Fandom Star Wars: Demesne [Closed]

[cleopat]

Eli assured her that he wanted to stay. Cora sighed in relief, a reaction she didn’t mean to do, and stepped into the laboratory. Expectedly, it was still empty. She directed him over to her station and turned on the projector.

Cora cracked a smile with Eli’s lighthearted joking. “No, I suppose you don’t quite look like him, but you can stand on a chair if you’d like.” And that would be the only similarity between the two. Could Eli even appear intimidating at all? Maybe not quite like Thrawn.

She considered his practice presentation idea, and nodded as she pulled out her datapad. “Okay, yeah, maybe that’s a good idea. You can help me smooth out any rough edges in what I want to say to him.” Which was more than he had to do for her (even if Cora would argue that he was the reason she was in this mess to begin with).

Cora looked over at Eli, and she started to take a step toward him before a ping on her datapad distracted her. A new message from the Grand Admiral.

I am headed to your laboratory now, Lieutenant-Commander.

She frowned and huffed. “Well, it looks like we won’t have time for a practice run. He’s headed over now.”

~~

Hala let out a shuddering breath at the touch, as she attempted to process the sorrow. It was another issue she had with the Jedi. They were never taught how to handle or process emotions, only to control them. And even to that day, Hala still didn’t know how to properly handle her grief over her loss.

But she had learned over the years that bottling it up sucked.

Hala reached up with her other hand and placed it on top of Ae’lia consoling hand. She didn’t remove it, but kept it in her grasp for a comforting gesture. “No, I wasn’t with him.” Her voice had gone softer as her sorrow pushed forward. “I was supposed to be with him, but there was a delay.”

The tears started again, and Hela didn’t try to stop them from rolling down her cheeks. “I was on a reconnaissance mission on a different planet. A small one, but there had been a mechanical issue with my ship, and it delayed my departure by a few hours.” And the minor delay by something she couldn’t have prevented stayed with her for all those years in guilt she could never get rid of.

It manifested in numerous what if scenarios of if she had made it back, with the biggest one Would I have been able to save him? Save both of us?

 

[Lucyfer]

The relief was a bit more obvious now, and Eli was glad for that as the laboratory doors shut behind them. He tried not to frown at her comment of standing on a chair. He’d brought the tease on himself, but somehow it still annoyed him. A little.

As she spoke of him helping, he did spot a chair – and he did go to stand on it. If she remained relaxed, or at least a little amused, maybe it’d go better for her. She’d feel a little more confident, right?

Even at the expense of some of his dignity. He folded his arms behind his back, “Okay, I’m read—” it amused him a little, before Cora was interrupted by a message. As she indicated its contents, he hopped off the chair.

Best for Thrawn not to know about that.

He went to a more appropriate position near the table, “It’s gonna be all right,” Eli said. "Just imagine Thrawn standing on a chair."

~***~

Ae’lia could imagine too easily the grief that Hala had felt in the moment. The grief she still felt now was testament to that. She could imagine the questions, and the blame. The ‘if this hadn’t happened’ – could she have saved her former master? Or would they both be dead instead?

Yet the truth remained: that moment could not have been taken back, and they would never know what would have been different if she had made it in time. “You have my heart,” it was an expression of the wookiees she had become fond of, the promise of empathy and compassion, the promise of time, thought, care – to give over oneself to the feelings of the other, to share it. “We will never know what could have been,” Hala did not need to say it, “but I have known those thoughts just as well. What if I never left? Could I have saved anyone, or would I be just as dead?”

The truth, she thought, was also obvious. Terribly obvious. “I have felt such guilt for living.” And she was certain, so, too, did Hala. Because they had lived, not through bravery, but by being away. By fluke.

These were Jedi better than her, that had died. The reason she lived, was because she wasn’t there. The reason Hala lived, was because she wasn’t there.

She lifted her hand to brush a tear away from Hala’s face, though not the one that was enclosed by Hala’s hand, which remained still on her arm. “Tell me about Parsa,” Ae’lia requested, “I’d have him live again for us, for a little while,” for however long Hala’s words could make him live, however long she desired it, Ae’lia would be there.

 

[cleopat]

Cora hardly believed that Eli actually took in her joke of a suggestion. She clasped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter as he straightened himself up in the chair.

Oh stars, now she really did want to hug him.

Damn Thrawn for his timing. She rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Oddly enough, I think that image may work.” The ever serious Chiss standing on a chair? Oh Admiral, my admiral. “Thank you for everything. It really does help.” She smiled and turned her head to the project and her datapad.

The projector remained blank for the moment, but Cora worked on bringing up her project and making last minute edits to smooth out minor details she had caught sight of earlier during her demonstration to Eli.

Her silence was interrupted with the blaster doors to her lab opened, revealed Grand Admiral Thrawn on the other side. Cora stood at attention, and inclined her head, “Grand Admiral.”

“Lieutenant-Commander.” He returned the gesture, before his eyes landed on Eli. He raised one eyebrow at seeing his officer there, but he wouldn’t question it, nor would he request for him to leave. If Eli wanted to watch, and Cora had no objection, then he could stay.

~~

Hala did not doubt that Ae’lia would share similar thoughts of her own survival, and likewise of anyone who may still be alive. It was something that they would have to learn to get over, as it was useless to think anything else. What happened was in the past, and they needed to focus on the now.

She did consider that Ae’lia may harbor more guilt for surviving after leaving the Jedi Order, leaving everyone she knew behind, only to live because of being away by happenstance. Hala gently squeezed her hand. Another point of similarity between them in their shared guilt.

There was a light smile to cross her face at the suggestion of discussing Parsa. “I remember when I was first assigned to be his padawan, I had wondered to myself why the Jedi Council made this decision. We were complete opposites. He was always so cool and levelheaded with patience that knew no bounds, and I was this ball of pure energy who always managed to hurt myself from attempting something I knew I didn’t quite have the skills for. I guess that’s why we became Padawan and Master – we were two halves who helped complete each other.”

She let out a soft sigh. “I think we may have aggravated one another in the very beginning, but we were quick to mesh together quite well, and I learned that he had this sense of dry humor that came at a complete surprise for me.” And his frequent quips had never failed to make her laugh.

“But what about you? Who was your Master?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli knew he had helped as Cora smiled, tried not to laugh too hard. He’d take it. Anything that aided her confidence right then would be useful, no matter how small, and he silently watched her work a bit on the project before they were interrupted by the doors opening. He shifted away, straightened up, and stood at attention.

“Grand Admiral,” he greeted as well.

He couldn’t offer a reason for being there, but he knew from the look on Thrawn’s face that he wasn’t going to be dismissed. Thrawn was curious, but likely not so inclined to ask for an explanation right then.

Maybe later.

Maybe not.

Either way, Eli would turn his gaze briefly over to Cora, the more neutral expression melting into a warmer smile of encouragement. ‘You got this.’ He wanted to say again, but didn’t. It was time for her to begin the presentation.

~***~

Ae’lia floated her empty cup down to join the tea set. There was likely more tea in the pot, and idly she began to pour more into Hala’s cup with the Force, without letting her attention waver at what details Hala could offer of Parsa. The Jedi Council had assigned it, rather than Parsa selecting. ‘Were you chosen that much closer to the war?’ Or perhaps Parsa had wanted a padawan, but had been uncertain.

“I believe you are correct about that. We are meant to learn from our Masters, but they were also meant to learn from us,” even those like Yoda took padawans to learn, as he had taken Dooku on – his last padawan. She wondered what lessons that had taught him, at the end, when Dooku chose to leave the Order.

The tea cup would float up, a silent offer to Hala to take the cup if she desired more. Internal warmth for the talking through of who Parsa had been. Who Parsa still was. “Tell me of one of those situations with his humor,” Ae’lia encouraged, “and I’ll tell you of Master Vook,” she had introduced herself as his padawan, but wouldn’t hold it against Hala for having that slip her mind right then.

 

[cleopat]

After simple formalities, Thrawn directed his attention on the reason why he was there. “Officer Suvan, you may proceed whenever you’re ready.” His hand gestured out.

Cora smiled, swallowing her nerves, and nodded. “Of course, sir, and thank you for allowing me the opportunity.” Thrawn said nothing to that, but the barest hint of a smile flickered across his expression. Her eyes had flittered over at Eli, and she felt herself relaxing at the warmth his smile brought. You can do this, Cora.

“This project was partly inspired with the chaotic mess that is our current mapping system.” She pressed a few buttons on her datapad, and a hologram of their current sector was brought up. “It may work well with our known worlds from the Core to the Outer Rims, but once we get outside of there?” Another button was pressed, and the hologram shifted into a layout of what they had in their database for Wild Space.

“It becomes more disorganized, as we have yet been able to find a way to organize planets into sectors and systems. So while I’m working on a way to better organize them in a cartographical manner, I’ve been ensuring that the planets themselves are organized with defining their coordinates, obviously, and traits, such as known resources, climate, water content, and so on.” She took a pause to breathe, and in the moment her eyes looked at Thrawn, who remained wholly focused on the projector.

He was relaxed in a ponderous pose, with his chin resting on his forefinger and thumb in simple contemplation. “Can you bring up only the planets with an average surface temperature below freezing?”

Cora nodded and did just that. The hologram shifted until those known planets suspended before them. Including Mygeeto, Thrawn mentally noted.

“Of course there is still much to be done, including creating an actual better map,” she slightly chuckled, “and potentially adding more characteristics to define set planets, but this is what I have so far.”

Thrawn only took a second to respond, but for Cora, it may have been an hour. He nodded, and he offered her a warm smile. “There is great potential for this new program.” She had almost sensed a but, yet this Chiss continued without hesitation, “What will you need to continue this project?”

Cora wasn’t sure she had heard correctly at first. The Grand Admiral actually liked it? Thank you Eli. “Well, honestly, sir? Just permission to work on this during my shift instead of some of my other tasks.”

~~

Hala took the cup without much thought. The tea served as a bit of warmth for her while she reminisced on old memories with her new friend. She chuckled. “I can believe that. We certainly learned much from one another over the years.” Even up until the end.

And he served as someone Hala consoled in for everything. When she became frustrated with the way the Jedi worked during Ahsoka’s ‘betrayal’ and trial, and with their reaction to Barriss’s truth, she vented to Parsa, who calmly listened and offered his advice. Although they ended that issue on a disagreement, they were able to see the other’s side and why they felt the way they did.

Parsa knew Hala had begun to waver from the Jedi Order, but he did not hold any contempt over it.

Ae’lia offered an exchange of a tale for a tale, and Hala nodded her agreement. “No particular line can come to mind at the moment,” no thanks to her attempts to push away pleasant memories over the years, “but I do recall one day we had overheard Obi-Wan Kenobi mentioning how blasters were uncivilized weapons.”

Which, they hadn’t disagreed with, but it was the manner he delivered that statement that amused them. “Later that day, we were practicing combat with prop sabers, and he managed to disarm me and grabbed my prop. He took a look at it, and remarked ‘So uncivilized.’” She didn’t know if Ae’lia would necessarily find it humorous, but in the moment, Parsa garnered a boisterous laugh from Hala.

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli was a silent observer, a silent encourager, as Cora began to speak and show what she had. Thrawn observed, too, and Eli’s gaze flickered from the project, to Thrawn, trying to get a read on Thrawn the entire time. He knew he shouldn’t hope to jump in and interject, if it looked like Thrawn wasn’t impressed – that wouldn’t help anyone – but the desire was always there.

Thankfully, Thrawn didn’t seem to look disinterested.

And he spoke to test it. Cora was able to do just that – Eli counted them, making notes of the ones he recognized, and those he didn’t. Were there too few? Were there too many? He didn’t know. He wondered if Thrawn knew, as he assessed it.

In either case, Thrawn didn’t dismiss the project. He was encouraged by it, and interested in what could be done to help Cora finish it up. “If we’re going to be here on Coruscant for a bit, it shouldn’t be too hard to give her time to work on it. You have mostly been doing transcriptions, right?”

Taking down the notes and the like, “With the Survey Corps in our crew as grounded as us right now, I’m sure they could take up that work if they don’t have other projects,” Eli offered as a way to use their resources. The Survey Corps who were usually on field missions, could have some time to do book-work, rather than laze around.

Cora actually had a project that would better the Empire.

Transcription was important – it’s why Eli didn’t suggest it simply be put to the side – but this needed worked on, too.

~***~

Hala offered a tale, including Obi-Wan Kenobi and his penchant for charming humor. Obi-Wan had been well known among them all, not in the least for the fact he trained Anakin Skywalker, an unusual addition to the Order. Someone who had truly known his family, and his mother. The weight he carried was obvious.

But his remark had apparently carried through the day for Hala and Parsa, and Ae’lia did laugh a bit, imagining someone stoic grabbing a training blade and just offering such an off-hand comment about it. She couldn’t help but find amusement in it, thinking of some of the more serious people she’d met doing something like that.

Little Hala must have been taken by surprise, too.

“Parsa sounds like a delightful master,” Ae’lia chuckled, drawing her hands back, “My own, Master Vook, chose me,” different from the Jedi selecting Hala for Parsa. Or Parsa for Hala. “It was after we had the opportunity to showcase our ability with lightsabers.” Dooku had left by then; Ae’lia had no hope of being his padawan, but she had learned from him when he taught Thranta, and her skill carried over.

She was among the best duelists, because she did not aspire to deal with conflict beyond the necessary – beyond Sith. “He saw my control with the blade, and he mistook me for someone with a future as a knight,” she smiled, “I hadn’t decided then, but I certainly decided after dealing with him.” The memories were still so fresh on her mind, “He was aggressive, and he was volatile, and he was still learning Form VII when I joined him. He mastered it because of me,” because Form VII required the emotions, and the control, and she forced him into learning that, in many respects, because he had to deal with her, as much as she had to deal with him. “I still remember after three weeks of being his padawan, I…I didn’t go see him for training. I went to the Grand Master and I begged him to find me someone else, anyone else, because I couldn’t stand being with Master Vook any longer.”

Oh what a foolish child she’d been, then, and the flush of her cheeks showed some embarrassment for that. “Things improved…but I still remember Master Yoda taking the time out to get gelato with me and help me understand what I needed to about the opportunity to work with Vook. He said if I was still unhappy after a month, he would find someone else.”

 

[cleopat]

Cora waited with bated breath as Eli added in his own thoughts to Thrawn. Thoughts that aimed to help her get tasked to work on her own project. She merely nodded when his question was directed at her. “Yes, that’s right.”

Damned boring transcriptions.

Thrawn nodded as he considered what Eli said. The Survey Corps would mainly be doing a lot of desk work for the foreseeable future because of the Coruscant situation, and many would need to be tasked with extra assignments as the days passed and other work was completed.

Certainly they had enough officers in the Survey Corps to justify allowing Officer Suvan to pursue her project. “How many hours do you spend in the laboratory a week, Commander?”

Cora quickly did the math in her head, with five standard shifts a week, and most of her work being lab work. On occasion, she was sent to other parts of the ship to complete what was needed, so she took that into consideration. “Approximately thirty-five hours, sir.”

The time seemed a bit much for Survey Corps, in Thrawn’s opinion, and he made a note of that for later. “While we are stationed above Coruscant, you are allowed twelve hours a week during your shifts to work on this project. In a few weeks, we will revisit this project to see if more time needs to be allocated for it.”

A grin stretched across Cora’s face at the news, and her happiness a small smile to appear on Thrawn’s expression. In some ways, in the ways she reacted, Officer Suvan reminded him of Eli Vanto. “Oh, thank you, sir. This means a lot.”

“You’re welcome, officer. If there is anything needed for the project, such as funding or upgraded tech, you may type up a report and have it sent to me by the end of tomorrow’s cycle.” Cora nodded at the additional news. While not an absolute necessity, newer tech or funding would certainly help her out a lot.

~~

Hala nodded and hummed her agreement that Parsa had been a delightful master. Patient and kind and full of wisdom for her, and although she exasperated him plenty, he never once gave up on her.

She listened as Ae’lia began her own tale of her master, Master Vook. Hala didn’t recall the name in the moment, but perhaps she would recognize the face. And in a situation different from her and her master’s own beginning, Vook had picked Ae’lia.

The descriptors for Vook surprised her. Someone aggressive and volatile did not seem like the greatest match for someone like Ae’lia, who was anything but. As far as you’ve seen. They had only met, and Hala still had much to learn about the woman.

A sympathetic expression crossed her face. It wasn’t unheard of for masters and their apprentices to not get along, but Hala hadn’t heard of many cases where one or the other asked for a reassignment. She could only imagine a young Ae’lia, running to Master Yoda and begging for someone else.

Laughter spilled from her lips. “I’m sorry, but the image of Master Yoda having gelato with a youngling was far too amusing for me.” She calmed herself before continuing, a little more serious. Only a little. “Obviously you stayed with him, but how much longer was it until you and Master Vook got along? Did you two have any more moments of clashing over the years?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli was glad to see the wheels in Thrawn’s head turning, and more pleased as Thrawn offered a consideration of how much time he wanted Cora to spend on the project. Perhaps twelve hours wasn’t much, but it was a start for her getting paid for doing this, and also being offered more resources and technology. This would help her – and depending on the progress she made, it could expand.

Perhaps she’d get her own team, at some point.

Perhaps she’d be allowed more dedicated time and resources.

He managed not to smile too broadly. None of that was said and done yet, but he had high hopes now that Thrawn had seen it, and was immediately willing to dedicate resources towards it. He saw the potential in it. He saw the potential in Cora Suvan, and now Cora would learn more about who she was serving under.

He wasn’t some pointlessly competitive officer.

He genuinely cared.

He genuinely wanted to see others succeed.

“Thank you, Grand Admiral,” he did speak up to say that, “For taking a moment out of your day to take a look at this. I thought it would interest you after I saw it,” and he was glad not to be wrong. He didn’t need recognition for recognizing the potential here, but he did need to let Thrawn know that his efforts were still appreciated. Perhaps Thrawn would still say it was part of his job as Grand Admiral and as a member of the Empire, but that didn’t mean he should be denied gratitude and appreciation.

~***~

Ae’lia shook her head as Hala apologized for laughter, “No, no, it is funny, even now, but the way I remember Master Yoda, he was always most concerned about the young,” always gentler with them, “he had been my lightsaber instructor when Dooku left,” the instructor for all of Thranta. All younglings got to work with Yoda, but Thranta had him as their saber instructor, picking up where Dooku left off.

She had seen that, and his general love of younglings, as a reason to approach him over all others, even when others might have been intimidated by his Grand Master status. The thought he would have too much else to attend to.

She clasped her hands in front of herself a moment, thinking, “We began to get along better that week following,” Master Yoda must have mentioned it, she wouldn’t for a while longer, “but I do not believe I actually found myself liking him until nearly a month later,” nearly the time that Yoda had told her to give Vook. “We were sent to Raydonia to negotiate supplies and trade for a settlement there. Raydonia hadn’t joined the Republic at the time, and had no one to help them. Master Vook tried to insist that they should join the Republic, and this would be easier, but he was met with…significant push-back for this idea. He didn’t understand.”

And who could blame him? He had been raised in it, like Ae’lia had been raised in it.

They were slaughtered, years later, by Darth Maul and Savage Oppress. It had been one of the few times that Ae’lia had felt rage. Pure, uncomplicated, rage – and it had frightened her terribly.

“He came to speak with me about it later, and I remember it was our first real conversation where he didn’t just…try to assert his position as the only one,” and they’d begun a tentative dialogue. It had taken a bit to open his mind, being met with a brick wall he couldn’t break, he had to figure out how to build something to overcome it, “They never joined the Republic, but that wasn’t our goal. We were there to help, and to show them maybe the Republic could be good – but that it wasn’t necessary for our good will. We arranged shipments with other Outer Rim traders, we helped them to learn what they had on Raydonia that would be good for trade, and helped them understand fair prices and trade so they wouldn’t be taken advantage of. We were there a good couple of months getting it organized, and that’s when we truly began to bond.” Of course, she’d learn from him how to assert herself in situations where people wanted to push her aside or ignore her.

He’d been very good at pushing his way to the front of things and being heard. “He learned to start listening…and I learned to start talking,” she laughed a bit at that, considering where she was now, and how easy it all came to her now.

 

[cleopat]

For Thrawn, it seemed intriguing how Eli spoke out his thanks for witnessing the presentation of a project from an officer he had only started talking to at the party the night before. He wouldn’t say anything on that matter, but he did make his own assumptions as his gaze easily flickered between them.

“Of course. Once I knew that this project had great potential to help the Empire, I simply had to see it for myself.” While many officers had their own personal projects, he hardly considered all of them truly of any significance to the Empire and their goals, so Cora’ project, even though she lacked the self-confidence to approach anyone else about it, had to be seen. And while he noticed some areas that could use improving, he would wait and see what Cora did first with the extra time she now had.

Cora buzzed with excitement, but she forced herself to swallow any reaction she wanted to take for her euphoria. “Again, thank you, sir. I’ll be sure you won’t end up regretting this.” Calm down, girl. He may be the Grand Admiral, but you don’t need to say ‘thank you’ every other word.

Thrawn withheld a chuckle at her obvious jubilation. “I am sure I won’t.” His ability to gauge the talents and expectations of others hadn’t failed him before, and he doubted it will now. “Now, please excuse me, but unless there is anything else you two need from me, I will need to be on my way.”

~~

Hala recalled her interactions with Master Yoda as a youngling. He was always so patient towards her, just like Master Parsa had been. She wasn’t surprised to hear that he took extra time and care to help Ae’lia when she needed the wisdom of the Grand Master, and even took the extra care to take her for gelato.

The image of Master Yoda and young Ae’lia enjoy a cup of gelato was still hilarious for Hala.

Hala found herself wishing she could meet Master Vook, the Jedi that took over a month for Ae’lia to finally warm up to, the woman who seemed to be able to get along with anyone. But they did eventually, over frustration of an assignment. “It sounds like this is where your diplomatic roots began to take root.” She took a sip of her tea as she considered what she knew of Raydonia.

The sorrow and anger Ae’lia must’ve experienced later at the massacre must have been insurmountable.

A soft smile appeared. “This is a great example of how our masters also learn from us, as we learn from them. I’m glad that things worked out for you two, and new skills were learned. Although, I do admit that it’s hard to imagine you unable to talk.” Hala chuckled a bit at her joke. Now? Now Ae’lia’s entire career depended on her ability to speak.

 

[Lucyfer]

Cora’s excitement was obvious. She was practically vibrating with it, but Eli wouldn’t call her on it. He had done good. Thrawn saw it, Cora had the time, the day was a success all around for Eli Vanto, and it would end on a high note of playing games with Faro and discussing her going to a gallery, where Thrawn would also be – and Eira, who Faro liked too much, but Eli was determined to encourage it.

If only, partially, because of Thrawn.

But he wouldn’t be saying such things now, his mood good, and his need to keep Thrawn there lacking. He inclined his head as Thrawn seemed to request dismissal. Of course, he wasn’t – he was just making sure there truly was nothing else for him. “No, there’s nothing else I need,” Eli would speak only for himself.

It probably wasn’t good to presume to speak for Cora again, and he imagined she had some confidence to answer on her own right then.

~***~

“Someone had to be diplomatic,” Ae’lia chuckled, but it was true. They had been there before, of course, but it was there they began to find purchase. It was there, she had started to develop her talent, and there those talents started to be nurtured.

She did flush, but laughed, as Hala expressed her disbelief, “I was a child!” She protested, “And I had the full support of others. Vook was…Vook was intimidating to me back then,” she shook her head a bit, “He was this abrasive knight who wouldn’t take no for an answer in negotiations or conversations, and his opinion was always right. Of course I lost my voice for a bit,” but she didn’t seem upset with it. “But…I learned how to do that, when I need to. Not…not as badly as he did it,” more chuckling, “but still. He was a young and a rash knight. He needed to learn to chill, and I needed to learn how to deal with conflict.”

And she learned. Oh, did she learn. Without the support of Thranta, without Master Yoda at her side, and with a deep need to be heard and get her point across, she learned how to step in and insert herself in ways that would make others hear her. It was, in so many ways, the best experience possible for that development, “I know all I’ve said seems terrible,” she admitted, looking down, “but Vook was young, too. We grew together in a lot of ways. By the time I left him, he had mellowed out some. After a year, we were always talking strategy, and who would approach the situation first. Almost like, good cop, bad cop,” their different approaches and different mannerisms had played out in interesting ways, with various individuals across the galaxy.

A sigh, “I do miss him.” Of course she did. “Someone like him couldn’t hide from the Empire,” he must have died fighting. She had no hope that he was out there, somewhere.

He was too fierce for that.

 

[cleopat]

Cora shook her head. “No, sir, that is all from me. I will be sure to get you that report as soon as possible.”

“I know you will.” The officer was eager enough to continue to please and ensure that everything on her end would be a success. Thrawn didn’t doubt her efficiency. “I have a few more matters to catch up on, so I will see you two later.”

He inclined his head towards them and turned around to make his way out of the laboratory.

The blaster doors slid shut behind him. For a moment, Cora didn’t say anything as she willed herself to calm down from what had just happened. But she couldn’t stop herself from stepping closer to Eli and wrapping her arms around him. “Thank you so much.”

~~

Hala widened her smile as she found herself enjoying the reminiscent tales Ae’lia told. “Master Vook certainly sounded like someone you do not want to be on the bad side of.” Whenever someone told her no, she always took that as a challenge do to just that. Of course, she slowly learned better during her padawan years, but that stubborn streak was always still there.

And it had served her well during her years alone in the galaxy, after the mass executions. Hala would argue it was the main reason she was still alive.

“Maybe it was a good thing I never met Master Vook back then,” she joked. Her mouthy ways could have landed her in great trouble with him. She continued to allow Ae’lia to say more about him, and once again, the conversation understandably turned bittersweet.

“Just like Master Parsa, Vook is with the Force, and with you, and I know he would be proud of whom you became.” Her smile lessened, but it was still there, and Hala reached one hand out to gently rub Aelia’s arm.

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli let the relief and happiness seep over himself. Much like Thrawn, he didn’t need to play at petty imperial competition to feel content. He could enjoy the successes of others.

And he definitely enjoyed the reward of this success, as once Thrawn had left, Cora moved to him and folded her arms around him. He didn’t resist, but wrapped his arms around her in turn, “I’m still sorry I surprised you with it,” he said, “but I’m glad it worked out. I was sure it would.”

He knew it would have a lasting impact on relationships here, as well. Hopefully, Cora’s confidence, but also, likely, her relationship with the Grand Admiral now that she had seen some more of what he was. Who he was. “So should I leave you alone with your project until dinner?” He teased. He could imagine the rush of inspiration that could have stricken her.

That, and an immediate urge to make sure she spent the given time well, so that it wouldn’t seem like Thrawn had made a mistake.

~***~

Ae’lia laughed, “Yes, yes it probably is,” she agreed, “although after a few years with me, maybe it would have been all right,” he might have been able to more playfully tease Hala and spar with her, without simply huffing or raging at her antics, or being annoyed by them.

However, Hala’s words that he would be proud didn’t hit the mark. Ae’lia brushed her hand lightly off, “He would not,” that much, Ae’lia knew for certain, and she suspected Hala may argue, “It is all right. I have accepted it. We were different people.” And though he might be glad she was creating an uprising, he would not be proud of her.

Not that she was mingling with Imperials.

Not that she was dealing with such a soft-hand to all of it.

Not after all that had happened. It still hurt. It would always hurt to know she disappointed him in the end, and even now, but when it was over – perhaps then she could imagine him proud. ‘It was their choices that brought them low.’ She would not say that, either. Hala had not disavowed the Jedi, and it was still too cruel a thought for her to fully believe. The Jedi had gone astray, but not so bad as to deserve this.

“You haven’t told me what clan you were in, though,” Ae’lia redirected.

 

[cleopat]

Cora realized she didn’t want to let go of her embrace around, which only increased when his arms wrapped around her. She didn’t want to step away from his solid warmth or from his scent invading her senses. But she knew she had to.

The embrace lasted a few seconds too long, something Cora wanted to kick herself for, before she pulled away, the smile still on her face. “It’s alright. It worked out quite well, didn’t it?” Her arms returned to her side and she took a small step back, but she didn’t want to move too far away from him.

“Sorry I punched you in the arm earlier.” Her grin shifted into a sheepish smile as she rubbed her arm. She shrugged with his inquiry, and she glanced over to the project that was still on. “I’m not sure. I do have time now during my shifts to work on it, after all,” her head turned back to face him, and her eyes twinkled with the mirth she still felt from Thrawn’s news.

~~

Hala frowned, bringing her hand back to wrap around the cup. The shift in mood had been obvious. She made a mistake in her words, she knew, in her assumption that Ae’lia’s old master would’ve been proud of her. It was a pleasant thought she had hoped to reciprocate, but, to the other woman, it wouldn’t be true.

She wouldn’t say anything more on that matter, but offered the change in subject to erase the sudden morose atmosphere. “Oh, my bad. It must have slipped my mind.” Just as the woman often did so, her mind tended to bounce all over the place.

“I was part of the Dragon Clan. Master Plo Koon taught us much in the ways of the Force and lightsaber combat.” Someone else she lost that day, but hadn’t they all lost someone? And yet the way he acted, along with the rest of the Jedi Council, during Ahsoka’s trial angered Hala and wavered her belief in their system.

“He certainly did the name of our clan justice with his techniques. He was an amazing fighter, and quite a powerful Jedi.” With great flaws that had been revealed to her near the end.

 

[Lucyfer]

To Eli, the embrace was only too short as Cora drew away from him. He nodded. She was right. In the end, it had all worked out.

He laughed off the apology and shook his head. “It’s all right,” even if it ended well, none of them could have known for certain. And Eli had surprised her terribly. For that, he probably deserved it, and would do it again to end up here, embraced by her and pleased with himself.

He had expected her to be eager to return to her work, but it seemed her energy flowed differently than his. He should have anticipated that, but his brows still lifted, confused and intrigued by the woman’s desire to get away from it now. “This is true, now you can get paid for it,” he agreed.

She could leave off working on it in her spare time entirely, perhaps, if twelve hours a week seemed sufficient. He hardly knew what kind of time she’d been putting into it before then. “Then perhaps we should celebrate?” He didn’t quite know how. Drinks didn’t seem appropriate right then, but maybe dessert?

~***~

Ae’lia was grateful for the easy shift, and that Hala did not try to insist on the lie. Ae’lia knew where she stood when it came to the memory of Vook. There was nothing that would ever change the way she’d disappointed him when she left the Order, and nothing that would change it now that she was trying to negotiate the situation with the Empire, rather than blow it all to pieces.

She wasn’t surprised with where Hala came from, “I’ve always wondered how they chose the groups. It seems most of the dragons become knights, most of thranta became counsellors,” and others in between, but there did seem to be a tendency. She wondered if it was in the nurture they were given in those groups, or if the masters had recognized something in the younglings brought in, something innate to their nature.

She never asked.

Not when she had the chance. She’d likely never know, now, unless there was a holocron out there, undiscovered, that spoke of it. That was unlikely.

She certainly missed the others of thranta, too. She hadn’t remained close to all, after they split off to become padawans, but she recalled plenty of them. It at least proved to her that she likely wouldn’t have known Hala back then, their paths not crossing. They’d taken different paths, and they’d been in different groups, with two very different masters.

 

[cleopat]

A mini celebration sounded lovely at the moment, after her adrenaline had spiked when Eli first announced her project to the Grand Admiral. She wanted a large drink.

But as soon as she nodded her agreement, Cora recalled the promise she had made to Faro earlier, that she would allow the woman to come to her quarters and look at her dresses. And give her pointers for dancing, if she wanted them that afternoon.

“Maybe at or after dinner?” she suggested. “I just remembered that I told Officer Faro she could look at my dresses for the gallery after I gave Grand Admiral Thrawn my presentation.” Cora actually found herself wanting to talk to Faro some more. The woman seemed interesting enough, and she was curious to know more about her little crush on Eira.

~~

Hala shrugged. “Maybe it was the Force. The Force showed them where the children should be placed.” Her as the knight, on the path to a guardian. Ae’lia as a counsellor. Now, they didn’t quite go into the roles they trained for, but the knight was still part of Hala, and she knew Ae’lia still acted as the counsellor she was meant to be.

“Do you want to know a secret about me?” she asked, her eyes shifting away to glance at the scarves dangling throughout the room. "Well, another one," she added with a light chuckle. With Ae’lia’s truth, she knew the woman would understand more than anyone else. “Right before the end, I had started wondering about my own faith in the Jedi Order.”

Her light eyes moved back over to Ae’lia. “Were you around for Ahsoka’s trial? Barriss’s betrayal? I think how the Jedi council dealt with the entire situation opened my mind with how far the Jedi have strayed from our true purpose. I always wonder if I would’ve left if Order 66 had never happened.” But it did, and she was forever branded a Jedi. Even if she did left, she would’ve been in the same situation as Ae’lia, forever associated with them.

 

[Lucyfer]

At or after dinner. That was sensible, and Eli nodded, “Perhaps we should head off the Chimaera for dinner?” That would be involving Faro, and while a selfish part of Eli would have rather taken Cora out without her, perhaps this would be better on the whole. It wouldn’t be that questionable, and Faro would likely want to celebrate the good news, too.

It might put gaming off for another night, but that didn’t seem so bad.

“I guess you should message Faro, though,” he noted. “She might take all day with the dresses,” he had no idea how long she might take. He hadn’t really seen her dressed up before, and based on how she held herself, he didn’t think Karyn did much of that to begin with.

She might need a lot of pointers and help for seducing Eira Nevan. If she even had a hope of it. It was entirely possible that Eira didn’t like women that way, but Eli wouldn’t dare suggest that.

~***~

It was always the Force.

Ae’lia sometimes wondered if the Jedi Order had been overly dependent on that. Not using it certainly showed her where she’d been dependent on it. She had overcome much of that, her diplomacy skills coming more naturally without the need of it.

As Hala offered a secret, she nodded, and listened.

The words did not surprise her much, given the lifestyle that Hala chose to live by now, but she knew how it must have felt to admit it. When Ae’lia had realized it…it had been hard to admit to herself. Harder to admit to others. “No,” she answered the question, “I heard of Ahsoka’s trial, but I was not in the Order at that time. I always wondered how this impacted Master Unduli,” she answered.

It must have hurt. “What purpose do you think the Jedi strayed from?” It was her own curiosity to see how closely in line her thoughts were with Hala. It had, after all, been a matter of differing opinions that led Ae’lia to break with the Jedi, as well – but she still held onto that idealism.

She still wanted to be that – what she thought the Jedi should have been.

 

[cleopat]

Eli easily went along with her idea, and even suggested going off the ship, which she was more than eager to agree with. “That would be great. We can certainly have a better time celebrating at some Coruscant bar.” Even if it did put a delay in their game plans.

There could be another time for that.

Cora nodded. “I don’t have that many, but I don’t know if she will want to try on all of them, which I’m okay with.” It would amuse her, and it would give them longer to talk about the gallery and what they expected. Or what Faro may need further help in.

So she grabbed her datapad and started her message for Faro.

Officer Faro,

If you still wanted to borrow a dress, come by my quarters.​

Cora included her room number and sent the message off for the woman. “Well, I guess I should be going back to my room now.”

~~

Hala didn’t know how it had affected Master Unduli. She didn’t see the woman too often, but how else could she have felt other than sorrow and grief at where she had gone wrong in her training? Which, she imagined, is similar to how Ae’lia’s master felt when she left.

She sighed. “I believe that they had become too rigid, too impractical, yet too comfortable in their position, drawn by overconfidence by galactic politics.” In the end, wasn’t that what completely dictated their lives? Politics? Hala wanted to help protect the galaxy and bring about peace, not be controlled by politics.

“They had come to rely too much on legalism and strict rules instead of the will of the Force.” Ahsoka knew far too much about that. Instead of trusting her and trusting the Force, they were quick to turn their backs on her when she needed someone the most.

“Besides,” Hala continued, “something I realized later on, was that I didn’t even have choice in pursuing this life. I was taken as a baby to be raised a Jedi.” There was a small, bitter laugh. “It’s kind of fucked up when you think about it. I didn’t even have a choice in this life, all because I was born with this ability.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli nodded his agreement. He’d have to do some research in the meantime to find out where they could go to enjoy some time on Coruscant together. It was something he could distract himself with for a bit, after he went to ask Thrawn about his so-called personal mission. “I think she will,” they would see, though.

Well, Cora would see.

Eli would not linger about while girls were exchanging clothes.

He nodded as Cora spoke of going back to her room, hearing her datapad ping with a positive response from Faro that she'd head over immediately.

“Yeah. I’ll send you a message when I’ve found a good place so you can veto it if you know otherwise,” she might know a little more about Coruscant’s places, even if she wasn’t from Coruscant.

He moved to the lab door, and it opened as he drew nearer, “I’ll see you this evening!” He would leave her on that note, before drawing his own datapad out, and sending a message to Thrawn.

Grand Admiral, let me know when you have time to talk. ​

~***~

Too rigid, too impractical, too political.

Ae’lia agreed on many of those stances. The Jedi Order did not seem to change as society changed around them, and then got embroiled in a war they had no business in. Their loyalty had not become to the Force, or even the Galaxy, but to the Republic – to a government, that used them.

Not to mention, indeed, the whole infant-thing. Though it made her recall that her parents hadn’t wanted to keep her to start with, it was possible Hala’s parents would have loved her. Cared for her, in spite of her gift. “I have often wondered about that, and why it was so wrong to take in older users of the Force. I understood that they would have attachments, but I suppose, I’ve also wondered about that,” a wane smile, “but also the secrecy of the Order regarding Kyber and the Force itself. There are so many out there ill-equipped to raise and care for children with the Force, there is so little understood about the Force on the wide-scale, that I wonder if the Jedi Order had ever been truly right.”

If it had ever done good by people, or if it had done terribly by retaining so many secrets, and keeping so much unknown to the general populace.

 

[cleopat]

Cora nodded with a wide smile. “And I’ll be sure to tell you if it’s a terrible place.” She doubted she will, but she still wondered if there was a chance Eli would accidentally pick a sketchy place.

Her eyes followed Eli out of the laboratory, lingering on the spot he left, but she jolted out of her own thoughts. “Shit, Faro,” she mumbled, hurrying out of the lab and to her room.

The officer didn’t wait for her when Cora arrived. She breathed a sigh of relief and walked into her room. Her room was already tidied, so she didn’t see anything that was absolutely necessary before Faro arrived. She would wait, definitely not thinking about her morning with Eli, and when the officer arrived, she would open the door without a word.

~~

Thrawn had returned to his quarters for the time being. He had spent some time answering messages, but after those were done, his mind returned to the woman he spent his morning with, with full intention on asking her specific questions.

But returned to his ship with those questions unanswered, easily distracted by her charm. Never before had Thrawn had that happened to him before, and it truly baffled him.

Now he stood amongst a projection of various Mygeeto art, created by the information he obtained from the library’s database. A ping from his datapad momentarily drew his attention away. Eli Vanto.

I can talk now. Come to my quarters.​

Eli was used to walking in on Thrawn observing and analyzing art. This scene shouldn’t surprise him when he walked in Thrawn’s quarters.

~~

Hala nodded along with Ae’lia’s words. "I know it's harder to teacher older children about controlling emotions, and that's why they prefer to take them in when they're much younger." Which was why she was against the entire idea. Emotions were a part of being alive. It allowed the compassion that Jedis were supposed to have. They could still find a balance between emotions and entering the Dark Side.

Could it be so bad to form attachments? They were still living beings in want of companionship. Hala had always desired just that, and as a young Jedi, an old friend had almost convinced her to do just that.

An old friend who was now long dead.

“If we can hope, maybe one day we won’t have to live in secrecy any more, and we can restart things differently.” Hala doubted her own words as she spoke them, but she hoped. She had lived on the run for so long, she wondered if she would ever truly be able to live without fear ever again. “But that may be a foolish dream at this point.” For the Empire to die, and the inquisitors to be wiped out? A far off, foolish dream.

 

[Lucyfer]

Karyn Faro was not long in arriving to Cora’s room, though she did still have to navigate her way to the room from where she’d ended up on the starship, studying a few maps of the Coruscant system. While it was unlikely they’d have any trouble here, she would rather be prepared to use the Chimaera and navigate it well if they did run into trouble.

She was sure she’d have plenty of time to return to that, though.

It wasn’t every day she was allowed to peruse fancy dresses for a fancy art gallery with a crush she’d never hoped to meet, let alone speak with, present!

So, her feet had carried her quickly, and she knocked on the door, trying to bank some of her eagerness, and failing miserably.

When Cora would answer, she would offer a smile, “Thank you again for this, really,” she might end up thanking Cora too much, but she didn’t think that was a terrible route to go, as she’d step into the pristine room. Definitely cleaner than her quarters, not that she was a slouch, only that she wasn’t as meticulous every single day. There’d be a jacket thrown over the back of a chair, or an unmade bed, often enough.

~***~

Eli Vanto had memorized the path to Thrawn’s quarters, and he buzzed himself in, as usual. He wasn’t surprised to find the area decorated with art, and he looked over a few of the pieces as he strode into the room, letting the door shut behind him.

He didn’t know where they were from.

“This relates to your personal mission, doesn’t it?” Eli asked, eyes moving slowly over the pieces, “Where are these from?” He didn’t immediately recognize the style, but that was to be expected. Eli didn’t research art. He was pretty sure it wasn’t Coruscant, though.

~***~

They shared agreements, questions, concerns, about what they had been brought up in, and Ae’lia was pleased with that. It was no good that the Jedi Order was gone, but at least in the wake of it, good could arise. “It is never too late for hope.”

In the end, Ae’lia believed that. No matter how much time she had wasted, she had hoped, and she had dared to try and start to change things in what ways she could. “Even if the Empire stands for a century, it is not too late to hope and to set the foundation for a better future, Hala.”

Ae’lia would put in her time for that.

She owed the galaxy that much. No matter the risks to herself, she was a single individual – her loss would not be great, not compared to what her actions could gain in the wider scheme of events. Still, she hardly intended to be known for those acts. “I know you may not stay with Adlai, or with us, but you should not lose sight of hope, no matter the path you take after this. That’s when the Empire will win.”

 

[cleopat]

The eagerness in Faro was obvious, but Cora wouldn’t mention anything about it. “Don’t mention it. I figured these dresses should get some use.” They were dresses her mother practically demanded Cora to take with her, in hopes of attending some fancy officer’s ball and ensnaring some well-to-do husband. Really, mother.

“I only have a few with me, but I’m sure you can find one that works for you.” She led Faro over to her closet, which she opened to reveal the clothes she had hanging. A few sets of uniform, her military formals, and several dresses she had brought from home, at her mother’s insistence, and all of varying colors.

“Feel free to take your time with them. I’m completely free until dinner later,” which reminded her that Eli would eventually send her suggestions for places on Coruscant to try out, so Cora placed her datapad within reach, as she watched Faro take a look at the dresses.

~~

Thrawn recognized Eli when he entered his quarters, but he didn’t immediately look over at the officer. The art held his attention for a moment longer until a question was thrown his way, at which he glanced over at the younger officer before directing his attention back at the art spread all around him.

“Yes, it does.” The entire reason he had gone to Coruscant to meet with Eira, and yet, like some young, fresh-faced officer, he forgot. “They are from Mygeeto.” The ice planet the holostar declared her home.

And, now, Mygeeto art was very distinctive for him. The fractured patterns. Their use of glass. Their entire history was projected before him. “Tell me, what can you infer about Mygeeto by looking at their art?” Like many times before, Thrawn was interesting in seeing what conclusions Eli could draw for himself. Maybe he could even pick up an observation Thrawn had overlooked.

~~

Hala understood clearly why Ae’lia had been a counsellor. She could easily see herself turning to the woman for words of wisdom in trying times. With a smile, she pulled the woman in for another quick hug. “You’re right.”

She pulled away, and her eyes shined with unshed tears. “We can plant the seeds for something greater, in the hope that those who come after us can live a life free of this tyrannical rule.” After spending so many years along, Hala didn’t think she would ever be saying those words, but she also didn’t have the hope that she would ever meet someone like her again.

And yet, she was doing just that.

“Maybe I won’t stay, maybe I will,” she said with a casual shrug. The longer she talked to Ae’lia, the more convinced she was in remaining with them on Coruscant. “Besides, Adlai gives a convincing reason for me to stay.” The twinkle of mischief was back as she thought back to Ae’lia’s friend and their meeting earlier.

 

[Lucyfer]

Karyn stepped in and went to the closet with Cora, surprised at the number, and colors, “This is just a few? How many do you actually own?” She could hardly believe this many counted as a few to Cora, though of course, she hardly had any idea what was standard for the officer.

Nonetheless, she’d reach forward and start to look through them, moving them one by one down the line, discarding thoughts of wearing white or black. She wanted to wear color. She wanted to catch Eira’s attention – and it’d just been so long since she’d worn such a colorful dress, in general.

She started to bring a few together – a blue, a turquoise, and a green, that she pulled from the grouping of others. She had considered red, before deciding there was something too obvious about it. “I’ll give these a try, first,” she said, thinking they might suit her, before she’d look for a place to change.

She didn’t know if Suvan had her own washroom, or if she’d have to try and change in the closet.

~***~

Eli wasn’t surprised that this had to do with Thrawn’s personal mission, but his frown deepened a bit as he considered. That Eira was from Mygeeto was not recalled in the moment, and he wasn’t certain what Mygeeto could possibly have to do with their mission on Coruscant, or a personal mission of Thrawn’s. Before he could ask that, his attention was directed to a task.

He let out a huff, “You know I’m not good at this,” he tried, of course, but whatever Thrawn saw in the art eluded Eli Vanto each time. He didn’t have Thrawn’s history of examining art across cultures. He didn’t know for certain what he was looking for.

Still, he did look it over. The colors. The material.

Glass art wasn’t exactly unusual, but this was. “Well, it all looks to be cracked. Or intentionally imperfect.” He stated flatly. That was obvious with the way the cracks ran through some pieces, natural or otherwise, but it was more obvious where cracks weren’t made, but lines were still drawn as if there was a crack.

He didn’t know what that meant about the people of Mygeeto. There didn’t seem to be rhyme or reason to the placement and no consistent coloring to it that he could see. “Why are you interested in Mygeeto’s art?” If anything, shouldn’t it be Alderaanian art?

~***~

There was another quick embrace. This one almost caught Ae’lia off guard, but not quite. She returned it, however brief. The look in Hala’s eyes was beautiful – the hope, even with the unshed tears, was genuine. Real.

Restored, in some small way.

Ae’lia had to hope it would last a while yet.

She let the serious topic slip away with mention of Adlai, her smile not quite so mischievous, but certainly curious. “Really now?” She inquired, “And what is it that the Count has offered as convincing reasons to stay?”

Ae’lia could think of plenty of things, besides Adlai’s looks, which had apparently captivated Hala already. Adlai himself was a good man. He would never be the type for her, but he would always be a treasured friend, and he did much, for many.

She doubted it was the vast greatness of him that Hala was thinking of.

 

[cleopat]

Cora felt the slight tinge of embarrassment as Faro expressed surprise in how she had only considered these a few dresses. “I feel like I shouldn’t actually answer that question,” she responded with a slight chuckle. She couldn’t even remember all of her dresses back home, all bought thanks to her mother’s insistence.

She perched herself on her bed as she watched Faro shift through her dresses, slowly gathering a few of varying colors to try on.

Faro announced she wanted to try those dresses on, and without hesitation, Cora motioned for a door along the wall. “The washroom is through there. I share it with one other officer, but I don’t think she’s here right now.” Cora wasn’t even completely sure she knew the officer’s name she shared the washroom with. They barely exchanged any words except for a casual hello whenever they ran into one another.

~~

Thrawn withheld the smirk that threatened to blossom at Eli’s obvious huffiness. Oh yes, he knew Eli wasn’t very good at analyzing the art, which was why he continued to insist that the man do it. Eli may not see it, but he got better with every attempt. And although Thrawn was better, the chance that the officer may see something that Thrawn didn’t was always present.

He nodded along to Eli’s observations. Simple ones he already considered. “That is indeed the case.” Crimson eyes flittered between several pieces. There was so much about their culture that Eli simply couldn’t see, that he couldn’t see, but he worked towards that information.

“I talked to someone from Mygeeto who’s background just doesn’t line up.” Of course, he already considered individual deviations from the norm, but something was there. And if he had remembered to ask his damn questions to Eira, then those blanks would be better filled in. “What do you know of Mygeeto?”

~~

Hala shrugged. “His looks certainly help,” she joked, although not entirely insincere. Adlai did have a certain charm that she wanted to see more of.

“But aside from that, there was an offer for a place to stay, as well as monthly credits for this bodyguard job.” It was certainly a great incentive to stay on Coruscant, the promise of a roof over her head and extra credits every month. Not that she was in desperate need for those credits, it provided her an escape from the planet should she need it.

“And besides,” she continued, “you two seem like great friends. That has to mean something for his character, right?” And from what Hala could tell, Adlai knew some of Ae’lia’s true self. He was entrusted with her deepest secret, and he protected the secret, and Ae’lia, with everything he could. That had spoke more of the man for Hala than anything else.

 

[Lucyfer]

Faro arched a brow as Cora avoided the question, but then nodded, “Probably,” from that alone, she could surmise that Cora was used to having a lot of dresses. Did she actually do so much that required a plethora? Or was it just a Core thing?

Karyn considered she might ask one day, as she took her bundle of dresses and went to the washroom with a nod, “Thank you!” She’d make note to consider locking the restroom on both sides…and try to remember to unlock it.

The first dress she tried was the green one, a dark hue that hung off her shoulders and had cut-outs. A bit more risqué than Karyn was used to, but she made sure to show it off to Cora, before she’d try the blue one. It was another off-the-shoulder, but with a single slit for a leg, and an otherwise wide skirt and a more regal appearance. It, too, was shown to Cora, before the turquoise one. The final dress had more translucent fabric to it in the skirt, and hung on her shoulders, with more of a flowy feel to it.

It was standing in that dress that she asked, “Which one do you think is best?”

~***~

Eli folded his arms across his chest as he considered what he knew of Mygeeto. He wasn’t any grand historian on Mygeeto, but he assumed some of his knowledge could be of use. It was, at least, the general opinion of Mygeeto and general knowledge of it. “Well, it’s an Outer Rim world that’s icy. Has kyber, but not enough to interest the Empire,” so it remained relatively undisturbed.

Well, “It was a separatist planet,” as relatively undisturbed as any separatist planet went, anyways, “Home of the lurmens, but I…think they’re more or less a slave class on Mygeeto,” he wasn’t certain of that, but he knew their status wasn’t good. Not that any non-human had a good status, in reality.

Thrawn was a shining exception to the rule.

“I know there were at least three battles on Mygeeto during the Clone Wars, because I’ve heard of the third battle – I don’t really know what happened during that, other than the Republic finally pushed the Separatists out,” maybe that was the only reason to know it. It was the final battle with the Separaists on Mygeeto. “Who did you talk with from Mygeeto? What isn’t adding up?”

~***~

The offer that Hala mentioned did not surprise Ae’lia. She was familiar with Adlai offering it to other guards, and it would make living on Coruscant easier. It would also make escape easier, if Hala held onto those credits. “I like to think that it means something for his character,” Ae’lia agreed, “but I am also friends with others I imagine you would disagree with.”

And she meant the word – friend.

Perhaps she could not yet truly call Mitth’raw’nuruodo that, but she wanted to. Savit was one that she could, and there were others throughout the Empire that she called friend. “Of course, it’s only Adlai who knows what I was,” and that spoke volumes, “So I know he is trustworthy with these secrets, and more besides.”

Adlai was worth the title ‘best friend’, in so many ways, “He is worth his word. He would pay you well, you would have a place to stay, and he would not begrudge you if you had to leave, for any reason. He’d cover for you.” That much was certain.

 

[cleopat]

Cora had to remind herself that Faro wasn’t from the Core, like many other officers. She wasn’t used to what other wealthy Core families were used to, much less culture norms of Anaxes. Maybe one day Cora will calmly tell Faro of all her dresses back home. Certainly more than she needed, but her mother always insisted on a new dress for every party.

Wasteful, it all was.

Faro tried on each dress and showed off each one to Cora. Each one looked amazing on the officer, and Cora smiled at the thought of her catching Eira’s attention in such a show-stopping ensemble.

When asked for the best one, Cora hummed a moment, thinking. “I think the green one would certainly turn more heads, but I think the blue one compliments you better.” She considered pressing the green one more, simply because then it would get some use, instead of sitting in her closet due to her mother’s persistence.

She smiled. “Either way, I think you’ll definitely catch a certain someone’s attention.”

~~

Thrawn merely nodded along with every word. Nothing Eli said was new information. “All correct.” He had hesitated in wanting to divulge the identity of the person he talked to, knowing that Eli watched Thrawn and Eira talk at the party. She had been mentioned in conversation later, and his friend, Officer Faro, had danced with her.

He didn’t doubt Eli could put the clues together, but he would find out sooner or later.

“I talked with Eira Nevan,” he answered, eyes moving from the projected art to the officer at his side. “A singer and actress from a planet with very little art to speak of, except for what you see before you.” The glass designs still projected before them, in their perfectly imperfect designs of such fragility and broken past.

“I suppose she could just be an exception on a planet of bankers and Lurmens, but something, call it an instinct, keeps telling me there is more to this story.” And she had mentioned she wanted to be a humanitarian, hadn’t she? Thrawn sighed, and moved to clasp his hands behind his back.

~~

Hala cocked an eyebrow. She knew of Ae’lia’s...other friends, as they had been briefly mentioned at the casino last night, and it was one thing she would silently judge the woman over. Why would she willingly be friends with someone who would see her demise?

But she continued to speak nothing but niceties about Adlai. “Be careful, or I may just steal him from you with the way you keep on gushing about him,” she joked, even if her mind kept trying to picture him shirtless.

Hala moved on, “Despite everything you just told me, I think I will still wait to make an official decision until the gallery opening. I just...want to make sure of what I’m getting myself into, since this is Coruscant, you know?” They were still surrounded by Imperials, and Inquisitors could be called at any moment. The Empire had eyes and ears around every corner, but was it so different than the rest of the galaxy?

At least here, it was easier to hide in plain sight.