Un-Ape-Ceptable! [Sio]

[Lief]

Jyn had spent the past few weeks travelling through space; first she had journeyed down the Mara Corridor alongside Moira Skaldi, one of the few 'friends' she had ever made in the Galaxy, albeit she was an individual Jyn had only seen a couple of times. Then up along the Corellian Run and into Republic Space. The young wanderer had never been within the Republic's borders before. Yet it was here, all the same, that she and the HRD had parted ways.

She remained on Loronar for a few days, gathering information about Galactic affairs as she readjusted to the company of fellow beings. After so long trapped alone on Teth it was strange to acclimatize back into a social setting. Although, Jyn barely spoke and when she did she was more likely to be ordering something to drink or supplies with what few credits she had to her name than starting up idle chatter. She was, after all, one who listened and not one who spoke.

Finally, Jyn had boarded a transport vessel which was headed into Omega Protectorate space. While she had no idea exactly what her plans were, or where she intended to go by the end of her journey, she figured that she could not stay in one place for too long. It would not do to be picked up by yet another Force User sect. That never ended well for the girl.

Travelling down along the Corellian Trade Spine, Jyn had spent this leg of the journey in silence; she ensured that she isolated herself so as not to attract any attention, wanting to simply exit the vessel when it landed without complications. The journey wasn't too long, but all the same it seemed tedious.

So it was that the vessel stopped at Tirathana Spaceport, and Jyn made her quick exit. The majority of the ships passengers were headed to OP's capital, but Jyn had no intentions of going to any major galactic hub of activity. No, that was far too risky.

Wandering through the spaceport, Jyn had patted the satchel at her side to reassure an ever-quiet Fuz before slipping her hand into the pouch and fussing his fur. She dared not speak to him as she would on Teth and other isolated planets. Instead she walked in silence, taking in the sight of the station. It was simple: she could spend the evening here, shaking off the feel of space travel, before boarding yet another spaceship. Soon, Jyn knew, she would have to find a way to support herself. Her credits would run out eventually...

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Jyn Sol"]


The Tirathana Skyport was a marvel, truly. Doubtless there were larger space stations and undoubtedly those with more powerful defences. But it was a testament to what the Eldorai had accomplished in the years since the ascension of Anya Venari, who now reigned as Tirathana the Seventh. They had come a long way ever since the time when they had been ignorant of the greater Galaxy and then at the mercy of foreign pirates and slavers. Today, even in these troubled times, the Skyport was a hub of commercial activity, drawing in many from beyond Eldorai space.


Likewise it was a powerful defence bastion, watching over Kaeshana like a vigilant sentinel. Ever since Akala's madness had befallen the Galaxy and plunged it into chaos, ever since the Omega Protectorate had floundered and gone from weakness to weakness, that function had been more emphasised. Most of those who had vanished into the abyss had returned, the disturbances that had rocked Kaeshana had been brought to an end...but the Eldorai would never forget. Hence why a memorial was under construction down on the planet's surface, in Santaissa.


It was in this hour that Siobhan Kerrigan, Countess of Santaissa, strode through the vast, seemingly endless corridors of the Skyport, passing shops and bars. Until recently she had been on the upper levels, deep in conversation with important Eldorai and Firemane officials. The nature of the business was...strongly classified. A secret that could not come out...not yet, for the common subject could not yet know of the terrible cataclysm that would befall the planet. One that Firemane and the elves were working around the clock to survive and escape, which was why [member="Tegaea Alcori"] had ventured into Wild Space together with Tempest and Taldir. Siobhan, however, was back at home, running things from here, doing her part.


A most...unfamiliar situation for her, but then the wars had left scars upon her. Thus the Countess, though elegantly dressed in a black skirtsuit, walked with a strong, painful limp, forced to rely upon an admittedly elaborate cane to walk. Pain is just weakness leaving the body, she reminded herself grimly. What she wanted was a cup of stimcaf in one of the restauants before she went on her date...oh, right, official meeting with Mirien Valdier. It was as she passed across a corner that she felt something, ripples through the Force, a presence...somehow it seemed familiar.

 

[Lief]

Jyn made her way up from the docking bays to the commercial district of the station. Groping around in her pockets for loose credit-chips the young girl sighed and murmured beneath her breath. "We'll just find a nice corner to hide in for the night." The smallest of "oo's" resonated from the satchel at her side in response, lost to all save her hearing thanks to the busy shops around her. They needed to save their credits for a way off this station, after all.

Reaching into the satchel, Jyn pulled out a small package which contained staple rations and nibbled a little on one of the hard protein bars from within: it didn't taste particularly nice, but she could eat only a little amount of it and still feel satisfied afterwards. Fuz, as ever, had his nuts, which he was surprisingly avoiding eating. It was as if he understood their current predicament.

The Protectorate seems like it's in moderately good shape she mused thoughtfully, at least if the population here is a good reflection... But I don't know all that much about it. It would not be wise to linger within this region of space for too long. If the Atrisians were anything to go by, there were sectors of the Galaxy that had a severe disdain towards Force Users such as Jyn: even though the child rarely actually used the Force, at times that was still in and of itself enough to get one executed.

With a small sigh, Jyn slinked out of sight and down the side of two shops. It was a tight fit, but at least there in the shadows she wouldn't be as noticeable. Taking out her hand-sized slugthrower, Jyn cleaned down the weapon as she had been taught to in her youth and checked first the rounds and then her ammo supplies. Thankfully, she hadn't had much use for it yet. But all that could easily change.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Jyn Sol"]


It was most ironic, but when it came to the treatment of Force-Users, Kaeshana was pretty much the absolute opposite of Atrisia. Their best soldiers, the Angelii, were force-users and, unlike Atrisia's Inquisition, they were open as mages and celebrated as such. Rather than being a shadow dagger in the night they were a praetorian guard charged with protecting the Queen. The Eldorai religion taught veneration of mages, seeing their powers as gifts from the Goddess, though they staunchly opposed the dark side. Of course, such an ideology brought forth problems of its own, such as favouritism that often meant those without the 'Goddess' gifts' found themselves lacking in opportunities, though as Kaeshana opened up, change was coming and barriers were breaking down.


Firemane had been one of the agents of such change. Political and social issues aside, it seemed that Siobhan's curiosity had gotten the better of her. She could by no means claim omniscient and her Force Sense had never been potent, though it was strengthened through her connection to Mirien and Coryth, but she followed the sensation. Whether for good or ill remained to be seen. As it turned out, she caught up with Jyn just as the girl was heading towards what seemed to be an improvised hideout, though Siobhan did not notice the gun since she was too far away. Wait, did the girl have a monkey with her? As it happened Siobhan really liked animals!


Siobhan frowned for a moment. It was...not really her job to go snooping after other people, even if the girl was a vagrant. But at the same time she could not help feel a sense of familiarity with the girl, as if she had met her before. Her or...Mirien and Coryth. For she carried both of their memory sets inside her mind, which was as confusing as you could imagine. Finally making up her mind Siobhan gripped her cane and limped after her, though she took care not to walk too quickly lest she stumble.

 

[Lief]

Sat there, in her small corner of the station, Jyn finished up her daily activity of tending to her weapon and set it aside on the ground to her right - making sure it was out of sight should anyone peer down the alley where she was hiding out. Running a hand up across her forehead and through her hair, she thought on the past few weeks since leaving Teth. Space travel was exhausting, but maybe that was because she had no concept of flight - perhaps she ought to rectify that one day, it would be certainly useful to have her own way to explore the Galaxy.

She had gotten through a handful of the documents found on the second datapad taken from Teth; it documented an ancient order, one Jyn had never heard of before now. It was intriguing, and had her hooked. Perhaps she ought to look into it more when she had access to historical documents. After all, what she was reading now was little more than field notes, another persons interpretation.

Whoever they were, they spoke of moderation; that was something Jyn could get behind. Moderation in the Force, Balance and research over foolish shows of power. Perhaps this would be a way to truly hold control over the Force. Perhaps she did not have to be afraid of what she was capable of through it if she could harness said control.

Who was she fooling? It would take a lot more than that to set Jyn's mind at ease. Shaking her head she simply flicked through to the next file. If she was going to stay here for the evening, she may aswell get some work done.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Jyn Sol"]


Whilst Jyn was deeply engrossed in her academic studies - so few people her age ever used a good book for something than as a club! - Siobhan was getting closer and closer to her small corner. Well, as a matter of fact Siobhan would have probably gotten there a lot faster if she had not been bloody limping. Truly, her present disability and inability to walk properly was most annoying to her. It was not just physically painful, but also a strong blow to her pride and she happened to be very prideful.


But she persevered as she walked down the alley. The lighting was not the best, but her bionic eye glowed faintly, providing her with better illumination. As she approached and stretched out with her senses, she picked up on the Force presence in the distance. It had to be the girl she had seen before. Clear allegiance could not be discerned and in any case she did not have the strength in Sense or empathic abilities for a detailed reading, but she could rule out her being a threat.


"Hey, don't be afraid. I won't hurt you," she said softly, feeling just a bit silly as she stepped closer, though she kept her tone gentle and her steps measured, not hurrying in. Her leather boots made little noise upon the ground. It was as she got her first look upon the girl that she suddenly felt a flash of memory hit her mind. As a matter of fact it hit her with such force that Siobhan felt a painful throbbing that seemed to herald the start of a bad headache. Suddenly it felt like she was somewhere else, in the Citadel Inquisitorius on Atrisia. What she saw was a nervous, skittish girl, clinging to her Master, terrified of the Inquisitors that surrounded her. Terrified of her. No, not her. Of Mirien. Something Siobhan could not blame the girl for. What had been the girl's name again? Jin...Jyn Sol. Well, this girl looked...very different.

 

[Lief]

The small glimmer of light from Siobhan's eye was enough to warn Jyn of the potential danger encroaching on her hiding place. Without wanting to alert whoever had joined her down the alleyway, the young girl slowly lowered her hand down over the grip of her slugthrower in an unsuspecting manner and kept her gaze on the datacron, although her mind was most certainly focusing on the new being.

So it was that when the voice spoke, Jyn lifted her head and feigned surprise. Her fingers curled around the grip, and gently caressed the trigger as she stared up at the stranger - grateful that the slugthrower was on the opposing side to the woman. Immediately Jyn spotted the crutch, yet she was not quite foolish enough to presume that meant she was in any less danger. Jyn had learnt much in her time surviving alone, and not undermining a potential threat was one such thing.

"I didn't do anything wrong" she immediately retorted, shifting herself further back against the floor. Her brows furrowed into themselves, all the while her mind ran through a thousand different scenarios and potential outcomes. Were they going to remove her off the world? Had the Sith finally caught up with her? Or worse, the Atrisians? Kriff, kriff, kriff she cursed internally, dropping the datacron into her lap in order to pull the satchel containing Fuz closer to her body. "You can't prove I did anything!"

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Jyn Sol"]


"I don't think you did anything wrong, dear. I don't want to hurt you," Siobhan said softly...trying to be soothing and reassuring, though it was doubtful whether it would work! Seeing and feeling how terrified the girl was she slowed down her step, not advancing any further towards her, though she remained calm. Siobhan's empathy was terribly limited, but even so she could not escape the massive onslaught of suspicion and fear emanating from Jyn.


It was...terribly awkward when you considered that Siobhan 'remembered' her from Jyn's time in the Inquisition, yet had to act like she did not know her. Saying that the girl was paranoid would be quite accurate, but from what Siobhan knew she had good reason for that. "What are you doing here, are you on the run from someone? I'm not here to take you away. My name is Siobhan Kerrigan. What's yours?"

 

[Lief]

Glaring towards the woman, Jyn carefully maneuvered the datacron so it was safely within the satchel and then began to stand up. The small slugthrower remained within the grasp of her left hand, which trembled ever so slightly. A rush of adrenalin ran through her, and it took all of her will to remain in control of the trigger. Was she just trying to keep Jyn calm before disposing of her? Was there more to this than there seemed to be? Pressing back against the wall she narrowed her eyes, before hastily checking to her left and right. Dangit, the only way out was blocked by the woman.

"I'm not running" she blurted, forcing her hand to remain down at her side. In the satchel, Fuz began to oo fearfully as he felt Jyn's emotional level rising. "Why are you here then?" This was not somewhere most people would care to be, nor somewhere most would look. Not wanting to give up her name so easily, the young girl just remained there, staring at the woman. She wanted answers before she would begin to even let her guard down. "What do you want? I've done nothing wrong."

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Jyn Sol"]


Siobhan noticed the datacron being moved away but made no mention of it. Likewise she did not spare the slugthrower a second glance. However, she did not advance further towards Jyn. The whole situation was so terribly awkward. She heard small noises coming from the satchel. A pet?


"I don't think you did, dear. I just want to talk. I felt you in the Force when you were moving down the alley. I'm a local noblewoman here. Dear, I can see you've been through a lot and probably aren't inclined to trust anything I say. But if I wanted to hurt you, I would have done so a good while ago," she kept her voice gentle and calm. She was still leaning heavily on her cane, but made no attempt to hide the potency of her Force Signature.

 

[Lief]

Slowly reason made itself into the girl's consciousness. Of course, what the woman said was true... But maybe that was just a way to lure her into a false sense of security? For a second she scrutinized Siobhan... Then she carefully replaced the slugthrower to her belt and shouldered the satchel so it was better supported. "I'm listening" she finally said, not once removing her gaze from the woman. The slugthrower wasn't returned to safety - which was in truth a potential mistake on her part, gun safety and all that - yet she had no real intention of using it right now... Unless pressed to.

Reaching her hand back into the satchel she calmed Fuz with little more than a gentle touch, and sought out some of the few nuts they had left. Scattering them inside for him to gorge upon she finally stepped from the wall and straightened herself up. She looked very disheveled, but hey... Jyn had no home. She'd been left in the wilderness for quite some time!

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Jyn Sol"]


"Ok. That's all I'm asking," Siobhan spoke gently. She was under no illusions about the girl trusting her. She saw Jyn reach back into the satchel, apparently passing over some treats. To a pet, presumably. Siobhan wondered what it was.


This one thinks Jyn should get a Jester! "Despite your words, I believe you are running from someone. That's fine with me. I don't think you did anything wrong. If it's Sith, well, I hate them and I've spent most of my life killing them. Are you hungry? We can get something to eat. I can give you shelter for the night and if you want to leave then, I won't get in your way. I just don't think you should be lost and alone."

 

[Lief]

Keeping her hand with Fuz, Jyn nodded just once. She could listen, she could talk... She supposed that did no harm. After all, she was a nobody. It was hardly as if she was worth harming, she had no information to give, no worldly goods. Besides, this one didn't seem like a Sith, she didn't have the presence of an Inquisitor. Perhaps Jyn could meet in the middle here.

Well, this one's writer thinks that a Jester would be a tragic irony considering the turn of events that takes place some two threads after this one! Regardless of the breaching of the fourth wall, Jyn pondered on what was being said. Was she running from someone? Or was it more herself? Her past? Something far more intangible... Hm, it was an interesting thought, no doubt.

At the mention of the Sith and this woman's disdain for them she began to nod her head some. While the woman's presence was a little darker than many, she was definitely no Sith, so her words stood true to Jyn's perceptions... however strong or not they may have been. "I..." she bit her lip some... Did she take one small leap of faith?

The rumbling of her stomach was enough to help her decide.

"I'll come with you... But just for one night." She had to keep on the trail, after all. She had to keep up her research in search for... Whatever it was she had happened upon at Teth.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Jyn Sol"]


"Ok, dear. Just one night and you'll be on your way tomorrow. Wherever you want to go. I won't get in the way," Siobhan said in a gentle tone, taking another step forward so that she had crossed the distance to the girl, though not in a hasty manner.


One hand remained on her cane, her fingers wrapping themselves around it tightly. Her free hand was stretched out to Jyn. Siobhan reflected on the fact that it would be best to make sure that [member="Mirien Valdier"] and Jyn did not run into each other! It was unlikely that the girl would take an encounter with the former Grand Inquisitor well. "What's your name, dear? Is that a pet in your satchel?" she asked softly. It was a bit awkward having her head stuffed full with Mirien's memories and knowledge of the girl, yet having to act as if she did not know her.

 

[Lief]

One night.

Surey Jyn could manage one night in company. It had been so long since she had spent more than a brief space flight with anyone else for company, and even then she had kept to herself. She wasn't entirely certain just how well this would end up, but it was worth a try. Hopefully it would not remind her of the last time she had spent an evening with strangers. The Inquisition had, after all, terrified her that night.

When Sio neared her Jyn instinctively backed up but the wall was already pressed against her torso and thus prevented much movement. Forcing herself to realise that this woman wasn't here to kill her, or worse, she fought to keep calm. Her name was insignificant these days, Jyn was a nobody. Not that it bothered her, sometimes it was much easier to be forgettable.

"Jyn... I'm Jyn" she murmured, before chewing on her lip. Clutching tighter at the satchel, she narrowed her eyes at Sio and shook her head. "No! It's... It's a satchel!" she said, in a rather stupid and childish manner. She could not allow her sole companion to be compromised!

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Jyn Sol"]


"It's ok, dear. I won't hurt your friend," Siobhan spoke quickly in what she hoped was a soothing tone, seeing how skittish and fearful Jyn was becoming. Seeing what effect her actions had had on the girl she took a step back. Last thing she wanted to do was appear threatening. Goddess knew Jyn had been through enough - and Siobhan only knew what Mirien did.


"I have a little friend at my villa as well. He's called Grrbyrr. A Jester...a little furry. I'll make sure your friend gets something to eat as well."

 

[Lief]

If this woman intended on harming her, there would be very little Jyn could do. And the same went for Fuz. With a soft yet reluctant sigh the girl chewed on her lip and gently released the satchel flap so that Fuz could clamber on out. Which he did; climbing up her shoulder, Fuz wrapped one arm around the back of her head and stared at Sio curiously. A little "oo" escaped his lips, and for a second he became excitable. Yet, feeling the anxiety of his companion the little monkey soon calmed down.

"This... This is Fuz" she said, purposely showing the monkey to another being for the first time in her life. Sure, Tirdarius had seen Fuz - but that was purely accidental. This, however, was a unique turn of events.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Jyn Sol"]


Jyn had calmed down, which was good, and now Siobhan made acquaintance with the girl's monkey. She could see how protective and attached both were to one another. The thought that this might have been Jyn's only real companion for a long time entered Siobhan's mind. Poor soul.


"Hey Fuz, I'm Siobhan," she said gently. "I'm not gonna hurt you or Jyn." Having said that she stretched out her hand, the one that was not gripping her cane, to gently pet the monkey. There was a bright smile on her face. Reaching into her coat she got out a treat for the lil monkey.

 

[Lief]

Jyn stood and watched the way in which the woman interacted with her companion, and felt calm spread through the furry little creature. Satisfied that no harm had come to him she eased up herself and allowed Sio to take all the time she wanted to try and get the monkey on side. Her gaze drifted down to the cane, and with a curious pout she inquired; "What happened to your leg?"

Tipping her head to one side, she swiftly retracted her gaze upward so as not to cause discomfort to the woman. Then, reaching back, the girl recalled the safety on the slugthrower... There was no need to have the gun active at this point. Jyn was resigned to the night ahead!

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Jyn Sol"]


"One building too many dropped on it. Happened on Alderaan fighting Vong a couple months ago," Siobhan said in response, feeling just a little self-conscious about her injury. Thanks to Akala the Force had been terribly wonky and so she had been caught by her own tornado and flung around. Suffice to say, it had hurt a lot and was not something she wanted to go through again.


Then again, her leg had already been a bit of a mess before. Her disability was the culmination of more than a decade of fighting and battering ramming. As much as Siobhan hated to admit it, she was not getting any younger and was now past her prime. She looked at Jyn, noting that she had recalled the safety on her gun, which made Siobhan smile. "Come on, dear. I'll take you to my villa. You can get food and fresh clothes there. My shuttle isn't far." Hand wrapped tightly around her cane she would slowly turn around to lead Jyn out of the alleyway.