These Shattered Stars -- Logs

It is the day the Platinum Eclipse is due to depart from Tynnea. In the half-a-day or so until scheduled departure time, Freyja does some hasty, last minute shopping. She's browsing through the small city's business section, looking for some things... a large, pretty pot she can fill with some nice, rich dirt... some cloth with pleasing color and texture for pillows or drapes or something; perhaps some means to make her bed larger and more cozy -- if she's going to be inviting her paramours into her room, she wants to be sure they're comfortable and relaxed. She's also looking for something... special. She doesn't know what it will be precisely, but she wants a nice gift for Fhazil, to match the nice gifts she's given all her other crewmates.

Freyja holds up a large, round pot with attractive blue and purple glazing, "What do you think, Vakkal? Is this nice? I want to try encouraging the Oghan lotus to grow, so it should have a nice place to live, don't you think?"

Vakkal looks over the pot. "It looks like that'll give it plenty of room to grow in," he says, "-but all you have is a blossom. How will you induce it to grow?"

Freyja nods, "I know it's just a blossom, but the flowers Fhazil sent me on Marnaas were just blossoms too -- and yet the gardener Jedi got them to grow somehow! Admittedly, I don't specialize in plants, but it's my thought to give the lotus the best chance it can, with encouragement and care both physically and through the Force. It's... it's alert to the Force, you know? It's sensitive... can you feel it? I'm hoping that sensitivity will help me to help it grow and live."

Vakkal nods slowly. "That's a good point. The Oghan lotus does seem... I'm not sure, to have some kind of presence in the Force..."

Freyja nods cheerfully at Vakkal, "Hai! Don't know what it is precisely, but it's certainly aware." She decides to purchase the pot, and inquires about dirt, care, and fertilizer as well. The storekeeper knows very little offhand about the Oghan lotus, noting only that it's a very exotic, but surprisingly robust, flower. He does come up with some literature on the care of them, which he gives to Freyja at no charge.

Freyja is quite happy, and departs a short while later with pot, dirt, fertilizer, and brochure... probably much to the storekeeper's pleasure -- good customers are nice to find. As she wanders slowly along down the street, she asks Vakkal, "So... what does Fhazil like, do you know? I'd like to find a nice gift for him, like I did with everyone else on Sedrak... but I'm not sure yet what he likes."

Vakkal thinks. "Uhm. He's usually very simple in his tastes. He's very fond of memory, though, so to speak -- something small, perhaps, that he might always be able to wear or carry. That's much like why he wears that brooch as often as he can."

Freyja gives Vakkal a thoughtful look, "Memory? Hm... do you know where he got that from? The brooch, I mean?" She thinks a bit... then grins. She knows what to get him now -- but she's not sure she'll be able to find one here! She starts looking for stores that carry small jewelry items -- pendants or amulets of precious stone or metals.

Vakkal nods his head. "Oh, yes. When he first came into Lord Ghang's service, he was interviewed by a court of three Lords: Ghang Si'yul, whom you know of; Dairoga Kallast, who was Naga Sadow's apprentice; and Son Tavariel. He apparently satisfied them; I do know he greatly impressed Lord Ghang and Lord Tavariel with his ideals. The brooch was a gift from Lord Tavariel, that he might always remember his hopes and goals and hold true to them."

Freyja blinks, impressed. "Whoa. So who is Son Tavariel?" She smiles, quietly pleased to hear once again that Fhazil is also an idealist. She doesn't know if their idealism will win through the day, but it is nice to hear she's not alone in that.

Vakkal says, "She's an Arkanian Lord of State; one of the more important ones, actually. She is the charge d'affaires for the management and defense of Ziost. Lord Tavariel is considered a very good Lord to serve."

Freyja nods quietly again and smiles, "Interesting. There's a whole new court and political scene there... I wonder if they'll ever mingle peacefully with ours, on Coruscant or Ziost." She holds up two small amulets of jet, shaped like ravens, "Here... do you think he'd like one of these?" She grins at Vakkal, "In the legends of my people, these particular birds are associated with war and the deities -- but they also keep the history of the deities. Their names translate as Thought and Memory. Do you think he'd like one, if I kept the other? That's the traditional symbolism used for them."

Vakkal arches a brow, then grins and nods. "I think he will, at that. He'd like it a lot, actually."

Freyja beams, "Oh, wonderful!" She happily passes the pot into Vakkal's hands, "Hold this for a moment, please?" -then heads excitedly for the shopkeeper, the two little amulets in hand. Vakkal nods and gathers the pot into his arms. Freyja purchases the little amulets, has them gift-wrapped, and almost skips out of the store with Vakkal, inordinately pleased.

Vakkal grins, "You appear to have gotten what you were looking for."

Freyja beams at him, "Haihai! I hope he likes it -- I think it'll be a lovely piece of memory for him, if he wants!"

Freyja happily heads back for the ship some time later, her arms full of purchases, chatting happily with Vakkal about what she wants to do in her room to make it nicer for her friends. An interesting sight greets her at the entrance to the berth. A rather wry-looking Thorn is waiting there with a number of what Freyja recognizes as Ameil's crack enforcers, locked and loaded and looking like they're hoping the Mandalorian shows up. Thorn's expression brightens, however, when he sees Freyja arrive. He bows grandly to her. "I was hoping to catch you before you left, lady," he says, grinning.

Freyja blinks, pausing both in her happy chatter to Vakkal, and her almost dancing gait. She's a bit startled initially at sight of all the enforcers in their ship's berth. She blinks again at Thorn over her armload of purchases... then grins, "Well, hello there, Captain! Er... catch me...?" She considers a second, then adds, "Ah... do you mind if I put these down first, or are you in a rush?"

Thorn ohs! then shakes his head. "Not at all! It isn't anything urgent." He glances at the enforcers. "I... apologize for the escort here. Ameil wouldn't let me on-planet with that Mandalorian running around, without them around me all the time." He adds, "If you want me to carry anything for you...?"

Freyja grins, trotting hastily up the gangplank and calling over her shoulder, "Good for her, then -- be right back!" A moment later she comes back down the gangplank, divested of her armload of parcels. "So! Hello again, Captain... what can I do for you?" She smiles and shakes her head, "Oh, I just put them all on the wall couches for now. Would you like to come in for a cuppa?"

"Yes, please. That sounds delightful."

Freyja starts to wave a hand towards the inside of the ship... then pauses, looking at the enforcers, "Ahh... I'm not sure there's room for you all in the ship, but if you'd like I could have some tea brought out for you all?"

The enforcers glance at one another; there are five in all. "Thank you, Freyja Makkaisdottir," one says -- it's hard to tell what species he or she is; the armor is pretty all-covering. "We would rather remain outside, the better to spot the Mandalorian if it attacks Captain Thorn here."

Freyja smiles, "That's fine then. Thanks!" She grins at the Captain, waving a hand towards the ship's inside, "So... tea?"

Thorn grins and bows, letting Freyja into her ship first before following her inside. He looks around as he enters. "I'm glad everything is as you left it," he says. "We tried to leave it in good condition when we caught up with the thieves, but we weren't sure what they'd done to it."

Freyja grins over her shoulder at the captain as she runs around a bit, putting water on, setting out a tray with five mugs for the enforcers, making more tea for herself, Thorn, and Vakkal (if he'd like), then putting most of her bundles into her room. The plant pot she leaves where it is, so she can work with it -- maybe the captain would like to know his blossom is being appreciated? "It was fine, Captain, thank you so much." She adds happily, "There were only two things I was really concerned about, and they were untouched. You saw one, in fact -- the lovely sash? It was a gift."

Thorn grins and nods. "I'm glad; you're very welcome. Yes, I had noticed that. A gift, you say? It sounds like there's quite a story behind that!"

Freyja laughs quietly as she carefully pours the dirt into the pot, according to the directions in the brochure. She happily adds, "There is, actually. Zero and I did a favor for the Sedraki, and that was how the nomads thanked me. It's hand-made, too -- can you believe it? Amazing workmanship."

He nods, "Yes, it's very well done. Often pre-industrial workmanship seems to be superior to post-industrial, in many, many areas."

Freyja says, "It's their area of specialization, hai." She smiles, "Industrial workmanship is just in different areas of expertise, I imagine." She works with the pot a bit, tamping the dirt down properly with the correct mix of fertilizer, then grins at the captain, "Moment, please!"

He grins. "Certainly. Trying to get the lotus to sprout?"

Freyja pours tea for the three of them first, making sure they all get their cup, then asks Vakkal if he could please take the tray out to the enforcers? Then she gets her little mug of water with the lotus in it, "Hai! Balmorrans use flowers so much in leis and greetings -- and usually they end up just wilting and dying. So I thought why not try encouraging it to live and grow?" She carefully plants the little blossom, pouring the water around it as she thinks gentle encouragement at it within the Force.

Thorn grins, and nods. "Of course. That much I remember of Balmorra, from what my mother told me."

Freyja looks up at the captain once she's done, curling her legs neatly under her and relaxing with the cup of tea on the couch next to him. She smiles, her tone curious, "So... did you never set foot on the planet proper, then?"

He takes a sip of tea, nodding. "Mmm. Yes, once; very early in my -- in our career as corsairs. I spent a week in Macronainsberg, and wandering around the Southern regions, like the old Skaldr manse. We couldn't risk being in port for much longer, though. We'd already had a few prizes to our name, and while the Guard wasn't looking for us specifically, we didn't want to get caught planetside."

Freyja grins suddenly, her eyes gleaming with a flash of mischief as she imagines the utter political conniptions that would occur if she invited Thorn, Orfune, and Ameil to her wedding -- and they actually came! A moment later she's got that wicked thought under control again, reminding herself how unlikely -- downright impossible, in fact -- that would be. Still, a small voice inside her thinks it would be pretty neat to be able to invite them, and maybe Vakkal's and Fhazil's former Sith lord, too! An impossible dream, true -- it would require a cease-fire the likes of which she's never heard of -- but a pretty one. Ah, well... she nods at the captain, "Did you enjoy the visit?"

Freyja hesitates, reviewing memory. She's visited Macronainsberg once or twice, but always in 'official' capacity -- she has no feel for the city itself. Perhaps best not to mention she's visited at all, that being the case. Curiously she adds, "What made you go visit?"

Thorn grins, nodding. "I did, yes. It was a little... bittersweet, seeing the Skaldr manse -- or rather what used to be the Skaldr manse -- but the visit was enjoyable. It was very much everything my mother had said it was! Oh... mainly because there'd be fewer questions asked of strangers there, since it's an unsworn city."

Freyja smiles, "I meant more what made you chose then to go visit Balmorra, actually." She tilts her head thoughtfully, "What year was that, do you recall?"

Freyja calculates a bit after his giving her the date, then nods slowly, "That'd be... ah, just when I was leaving the planet for the start of my Jedi training." She smiles quietly, her eyes far away for a bit. There wasn't much of a to-do about that event, she remembers... she has a sip of tea. "So... just nostalgia caused you to return? -or something else?"

Freyja smiles again, remembering. The old Skaldr manse -- the one on Balmorra, that is, rather than the one on Balmorra's moon -- was, of course, inherited by Haus Rigg. Her far-sighted grandfather, Tyr Rigg, had made it into the seed of a college, hopefully to become an institution which would rival the sector university in a dozen generations. Softly she asks, "Did you like what was done with the old manse?"

He grins. "Really? Well, ships that pass in the night, as they say. I went there to see it. Just to see it, experience it, be there. It was nostalgia, but it was also to see what it was my mother had spoken of so glowingly -- she wasn't bitter about the succession, but she did miss Balmorra. If I was going on a crime spree then I'd better visit before I got on the Republic's most-wanted list!"

Freyja laughs, her eyes bright with amusement, "Makes sense." She sips tea thoughtfully, then smiles at the captain again, "You're... so strange. I'm not sure I understand you... you say you want to serve a flag worth following, which would indicate a certain amount of legitimacy, hai? -and yet you still want to be able to steal things from folks?" Her tone isn't accusing at all -- more thoughtfully confused, as she tries to figure things out.

"The only place I can think of where that might legitimately occur is a war zone... but even though one is advancing on the Republic, I couldn't in good faith suggest it to you. I wouldn't want to send you up against Sith Force users, and most -- if not all, for all I know -- of their war ships have Sith Force-awakened running things aboard."

He grins softly. "Well, we stole to survive. Had things gone differently, we could very well have sought a letter of marque and reprisal from the Republic to operate against the Sith, or in some of the gal-south areas. But even if we could now -- and I fully agree about avoiding the Sith -- there's still the matter of some nerfherder getting very ticked off at us... one with enough clout to put us on the most-wanted lists."

Freyja nods, her demeanor quietly worried as she studies her mug, "Hai... I wish I knew how to fix that. I've done everything I can think of, but past that..." She looks up and shrugs one shoulder gracefully. Her tone is a bit unhappy, "I'm sorry, Captain, there wasn't more I could do."

He shakes his head, smiling. "That's all right, Freyja. I know that you would do all you could. I also know, from what you told me, that it's tied to someone in the sector cabinet or the senator's office. At that level Guard generals, Jedi, planetary officials, even aristoi would be hard-pressed to be able to do anything."

Freyja nods slowly... then brightens slightly, "Well, maybe when we come back through, the results of our quest will allow us to figure out something else to try!" A little fiercely she adds, "Completely aside from the injustice done to you-" she pauses for a second, trying to figure out if it's an injustice to respond so to theft of smuggled goods -- then just grins and shoves the entire tangled ethical issue aside for later perusal -- "-is the fact they're collaborating with the enemy -- selling them critical information! We don't need anyone helping them industrially -- they're already shockingly ahead of us in that field, although I can't figure out why." She mutters under her breath, her eyes dark, "-but I will..."

Thorn smiles and inclines his head. "Thank you, Freyja... but I am somewhat familiar with how the Republic works. I would implore you to consider your safety first. There is no way I could return to the Republic except as a criminal. I admit it, we preyed upon Republic shipping. I do hope, however, that whomever was collaborating with the enemy sees justice served unto them. And if we can help further that in any way, you have only to contact us."

Freyja says, "Thank you, Captain." She smiles and says nothing in reply to his suggestion she consider safety first. She doesn't know many Jedi who do, but there's no need to worry the poor Captain with that. Instead she simply adds, "You've helped quite a bit already, believe me, by sharing the information about that ship you caught."

"I was glad to help. Dorn almost ripped a few bulkheads down when I told him what had happened!" He chuckles and shakes his head, growing a little sad. "Poor Dorn..." Then he shakes himself and looks to Freyja again, smiling. "So... if I may ask, when will you be returning this way again?"

Freyja adds a little puzzledly, "What I don't understand at all is why would the Sith try to murder the governor of Tanaab, when the droids were going to that very planet? I'd think they wouldn't want to capture Tanaab, because that would mean they'd have to set up a new contact point." She pauses, considering his words, then says a little worriedly, "Er, wait... what happened to Engineer Dorn?! He was fine last I sa- er, heard?" She remembers him swearing dramatically in Huttee when the ship got netted -- he'd not sounded hurt then, as she recalls!

Thorn blinks. "They... tried to murder the governor of Tanaab? I hadn't heard that..." He erks a little. "Dorn? No, nothing happened to him. It is just... well, there is no easy way to put this, Lady. If I may, I need to ask for your discretion in this. Dorn is my nephew, by my mother's sister. He is, though he does not know it yet, Skaldr."

Freyja blinks, putting two and two together, "Your aunt -- the Lady Skaldr? He doesn't know? Ahh... so he must be a paramour's child?" She considers, then says puzzledly, "Um... I'm sorry, I don't see the problem?" She pauses, then adds, "Um... just Kuras, please?"

He shakes his head. "No, he was one of the legal heirs of my aunt. Or he would have been if there was anything to inherit." He lets out a breath a little. "His mother made me promise not to tell him until he was of age. I would gladly tell him of his heritage sooner if not for that promise. Her fear is that while we no longer exist as a Haus, he might be seen as a potential hostage. A ridiculous notion, considering the paupered state of most of my family -- we have nothing we could give for ransom. And yet it haunted my aunt's concerns, though she let him travel with me."

He considers for a moment, then looks carefully to Freyja. "I... disagree with much of what my aunt believes in, which is partly why I needed to bring Dorn out from under her. She is... a little unwell. Allow me to say before continuing that she might raise your pity instead of ire. She has had dreams -- not hopes, not fantasies, but what she believes to be visions -- of Haus Skaldr returning to Balmorra and not only usurping the baronial title, but also the title of count, as well."

Freyja blinks.

Thorn lets out a breath. "I have accepted what happened to Haus Skaldr. The important thing is the people my family once upon a time ruled are well cared for by Haus Rigg. That is not enough for my aunt, however. She wants a return of Skaldr."

Freyja pulls her thoughts together and reviews. The title of count... unlikely. Considering how hinky every other Haus became at the very suggestion that Rigg might try for it -- she shakes her head. Thank goodness Father's bluntness and honesty is renown -- and that he irritatedly and publicly announced what a silly idea that was. The aunt... she'd be what, the age of Tyr Rigg now, if he'd lived so long? Still... senility is usually cured, isn't it? She gives Thorn a confused look, "Er... so if she is, ah, unwell, why hasn't she been taken somewhere to receive proper medical care for her, um... condition?" A second later her eyes widen, "Please tell me she's not here, in Hutt space?!"

Thorn grimaces a little. "Well... not in Hutt space. Before we were made to leave Republic space, she settled in a Republic client more gal-east of here. Otherwise my mother and uncle would have done all they could to get her the attention she needed."

Freyja sighs a small chuffing sigh of relief, "Oh, good. Neh, wait. She's not in Republic space? Your mother and uncle haven't been able to get her to a good medical facility, then?"

Thorn shakes his head. "It's not against the law to refuse medical attention. And somehow she passes every possible test for competency there is. I have some cousins who are trying to take care of her, but I wonder if she wasn't raised on some sort of story of perfidy done to Skaldr by Rigg -- which I can't at all see actually happening," he adds quickly.

Freyja looks confused again, considering for a while... then finally looks up and asks bluntly, "Well, is she Force awakened? That might account for it?"

Thorn looks a little uncomfortable. "There is... the chance, mind you, just a chance... that she is. Which means her dreams might be a little more than just dreams."

Freyja studies the Human in front of her with a faintly horrified look... then finally says, "Do you have any idea what a horrible society-wide upset it would require for a dispossessed House to claim the title of Count?!" She takes a slow breath, then adds quietly, "Forgive me, but I'd fight that no matter what family was headed that way." She considers what sort of Count her father would make, and shudders slightly before adding dryly, "Even my own." She adds equally dryly a moment later, "Not that they'd listen to me..."

Thorn holds up his hands. "Believe me, Freyja, I have some idea as to how crazy it sounds. I wouldn't want to see it myself either. I have no desire to see anyone in my family attempt that. Our time has passed. It might be nice if someday a scion of Haus Skaldr could return, but for now it's not even an idle dream. Except to my aunt, of course."

Freyja says, "What does she want, then? I take it fealty to Haus Rigg is unacceptable, if she believes her visions?"

Thorn says, "She wants the world. Literally. She wants to set into motion some scheme or plot that will bring Skaldr back to Balmorra, usurp Haus Rigg, and eventually bring Skaldr the title of Count." He hesitates, then sighs. "I believe she is harmless. But I did want to get Dorn out of her influence to keep her from poisoning him with her insanity. I would not have even mentioned it if talk had not turned to Dorn."

He straightens. "I asked for your discretion in this. Well, I should qualify that. If word got out that a person of the former Haus Skaldr had such delusions, it would be embarrassing in the extreme. But if it comes to pass that she may not be as harmless as I think her to be, then I would see no reason for you to not say something to anyone to protect... to protect the way things are on Balmorra."

Freyja raises an eyebrow and smiles, her tone politely formal, "Honored captain, all it would take is promises to the Sith for her to feel able to take the world, although I would prefer to believe neh Balmorran would do such. Furthermore, it was you, honored captain, who brought up Dorn. I would perceive, therefore, there is something you desire of me, concerning Dorn?" She's not upset, just quite curious as to what help or favor it is he seems to want of her. Under most circumstances, she's happy to help. Although she won't be betraying her homeworld, she doubts he'd ask that of her.

Freyja tilts her head, then adds thoughtfully, "Or... was that it? -the passing on of this information concerning your aunt? If that's the case... you must be truly worried about this event coming to pass somehow?"

Thorn blinks, then smiles a little. "Not exactly. I had considered, for a brief moment when mentioning him, asking if you felt there was any hope to... somehow get him back to the Republic. He is young, Freyja, and while an excellent engineer, has his life ahead of him. I had hoped to keep him from my aunt, but not all the way to Hutt space. With her in a client state, now, and he about to reach his majority, he may be better able to resist her wiles. Nevertheless... while he likes it here, the pirate's life is short and brutal and should not be for him." He shakes his head. "However... I would not ask you to take him yourself. We would bring him ourselves, as is only right. I had wondered, though, if you felt it would be... prudent."

Freyja smiles faintly, realizing what she's being asked -- if another Arving lord should be made to do something just for family, even if it's not what he wants. Gently, a bit formally, she says, "Captain... according to you Haus Skaldr faces not responsibilities to its people. Therefore the demands of family are quite light upon Skaldr's Arving lord, hai? So... that being the case... what does Dorn himself want?"

Thorn smiles a little. "I haven't asked him yet. I have talked with him about it, and... he wants to remain with my crew and me. I just... find myself in the difficult position of wanting to let him do what he wishes... and keeping him safe to lead a life he might not otherwise lead -- a life that would most assuredly be longer than it will be if he remains."

Freyja runs a hand lightly down one of her curled-up legs, idly re-arranging the long coat she's wearing as she thinks. Finally she looks up at the captain and smiles a touch ruefully, "I have family, Captain Thorn, who believe my being a Jedi is just a 'stage' I'm going through, that I'll soon recover from. I have Jedi who believe my attachment to family is a remnant of pre-adolescent insecurities that I'll shed once I attain the rank of Jedi Knight. The only thing I know for sure, Captain, is that it is only I who can resolve these issues." She sighs, looking away, and says quietly, "Let him make his own informed decisions, Captain. Who better to do so?"

Thorn lets out a breath and nods. "You're right, of course," he says readily. "And I know this, and every time I think of him the thought comes up to steal him back into the Republic. And I always tell myself he must make his own decision. If perhaps he changes his mind, then that is fine -- and if he does not, that is fine too, because it is his decision." He looks to Freyja and smiles quietly. "Your family thinks that you'll simply be up and done with being a Jedi someday? I don't know much about Jedi, but I can't see someone simply stopping being a Jedi."

Freyja nods quietly, "Hai... nor have I ever heard of anyone just abandoning their family, on Balmorra. It's just... not done, you know?"

He nods thoughtfully. "Does that put you in a difficult position? To balance between being a Jedi and -- your responsibilities to your family?"

Freyja laughs ruefully, "Oh, hai, you might say that!" She sighs, her attempt at humor fading almost as quickly as it arrived, and just sips her tea.

Thorn arches a brow, smiling quietly. "Well, for what it is worth, I have some familiarity with that feeling. Though there is no Haus Skaldr, there is still the idea of the family name being unblemished. But I realized I'd never make everyone happy, even in my own dispossessed family. My aunt was utterly scandalized when she learned I had become a corsair. According to my cousins," his eye take on a merry glitter, "the heat of her silently-fuming rage was enough to set the drapes on fire from ten paces away."

Freyja listens... then laughs in spite of herself.

He continues, "Even if my own mother -- reluctantly -- approved, I knew others in my family would disagree completely. I know being a corsair is different from being a Jedi, but is the end choice not the same? In the end, there will always be those who disagree with your choices, even in your own family. When you know in you heart, that your choice is your first, best destiny, then that is what matters. Even in the great classics of leadership in our culture say 'the aristoi must rule from her heart and her mind, and must do what she herself knows is best, for only the true aristoi will know herself and her people best.' Kattarina Rigg wrote that, I believe."

Freyja pulls her knees up and wraps one arm about them, resting her chin on them and grinning at the dashing Captain, "All right, you have a point... quite an excellent one, it would appear!" She pauses, considering as she rests her cheek on her arm... then looks up at the captain again. Her expression is quietly serious, "Will you remember that, please... should you hear, ah... conflicting stories about me and my crewmates sometime in the coming future?"

Thorn grins and inclines his head. "Thank you. And yes, I shall remember that. I know not what brings you to the Outer Rim, but I shall not ask. I will remember how and who you are now, and no mere rumor or story will make me change my mind."

Freyja smiles quietly, her ice blue eyes almost dreamy with distance to come, as she murmurs, "Thank you, Captain... I would appreciate that..."

Thorn smiles. "You're very welcome, Freyja. And I should perhaps be leaving. Your departure will be in a few hours, yes? Ameil insists I don't spend much time on-planet until the Mandalorian is dealt with."

Freyja sighs quietly and nods, still smiling as she rises and politely offers Thorn a hand, "You have my best wishes, Captain, in a successful and long-lived career... both for yourself and all your crew."

Thorn takes Freyja's hand gently, smiling as he bows over it, lips almost but not quite touching, as is proper -- instead, Freyja feels the petals of a flower pressed lightly upon the back of her hand as he straightens. "And you have my best wishes, as well, Freyja, for you and your friends, that you might find what you are looking for, and that your return home will be safe."

He smiles a little wryly, adding, "And that your father might someday realize the true jewel of his family lies within you and not your sister." He closes his eyes, bowing his head to Freyja. "In Truth spoken; your secret is safe with me. Not even Ameil will ever know." He smiles again to Freyja. "Gods-speed to you." With that and nothing more, he slips out of the ship before Freyja can recover.

Freyja's quietly polite smile freezes in place at the captain's words, and her eyes widen. She starts to open her mouth to say something -- anything! -- but the captain's left the room already... and what would she say?

She pauses, still shocked as she considers that... then snorts at herself. Don't be an idiot! A compliment like that?! There's only one thing to say! She darts swiftly to the ship's exit, peeking cautiously around the corner, suddenly overcome with a moment of shyness. Is he still there, or has he left already?

Thorn is taking his time about stepping down the ramp, despite the growing impatience and twitchiness of the enforcers as they wait for him. Freyja smiles, leaning against the airlock with the rose between her fingers, and says very softly, a little shyly, "Thank you."

Thorn turns as he reaches the end of the ramp. He bows gallantly to her, smiling warmly, his eyes meeting hers even as she is half-hidden at the top of the ramp, before the enforcers sweep him away, either to the safety of the fortress or to the ship that will bring him back up to orbit. Freyja's cheeks flush a bit warmer, but she watches quietly as the captain leaves, still smiling to herself.

Once he's gone Freyja looks -- a little hopefully, a little trepidatiously -- as to what the rose's likely meaning is. She blushes more deeply as she figures that out, with the help of her datapad. It's an Alderaanian rose... and supposedly signifies, 'Thou art all that is lovely.' She beams at the little rosebud. Its scent is gentle and sweet, and she happily hopes it, like the lotus, will receive her Force-sent encouragement and caring, and continue to blossom and grow.

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Last modified: 2002-Jul-16 16:14:54

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