last year’s snows. Below, furious at being ignored, the comm-piece archly rang. Finally, Seydon pulled himself away and sat at the mattress edge, sweat pouring down his spine, and retrieved the comm-link.

“Yes?” He grunted. “...You’re kidding. ...Yes, she’s here. ...No, you’ll talk to me. When did they - - Just this morning? ...Yes. ...Yes, alright. We’ll be right down. Make sure she’s comfortable. ...Thank you.

“...We have company,” Seydon chuckled in the muggy heat, looking over his shoulder. “And they’ve arrived a little early. Think you can take a rain check, Rose...?”

[member="Rosa Gunn"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa's eyes grew heavy as Seydon rolled away from her, giving in to the angry buzz of the com-link as it danced across the tiled floor. A pleasurable ache coursed through her and she sighed, letting her eyes slide shut and relishing in her moment of peace as Seydon placed firmly between her and the caller. She felt a touch of pity for the person at the other end, Seydon had earned himself a reputation for snarling at anyone who dared to disturb the little moments of peace they managed to get. Not because he wanted Rosa to himself, which he did, but because he worried for her health.

Her eyes snapped open as he spoke to her and she turned her head slowly to give him a withering stare. Today was exceptionally busy and he knew it. She'd no recollection of him telling her anyone was coming to visit, in fact if she had, she'd have arranged the conference calls for another day, so that meant he'd either failed or forgotten to tell her. Or she was so lost in the workings of the Foundations she'd failed to notice his telling. The latter was most likely in truth, but she was not about to admit it.

"A rain check?" she replied, sitting upright. "From you, or the conference calls?" She ran a hand through her hair, leaned over to kiss him and rose from the bed, padding towards the bathroom.

"Go greet our guest, whoever they are, I'll be down once I've rearranged the calls." She left no room for argument as she shut the bathroom door behind her.

**
Serena would have been greeted by a young Juhani by the name of Lola who would lead her to the communal area of the Temple. Here a wide variety of people lingered ranging from construction workers who were here to add the finishing touches to the Temples renovations and grabbing a quick cup of caff on their breaks to families of those who had come to volunteer for the Foundation.

[member="Serena Bouie"] [member="Seydon"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena was met by Lola a quick look at her features and she recognized her as related to the Cathar but not quite the same from what she remembered. She walked slowly with her as they spoke a little about her surprise arrival and that [member="Seydon"] and [member="Rosa Gunn"] were not up yet.

Serena couldn't help but laugh just a little so she caught them still sleeping. She had that habit it seemed showing up when least expected but she had come back this way as she was searching records following the trail of a ship. She figured since she was in the neighborhood she'd drop by, surprise!

She'd apologize for certain and not stay very long enough to find out how things were and let him know about what trail she was currently following. She had never met Rosa but she would admit to she looked forward to meeting the woman who held Seydon's heart. Serena's own marriage had been long and what she remembered of it her husband was not always faithful, and he tended to have a maniacal laugh about him. But he seemed to have loved her and their children. She couldn't fault that.

She waited lost in her own thoughts sifting through a few memories of what it felt to be married and not alone.

 

[Seydon of Arda]

He shaved in a spare steel drum mounted on a slim wood frame, standing by window light and peering into a polished glass tray that doubled for a mirror. With Rosa occupying the sole bathroom, Seydon improvised his wash: sponge, soap, and hot water drawn in the kitchen sink. He kept the angle on his straight razor with care while sliding it under his chin, chopping at a stubborn whisker crop. Little time to mend their chambers too: strewn clothing, a half-eaten midnight meal left out on the balcony rail, muddy boots, Rosa’s workstation piled and walled with flimsiplast readouts, datapads, and reference modules plugged haphazardly into a makeshift power socket, two day’s worth of piled dishes, and a disassembled flintlock waiting for repairs near the coat rack.

Seydon dressed, in a clean work shirt and grey-quilt slacks. He fixed on a belt and looped a dagger and sheathe to a spot off his hip, belting Razorlight over his shoulder. Then he left their chambers, called out a brief ‘goodbye’, and rode the dormitory lift down. Passing sound briefly rose and quieted, floor by floor industriousness. The irony of the Silent Temple was its ceaseless activity. The Boolon Foundation had two decades worth of misplaced refugee populations to aid, with a similar score of governments harping at the comm-hub for consulting visits. In a year, if media had any say, Rosa Gunn would be the face of philanthropy. More than Silk Holdings, more than ATC. Leaning against a teak-wood lift wall, panels of cool leather-buttoned upholstery, the thought warmed him. Pride. If Boolon could see her now. Maybe he did. One never knew with a wily, dead Ithorian.

“...Miss Bouie!” He later called out. Coming out of the lift, he combed through the central temple floor, on the lookout for a bright head of blonde hair and geo-surveying clothes and kit. Seydon spotted [member="Serena Bouie"] wandering into the South End, past stationary and custodial closets and the open communications suite lodged in what had been a lengthy coat room. He jogged up, slowed to a smooth skid. “Miss Bouie. ...Sorry we’re late. Got caught up with paperwork. Rosa will be down in a bit.

“...Gotta ask, what brings you this far out? The Hive sent word you were looking to visit, didn’t what about. ...You fair okay? You ever find what you sought...?” He asked, stepped in pace beside her.

[member="Rosa Gunn"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena gave a glance over getting use to his face again and the difference in his voice. Something said less stress she tried to pick up things about him from his aura and from the emotions that radiated from him. "I thought we had come to an understanding that Serena would do over Ms. Bouie" She smiled at him for the small reminder.

"What brings me this far?" She had a few answers for this the honest ones always worked best with Seydon though. "I'm moving about a lot trying to find my place in the galaxy and I'm on the trail of something interesting. It helps to keep my mind busy." She shrugged slightly that small little movement that said eh nothing much else going on.

"As for what I found. I did find it." She had it was an encounter she wouldn't be able to forget for a long time, "And it helped with my problems. Except well you know everything comes with a cost." Memories taken that were only dragged from darkness by reminders from friends as she crossed by them again. It was a painful process to look at a friend and not know their name. She only remembered Seydon because he was one of the last person she encountered.

They kept pace together she in her usual lose fitted dust covered clothing. "But at least the night mares have stopped." She looked uncomfortable for a moment, "so I guess in the end it was worth it. I guess."

She shook her head, "but you tell me now what have you been doing?"

@Seydon [member="Rosa Gunn"]

 

[Rosa Gunn]

For the most fleeting of moments, Rosa was grateful that the majority of her backers or those who had asked for the Foundations assistance were on the whole incredibly understanding, if a little disappointed at Rosa's last minute rearrangement of their calls. The was until her holoprojector chimed angrily with an incoming call. Sighing, she answered. A minature blue figure flickered into like, a human with an air about him that said he was a former imperial. Of which empire she never bothered to find but Governor Kahleed had managed to find himself a comfortable position in government on some outlying world whose name Rosa couldn't bring to mind.

"Govener Kahleed, a pleasure-"

"What is the meaning of this rearrangement, Master Gunn? I have refugees pouring in from all over the shop and no where to house them, you said you could assist and yet now you move our conference?"

"With respect, Governer-"

"what the hell am i supposed to do with them all? If i freeze the immigration there will be uproar and i'll be shifted out of office! I do not have time-"

"Governer Kahleed!" Rosa cut across him sharply. "May I remind you that you are not the only outlying planet that is suffering under the pressure of refugees fleeing the wars."

"Yes but-" she raised a hand to silence him.

"May I also remind you that I have already sent a shipment of rations and medical supplies for you to distribute as you see fit and that our conversation was to discuss possible locations for us to build permanent homes for these people and the responsibilities that would place on yourself and your government."

"I thought you would be removing them!"

"You thought wrong. Governor Kahleed, we will discuss this further tomorrow, but right now I am required elsewhere. Does my proposed time suit you?"

"It does."

"Very well, good day and may the force be wit you." She terminated the call and sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair. Whatever horrors lay before her in this, she took a moment to remind herself that they were nothing in comparison to what lay behind her. Shrugging away her irritation she swept from the room, locking it behind her and catching Lola on her walk down to the halls. Lola talked rapidly handing Rosa data slates to read as she walked, and updating her on anything she considered important.

By the time Rosa found Seydon and their guest, Rosa was exhausted and her mind buzzing. She fought desperately to shake her assistant off before approaching the pair, arranging face into one that didn't speak of such grave tales as those she'd heard. "Its going to be one of those weeks." she told her husband, before smiling at the woman he walked with, waiting for introductions.

[member="Serena Bouie"] [member="Seydon"]

 

[Seydon of Arda]

“Better. I’ve been doing better,” Seydon chuckled.

He had his workshop. They’d renovated the upper dormitories and restored some of their rooms to prior comfort. Since Seydon had refused to wake up alone if he had a choice in the matter, he gravitated to his wife’s side. Between the far ‘Noble House’ on the outer knoll beyond the Temple and the Foundation headquarters itself, the Dunaan was becoming a semi-regular presence. The grey fatigue in his features, worn from months spent on the Path, seemed rejuvenated. Cats-eyes were bright, tight with almost unearthly focus. Seydon had drive; coin was just a means to an end, no longer just an end. Energy ran up his corded frame, power showing in even his small gestures.

The reason showed coming around a tall pillar column mounted in the central hall. At 5’9, even without her heeled boots, Rosa made herself seem tall without the prosthetic vanity that effort usually entailed. Her femininity was simultaneously robust and lush, accented in her working gowns and occasional Jedi garments, though Seydon felt that any forced, monastic modesty had never suited her stark vibrancy. The Dunaan breathed in, hooked his arm around her waist, returned his attentions to Serena.

“Mis – Serena, this is [member="Rosa Gunn"],” He said. “Rosa, [member="Serena Bouie"].”

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[member="Rosa Gunn"] [member="Seydon"]

"I'm glad Seydon" She was truly glad he was better on the times she had seem him his aura was complicated and now it was changed she couldn't see it all really. But she didn't need to it was written on his face and in his eyes that he was happier. As she began to speak a woman joined them and from the way Seydon reacted it was clear this was Rosa. She was a little different than what she expected but then what did she expect?

All that mattered was to see him smile and happy with her presence this gave Serena comfort. The galaxy did get things right once in a while.

Serena smiled brightly Rosa, "it is a pleasure to meet you. I love the temple it's an archaeologists dream. I also wanted to be able to tell you that your husband helped me when I needed it most. May the goddess continue to bless you both."

She reached out to shake the woman's hand unsure if she would accept a hug different cultures would frown upon such intimacy so she did what she hoped would be least invasive.

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa accepted the extended hand with a warm smile, though a hug would not have been un-welcomed. "The pleasure's all mine, Serena. I'm glad you like it, feel free to stay and explore as long as you like." She gave Seydon a tender smile upon hearing he had helped her, her hand squeezing his arm, pride swelling in her chest. Though there was a shadow behind that smile, the news of the Silver's defeat playing across her mind as she tried to work out how best to manage what would no doubt be an influx of calls for assistance with refugees.

She shook herself mentally and brought herself back to the here and now. "Tell me, Serena, what brings you to our neck of the woods? Besides a catch up, you seem like you have a purpose in mind."

[member="Seydon Gunn"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[member="Rosa Gunn"] [member="Seydon Gunn"]

Serena looked around, "I would like to but I'm following the trail of an old imperial ship that never seemed to make it to its destination. It had left Coruscant to go to Byss. There were a number of artifacts on the ship. I've been trying to piece together a course by visiting planets where they might have been seen. Searching the archives and checking local museums, seeing private collections, just in case the ship had help." Serena remembered the manifest had listed many items but at the last minute several things were said to have been added but not documented.

She nodded and hemmed and hawed as she stood there, "I was closeby, in a long distance kind of way and thought I would stop over say Hi..and get a cup of tea. I neglected to bring sweets this time though." She looked from Rosa to Seydon. She was still a bit scattered brained after everything but she had managed to hold everything together. So far.

 

[Seydon of Arda]

[SIZE=10pt]“…Come inside,” He said.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]He led through a small passage, an alcove at first glance, that deceptively widened into a broader parlour. It’d been furnished with re-upholstered furniture collected from ‘burn auctions’: open sell-and-buy markets held round the Mid-Rim, with items and tackle salvaged from wrecked hab-blocks. Intermediaries operating with Rosa’s license obtained what they could, sent the half-ruined takes through mail, and left Seydon to sort through what could be repaired and what would be left damned for kindling or fuel come the wet season. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]I’ve training,[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] he argued.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Good. So train and then fix them,[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] Rosa mandated. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Seydon motioned at squat, sea-green couch and turned to a low cooler plugged to a power-feed and its accompanying fusion stove. Traditional etiquette, his wife instilled, demanded a host to brew. The Dunaan topped a small steel-brushed kettle with water, planted it to the stove, and waited on its whistle while Rosa and Serena chatted pleasantly along. He turned through a porcelain bowl left on wall shelf: green tea, Atrisian gen mai cha, something with fruit and nut, or an herbal mixture?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“Don’t worry about sweets. We’ve a larder, we’ll treat you this time,” He said, plucking a handful of bags and pouring out a trio of wide-rimmed clay-fired cups. The sense of genteel caught him off-guard; it felt agreeable. So was a rucksack pillow over a blanket on hard, cold earth, supping on roots and dew water, midst a long hunt. Either felt comfortable. Had Rosa finally domesticated her Dunaan? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“You talked about a ship. A kind of artefact carrack. There’s a few trader captains that carry their treasuries with them. You think this one was plying with significant cargo?” He asked, spooning honey into his tea. Rosa’s eyes twinkled. “…What?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt][member="Rosa Gunn"] | [member="Darth Ren Malgus"][/SIZE]

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa shook her head, still smiling at her Dunaan. "Nothing, love." How far they had both come, from snatching rare opportunities between lives that drove them to either end of the galaxy to setting down roots and building a life together on Teth. It showed in the smallest of things at how well they were made for this life together, he anticipated her thoughts acting upon them without missing a beat. She picked up her own cup, slender fingers curling about it and slid her attention back to Serena.

"What've you found so far?" she asked Serena. The idea of following a treasure trail intrigued her, and excitement flitted behind lilac eyes.

[member="Seydon Gunn"] [member="Darth Ren Malgus"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

[member="Seydon Gunn"] [member="Rosa Gunn"]

"Excellent, cause tea just isn't the same any more without sweets" She looked around the room and felt home. this was the kind of thing her parents would have done it made her ache for her childhood. She missed her family she looked over to Rosa and Seydon they seemed well suited and she was sure her father and mother would have liked them both. It gave her a warm feeling inside to find something that existed of her family.

Even Ren she could think of with warm thoughts though her path was destructive almost from the beginning. But that was a story for another day not today. Today was about hunting treasure.

"Actually I found a manifest of a ship leaving Coruscant under Palpatine's orders. The manifest has a number of items that many governments across the galaxy would love to have. It's been hard following the ship since the path was pretty broad and since it never arrived at its destination. But I've been reading a lot..." A LOT she thought, "and I'm on it's trail. This ship was rumored to have the original version of the Sayings from Atrisia as well as a few Hapan puzzle boxes contents unknown."

Serena found a seat and made herself comfortable while talking, "I've found that the last place the ship registered landing was Fresia. The ship bore the same registry but the name had been changed to The Free Rider. So I'm going to go to Fresia next and see what I can find there. Who knows..it might lead to another planet...but I'm on its trail."

She could smell the tea..."oh that smells great." yeah...home. She looked down at her shoes for a minute. "So" She smiled and looked up, "What do you think?"

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa's eyebrows arched. "Really?" her interested peaked and she picked up her own cup. The Sayings alone were valuable enough on their own to any historian, never mind the puzzle boxes and whatever they might contain. A collector might pay millions for them, though a museum would be far more grateful for the contribution. "I think you might be on the trail of something that could prove to be profitable, both in coin and knowledge."

She took a sip from her mug, glancing sideways at her husband before looking back at Serena. "Fresia is a long way to travel on your own. I have some business in and around the core I need to attend to in person, if you'd like the company." She'd want the chance to help too, to discover some of the things Serena was describing woul be a wonderful break from her continuous discovery of misery in one world or another.

The dark thought made her smile falter. "I need to visit my nephew first...or at least call him." Thurion was not her nephew in the rue sense, but he had always called her Aunt. Now more than ever he would need support form friends and family. She set her cup down. "The Silvers lost their hold over Ossus, their territory has been cut in half and the refugee crisis has just hit a whole new level."

[member="Seydon Gunn"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Serena Bouie]

Serena nodded, "I always love company and yes it is a long way. I'm use to traveling though. I don't much like the cold of space though." She smiled and added, "The Silvers are on Voss that's a ways from the Core too, do you prefer to go there?" An innocent question for her host if she really wanted to go she should.

It would be good to have someone else to talk to for a time and maybe talk about the data she was sifting through.

"Refugees." She remembered helping refugees and Kei was there. But she had not heard from him in sometime, had he fallen in battle? She did not know and it was not wise to dwell on dark thoughts too easily she glided into the darkness to only find her own face looking back at her scowling in disapproval and calling her name.

No.

"You'd be welcome I don't get to talk to many people who know the difference between runes." Yes a colleague would be nice.

[member="Rosa Gunn"] [member="Seydon Gunn"]