Who Liberates You? (Mia)

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Hearing footsteps, Galina glanced to the door smiling warmly as she saw her mum and a stranger. "Just the Quantum Physics book you got me, skimming through the uncertainty principle right now, a little light reading." If this was what the redhead considered to be light reading, it did make one wonder what heavy and intense study was for like for the Wildling Galina.

Reaching up, she wrapped her arms tightly around Siobhan for a moment before she stood to greet their guest. "Mia, it's nice to meet you." She said softly as she offered her hand to shake Mia's. "Hunting Vornskrs, yes? Cannot really forget that story, mum. So exciting." The little redhead said cheerfully. "Mummy, told me about that, and Reavers was it? You're very brave from what mum tells me of you. Happy to meet face that goes alongside the story mum keeps telling me." Admittedly her basic was greatly improving but still a few words would get left out here and there. And sometimes if one spoke too quickly she'd still miss out on what was being said. Something she was getting better at, but such things took time. "One day, I'd like to see a vornskr in person. They seem to be interesting creatures."

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Mia Monroe"]

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Mia smiled warmly taking Galina's hand in hers and shaking it. "Su'cuy ad'ika." Her smile widened as the girl recalled stories and she raised an eyebrow at Siobhan. "Such wonderful stories you tell, Great Annihilator." she commented before turning her attention back to the girl. "I'd never considered myself as brave...just..." the word 'mandalorian' rested on the tip of her tongue and she bit it back and shrugged instead.

"I would like, very much, to show you a vornskr, Galina." She grinned slightly "Perhaps even how to train one?"

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mia Monroe"], [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]


Siobhan fought hard to suppress a chuckle and failed. "It's gonna end with Galina wanting to come home with a little pet vornskr, I just know it," she joked goodnaturedly. Her daughter really seemed to have a weakness for very dangerous animals.


She gave Mia an amused look. "Indeed, I tell great stories, my Chaos Champion. The best bedtime stories ever, don't I, Galina?" she asked sardonically. "Mia is a very good friend mine. She's a tough woman you can learn a lot from, sweetie." This was said genuinely and without sarcasm.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

"Ah, come on mum ... If it's as cute as a nexu, how could you possibly mind?" The redhead already thinking of what it'd be like to have a Vornskr in the house would be like. For after all, the young lady did absolutely love dangerous animals. And it seemed the more dangerous, the more interested she was in them. Perhaps this was all a plot to give Siobhan a heart attack, when she came home to something like a tiny Nexu cub, gnawing on a bone in the living room.

"I'd love that. Training one, I imagine is so exciting!" Clearly the young woman was quite interested in this subject. No doubt, Mia would soon rocket to the top of her favorite Auntie list, if such an experience were to happen. Yup, totally a plot to make Siobhan have a heart attack. "I just, like animals a lot. Especially predators, fascinating creatures."

"The best. Nothing like what they write in the books and fairytales, far better." She was absolutely grinning from ear to ear, about as bubbly as she'd been in months. It seemed she might actually be returning to her normal happy self, after the revelation that she too was a force user had caused her more than a small fright.

"Yes, I would imagine so." For a moment her mind did wander to the possibilities of what she could learn from a woman like Mia.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Mia Monroe"]

 

[Lina Ovmar]

"Nexu's are cute." Mia agreed with an incline of her head. Oh yes, she and Galina would get on fine, perhaps this was not one of Siobhan's best idea's. As for what Galina could learn, Mia was a walking encyclopedia on force powers. If Mia didn't do it, it didn't mean she couldn't teach it, she had Velok to thank for that.

"How do you feel about coming to stay with me? We can explore Sanctum Space, maybe take a trip into mandalorian space." she shrugged "Wherever you want to go, within reason."

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mia Monroe"], [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]


Siobhan looked part amused, part exacerbated. "Nexu and vornskr aren't pets to keep in the house. They'll...eat Grrbyrr or bite of your hand, sweetie. I knew I should have let you stay the night at Auntie Cory's. She's a bad influence. And don't you encourage her," she glanced over to Mia. This writer thinks Galina totally needs some dangerous pets.


She had the feeling that Auntie Mia would be a bad influence as well. There, the Liberator had been formally adopted into the big Kerrigan-Alcori family since lil Galina wanted her as an auntie! As for Mia being a walking encyclopeidia thanks to everyone's favourite, world-destroying talking warthog, this one thinks she and Sio need a training session. Surely Siobhan could learn a thing or two!


She gave Mia a nod after she had spoken, grateful for the way the woman was presenting the idea of taking Galina offworld. The Liberator would feel a brush of the Force against her mind as Siobhan sent her a telepathic message. Galina's got the Force, but she's scared of using it because of her past. She's from a war-torn planet where 'Mages' tyrannised the people. Been trying to slowly ease her into trusting herself. Travelling on spaceships is scary for her because her parents died in a crash. She likes it when I take her flying though,


Mandalorians were not known for pep-talks, but Mia had come late to the Force and because of Velok's manipulations, something she had no control over. Never mind the fact that Mandalorians did not trust force-users. Well, she was dar'manda now, but the point still stood. Perhaps she could reach Galina in ways Siobhan had difficulty to. "I trust Mia, so if you want to travel for a bit you have my blessing. She has a place on Laekia, in Sanctum space. Stick to Mandalorian and LS space. No wild adventures...nothing too wild. Stay out of trouble. I can accompany you for the first step of the way to LS space and spend a few days with you. And I'll give Tempest a call."

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

"Oh, I like you." She said to Mia before turning to Sio. "I'm so keeping her." Galina giggled most cheerfully. It seemed she'd found a bit of a kindred spirit, who found dangerous creatures like vornskr, and nexu adorable. Bad influence or no, the young woman was determined now to get to know Mia.

"But mum, Auntie Coryth keeps Mittens in the house and he's so much fun. He'd never eat Grrbyrr. And I got to ride on him last time, and feed him half a nerf. He was rather sweet. Hardly a bad influence." At least that was what Galina thought. In her opinion of all of eighteen years of life, Coryth was a great influence on her.

She cocked her head curiously to the side as Mia offered her to come and stay for a while. Then a glance to her mother as words were exchanged. For a moment, she bit nervously at her lip, and pondered silently the option. She'd not been off of Kaeshana in over eight years, and well her experiences with spaceships weren't exactly great. Especially considering the last time she'd travelled off world, from her homeworld, Sigma 957... Her family perished in a crash onto Kaeshana and little Galina at no older than ten was left to survive alone with nothing but the tools she could make herself.

"S-so .." The slight stutter couldn't be helped, anxiety creeping in at the thought already. "I'd .." Galina stopped herself, getting frustrated at her inability to fully form a sentence at that very moment. Taking in a deep breath, the young woman took a moment to compose herself. "I would like to go." She said quietly, before her eyes fell to the ground.

It took another moment or two before Galina would speak again. "I'm curious about the galaxy, just .... afraid. Afraid of crashing again, of losing family." One couldn't blame her too much. She'd been incredibly fortunate to survive the accident that killed her parents. Lucky to have survived all alone.

"Would you come? For a little while, mum? I'd feel better about making the journey, about flying in a spaceship again if you were there."

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Mia Monroe"]

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Mia was quiet for a moment, contemplating Siobhan's words and watching the girl carefully. She'd been there once. So hateful towards force users, untrusting of their intentions and that was before Daxton Bane kept her as a pet. Then came along Velok. Velok who threw all his knowledge at her in one lump. Of all the ways for a sith hating mandalorian to discover that she was force sensitive.

She understood Galina's mistrust of her powers better than anyone.

Reaching forward she brushed a strand of red hair from Galina's cheek. "She'll come, ad'ika. We'll have you flying without fear in no time." She looked to Siobhan smiling, slightly. If there was anyone in the galaxy that could help Galina face her fears and smile, it was them. "Oya."

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mia Monroe"], [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]


Siobhan smiled at Mia and gently took Galina's hand into her own,giving it a squeeze. "Of course I'll come with you, angel. Firemane can wait for a bit and run itself." [member="Mirien Valdier"] would find herself getting promoted again! For some time the Eldorai could handle organising their exodus on their own.


"I'd love to spend time with you. And Mia's right, we'll have you love flying in no time. It's time you saw a bit of space beyond this little planet, as lovely as it is. We'll have some fun together." It would also be good for Galina because in time they would have to leave Kaeshana behind them. Moreover, she needed to become less sheltered and unsure of herself. Besides, it might help Mia having someone else around. Someone who did not arrogantly claim the right to judge her when they had no clue what she had been through.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina had plenty of reason to fear the force. The Mages of Sigma, had wreaked havoc on her world for nearly a thousand years. They had been something akin to Sith, elemental force users hell bent on ruling with an iron fist. Locking the planet in a brutal civil war that spared no one. Man, woman, child; it hardly mattered. So many lives lost needlessly. And young Galina had been drug into the war, far too early. The tender age of ten she found herself on a battlefield fighting for survival, only weeks before her biological parents risked everything to get their only surviving child to safety.

She hardly trusted force users outside of her adoptive mother and Tempest now, certainly didn't trust herself. Not that a soul could really blame her on that. Finding out, she too was one had turned her world upside down. It was something, she still was trying to work out.

The soft traces of a smile formed upon her lips as Mia brushed away the fiery lock. A nod followed. It was all she could really manage as her thoughts once more drifted to the greater galaxy. So many things she'd read about out there, that she had yet to experience. Life couldn't be lived only on Kaeshana, not when that chapter would soon close.

"O-okay." She finally whispered, the nerves clear as her voice wavered briefly. Though, she wasn't entirely sure anyone could get her to love flying. It was something Galina knew, she'd have to face eventually. Be it now, or a little under a year from now when they had no choice but to leave the planet behind.

"When do we leave?"

[member="Mia Monroe"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Mia leant against the door frame and gave a shrug. "Well the ship can be refuelld and fully supplied within the hour, so its up to you two."

She looked to Siobahn "I imagine it'll take you more time than that to make sure Firemane is functioning without you." She left it to them, she was in no real rush to head back to Levantine territory, all that awaited her were reminders. At least here, with the Kerrigan's, Mia could forget.

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"][member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mia Monroe"], [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]


Siobhan gave Mia a nod. "Yeah, there's no rush to leave. I'll have to set things in order with Firemane to make sure it runs smoothly. I'll have a chat with [member="Mirien Valdier"] about that. She'll be running things in my absence," she glanced over to the Liberator. "Great woman. You two should really meet. Think you'd get on."


She wondered how Mirien would feel about running things. Hopefully not too overwhelmned. It was true that she was a spook and not a businesswoman, but then Siobhan was not a natural either. Of course, there were other people she could appoint to run things. People trained for a business role...but she did not trust them the way she did Mirien. Moreover, to her it would feel a bit insulting to have Mirien take orders from minions. "You can stay the night here if you want, Mia."

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

For a moment, Galina just glanced between Mia and Siobhan and listened to both. Resting an elbow against her chair's arm she then laid her cheek into her hand. In truth, the longer they waited, the redhead felt like the more chances it gave her to change her mind. And that was something she didn't want. She'd been brave enough to agree to leave the planet, for the moment, but wasn't entirely sure such bravery would last.

"So a day or two?" Lina hoped not longer than that.

"Would you, Mia? Please?" She asked, returning to a more cheerful state as she pushed her worries away. "I'd like you too. Want to get to know you better." Maybe that was what she needed to feel a little more comfortable about her first offworld adventure.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Mia Monroe"]

 

[Lina Ovmar]

A day or two worked out perfectly for Mia, it gave her a little time to get used to the idea of having people around her again.

She nodded in confirmation to the pair of them. "Alright, I'll stay." she glanced at Siobhan "It'll give us a chance to do some training without it being in the confines of my ship." She grinned. No doubt the two powerhouses would cause a little damage around them if training together.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mia Monroe"], [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]


There, the Kerrigan clan had gotten another family member! For her part Siobhan smiled very brightly when Mia agreed. "Excellent, that sounds fun. I've got a big training room in the basement and there's a forest close by, so we can get some training done. Been a while since I've had another Master to spar with. Sure you have some tricks you can show me." She tactfully avoided mentioning Velok's knowledge. She knew Mia had gotten it stuffed into her brain and frankly did not care.


Knowledge was knowledge. It could be used for good or evil. Having it did not change who Mia was far as Siobhan was concerned. As for training, this one wonders whether the two might end up burning down the forest if they had a round in it. On the flip side, it would end up being destroyed anyway once the asteroid of doom hit it. "We'll have a guest room for you in the villa."

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Rising from her chair, Galina stepped forward and wrapped both arms around Mia. "It'll be good to have you here." She said excitedly before pulled away.

For her part, she was still a little shy. Moving back alongside Siobhan, the redhead laid her head gently upon Sio's shoulder. "Glad to have you Mia."

[member="Mia Monroe"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Lina Ovmar]

The hug caught Mia off guard, she tensed, drawing in a sharp breath. She found herself counting rapidly in her head, unclenching her muscles with careful practice. It would not do well to upset Galina so early on. She was away from her as quickly as she'd pounced on her and Mia released a breath she'd been holding in and forcing a smile to her lips. It was different with Siobhan, she knew the woman well, she was her sister and though it should have been no different with Galina, but it was.

"Excuse me." she managed before slipping away from the pair. She needed air. She needed to step back for a moment and calm her racing mind. She found the door easier than she'd expected, cool air rushing over her face she sucked it in in great gulps and closed her eyes. Slowly but surely she steadied her racing heart, calmed her breathing. She'd thought herself past this problem, but her solitude had clearly caused a relapse in her mental state.

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Mia Monroe"], [member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]


Siobhan could only sigh when Mia got up and slipped out of the room, needing space. She could hear the intake of air as the Liberator swallowed it in great gulps, hear her heart race as if going on a Marathon. Did Siobhan pity? No, not at all. If Mia had not been the strong woman she was she would not have survived the torture at the hand of Daxton Bane or that Talith monster or returned from the dead.


But...Siobhan wanted to help her. In her mind they were sisters. Hell, when she thought about it, Mia was a good deal like the sister she had lost. However, she gave Mia some space and rather than follow immediately took Galina's hand into hers and gave it a squeeze before hugging her daughter gently. She felt bad for her daughter, who was probably extremely confused. Galina had progressed well and was shaping up to be a sweet girl, but she did not understand social protocol well yet. "It's ok, Galina. You did nothing wrong. Mia's just been through hell. Getting close to others isn't easy for her," she said softly. She waited a few moments, then slowly got up and walked to the door towards Mia. "Mia, you ok?" she asked gently, though she made no further move towards her.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina's brow knitted together as Mia excused herself from them. Cocking her head to the side, she looked to Siobhan for an explaination. She knew too well, she barely had a grasp on social protocols. For she'd really only been back in society for a few months now. While she was progressing well, some things she just failed to understand just yet.

She sighed softly, and nodded slowly. "I didn't know, I'm sorry." Whispering quietly as she wandered over to her bed to sit for a moment. In truth, she felt bad for her actions now, wishing she had known that before. So, for now Galina let her mother take the lead, and let them both have the space that was needed.

[member="Mia Monroe"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Lina Ovmar]

She had her back to Siobhan, but gave a hasty nod. Too hasty if truth be told because she wasn't ok, but she was full of pride and too stubborn to admit defeat, even to one as close to her as Siobhan. Thumbs hooked through the loops of her belt as she drew in another slow breath, her exhale was steadier than the others had been and she opened her eyes. Hands shaking slightly, she raised them to her face and rubbed away unwanted tears.

"Kark, I'm sorry." she said finally, turning round. "I wasn't prepared for that. Spending far too much time on my own these days." she managed a weak smile. A sudden shudder ran through her body and she shook it off, clearing her throat and taking a step closer to Siobhan. "She ok?"


[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]