These Shattered Stars -- Logs

The ship makes its extremely fast way through hyperspace. The last bit of maintenance has been done preparatory to breaking out of hyperspace, and the astrogation computer is ticking down the handful of hours till estimated breakout. The ship's clock has been steadily synchronized during the journey to match the time at the Rigg manse, so there won't be any biolag upon arrival. If all goes well, they should be arriving within three hours, at approximately local noon.

Freyja has carefully made sure the ship's registry is back to Platinum Eclipse again, and neatly and thoroughly hidden away all the disguise paraphernalia. She also takes a moment to review herself, putting on clothes which won't horrify her mother and brushing her hair before wandering thoughtfully out to breakfast. She's studying a wisp of her fiery golden hair, held between slender golden fingers, as she seats herself for food. "I wonder what my family will think... I look rather different now, don't I?"

Zero mms, "Five creds says Syf remarks on what a tan you've gotten and how much sun you must get and moves on to the next topic in ten seconds."

Vakkal is taking his turn at the watch in the cockpit, while Fhazil is preparing breakfast: typical shipboard rations, since the long journey has almost depleted their supplies. "Well," he says, "it has been two years. You changed pretty significantly between the time I met you on Marnaas and the time we met again on Commenor."

Freyja looks over at Fhazil curiously, "How so?" A moment later she smiles with quiet warmth, "So did you, sweetheart." She helps herself to some food from the main dish, then takes a moment to regard her friends consideringly, as she chews.

Vakkal is his usual dark-furred, calm self... Fhazil will be completely new to her family. She smiles at Zero, swallowing, then murmurs, "This isn't a tan." She turns her hand over, regarding it thoughtfully, then says slowly, "It's... well, it's not metallic, at least... but... it's not... not usual?"

Zero says, "I know it's not. And you know it's not. Which is my point..."

Freyja grins at Zero, "Well, Syffie's the beauty in the family, so I suspect most folks will be focusing on her whenever she's around." She pauses, tilting her head to regard Zero... then reaches out to gently trace the skin around his mouth. "Well now... looks like you'll be the 'new and improved' version too, Zeriza! Look, Fhazil -- it's not just me, is it -- his scar is almost all gone!"

Fhazil chuckles. "Well, your skin color and hair color both. And my hair- and eye-color. And Zero's...." He pauses, setting the plate on the table, looking at Zero curiously. "Well, now... so it is! You can almost not even see it anymore!"

Zero looks at Fhazil, then Freyja. "If you two are trying to be nice, it's okay, you don't need to humor me."

Freyja beams at Zero, enormously pleased the healing worked, then laughs softly, "So... it may have been only a year and nine months, to be precise... but it would seem we are all quite changed, eh?" The others can feel her quiet, warm joy at their presence. She is returning to fulfill familial duties... but with such well-beloved and close Family of the Heart, even the Hausa union doesn't faze her.

Zero looks between the others when they gloss over the subject and move on; he's starting to take this personally. He doesn't think it's very funny. He reaches up and brushes back the long hair away from the left side of his face, then touches his lip. He blinks. Then he stands and moves away from the table, heading back toward the fresher. "Excuse me a second."

Freyja looks after Zero a bit puzzledly. "Zeriza... are you upset, sweetheart? Did you not believe me when I said we could heal you, if you wished?" She rises to follow him, worried.

Freyja finds Zero in the fresher, holding his hair away from his face and staring wide-eyed at the mirror. She will, if he does not object, slip her arms around him from behind in a small hug as he stands there. She smiles over his shoulder at his reflection, watching his realization. He's silent for a moment, looking at his lip from both sides, before he manages to mutter, "...stang!"

Freyja grins, quietly happy for him. As he turns his head to look, she lets her lips brush lightly across his hair. Zero says, "I thought... when you said.... I didn't think you meant it... literally... stang."

Freyja grins, tilting her head so she can see his reflection past his head, "I would not lie to you, beloved." Her voice is gentle, and she hugs him quietly, "You did say you wouldn't mind, after all."

Zero shakes his head, "Freyja... I can't believe it." He smiles lopsidedly out of reflex this time; his nerves aren't badly healed anymore. He sucks in his breath at a sudden thought.

Zero tries on a smile. And it's perfect.

Zero murmurs quietly, "...gods below." He squeezes Freyja gently. "Who'd have thought. Thank you, Freyja."

Freyja smiles slowly, her lips resting against Zero's ear as she watches. He can 'feel' her happiness for him, You are welcome, sweetheart... although it was mostly you who did it, to be honest. All I did was bring out the potential for you to do so.

Zero leans gently against Freyja. I'd never have thought it. I wonder what my parents will say.

Freyja laughs softly, her breath warm against his cheek, We'll have to stop by after the war for them to see, hai? She lets one hand slide down to take his, "But for now... breakfast, hai? If you starve to death before we get there..." she shakes her head, grinning, "your mother would simply never forgive me, eh?"

Zero smiles a little. "My mother would never believe it. My father's appetite is legendary. I can't fight my genes." He grins, "She'd insist foul play. Gods above help the Sith."

Freyja laughs again, heading back to the breakfast table with her beloved, "Well, fair warning to Fhazil and Vakkal then, eh?" She giggles, kissing Fhazil on the top of the head before re-seating herself, then adds solemnly to Fhazil, "Fear Zero's mom!"

Fhazil blinks to Freyja. "That sounds like good advice..."

Zero says, "She isn't so bad as all that. She just has a fearsome reputation."

Freyja grins amusedly at Zero, then turns back to Fhazil, "This from the man who's still referred to as 'Son of the Devil'!"

Zero says, "I'm not so bad. I'm just misunderstood."

Freyja laughs aloud delightedly -- then leans over and hugs Zero cheerfully, "You're fun!"

The ship breaks out of hyperspace about 90 minutes past the estimated time -- not untoward; in fact fairly close as far as those things go.

While the ship gets cleared for approach, Freyja downloads and scans the most recent HoloNet news. The big news is, predictably enough, the declaration of a ceasefire. Previously, a ceasefire along a small sector of the front would happen every so often but the fighting overall would be continuing.

Since the current fighting takes place only along one sector -- the border of Balmorra -- this ceasefire is thus the first time in almost six years where the Great Hyperspace War is actually paused. This news alone is big enough that the further news Lord Ghang Si'yul is to be speaking with Republic military and civilian leaders is almost buried.

Also, news of Freyja's wedding is almost elbowed out of existence from most newsfaxes save for those from Balmorra itself. Freyja beams in quiet relief as she does her first hasty scan of the holonews. She makes a mental note to thank the Sith Lord Ghang for scooping up the more ravening reporters. Nevertheless, the wedding itself is getting some coverage. There's the predicted speculation on why it's being done so hurriedly, and what significance the summit meeting with the Sith on Balmorra at the same time could have.

In somewhat related news, Senator Kalatis has disappeared. He was in his new offices on Sedrak when news of the ceasefire came in. The next evening he boarded his ship, announcing he was en route to Balmorra. His ship has not arrived yet, and has in fact missed its arrival time by three days. There is growing speculation that he has diverted his ship to a different course. The Republic Guard has as yet made no comment other than they have received instructions from the Senator's office that Kalatis' flight plan was considered confidential but that they are 'examining the flight path as submitted to us to see if any mishap has taken place.

The trial of the Kalarban Darksiders is dragging into its third month, though it seems that once the procedures are finalized the trial itself will go quickly. The delays stem from the judiciary attempting to keep it from being either a rallying topic for separatists, or a cause for remaining a client state.

By all accounts, however, it has indeed become a rallying point, and House Doukun of Cularin has already hosted the first Confederational Convention not one month before. The Senate has already expressed 'grave misgivings" about the agenda discussed at the Confederational Convention, but Countess Simone Doukun has stated flatly it is a "discussion group vital to the interests of the so-called client states, but which is far from any meaningful resolution. Sovereignty is a process, not a goal in and of itself, and we have no intention of abandoning the Republic in their time of crisis." Countess Doukun was not available for comment following the announcement of the ceasefire.

Freyja smiles, reading about the slowly forming independent states. She wishes them good fortune... and hopes the Darksiders are treated with consideration, considering it's due to their presence this was able to occur. She is unsurprised Kalatis has fled, however. "Hey, guys? Kalatis is gone. Wonder if the Sith caught him?"

Zero hmms quietly to himself. "Wonder if Mister Ling beat me to the Senator. Wouldn't be the first time."

Freyja says, "Argent? Hope not... I'm hoping he'll be here, so he can back up Ghang's assertions."

At about that time the ship is making final approach to Balmorra, and three couriers in Rigg livery are already forming up as an honor guard to the Platinum Eclipse, with Piper's Seiglinde Rigg taking point.

Zero says, "It'd be just like him to do something like that on the way here... overachiever." He grins a little, "You know that's what got him 'killed.'"

Freyja looks up from the holonews, noticing the honor guard, and grins. She flicks on the commo, "Greetings!" Then she covers the speaker to give Zero a grin and an amused snort.

Piper's laugh fills the cabin. "An' greetin's tae ye, milady Rigg! Pleased tae be welcomin' ye back tae Balmorra! An' a bonnie fine ship ye've got, too -- I'm itchin' tae ha' a look under th' deck plates, if'n I may be so bold tae ask! 'Ow was yer trip out an' back agin?"

Freyja laughs, oddly happy to hear her childhood friend's welcoming voice, "Ah, the Eclipse has served us well, Piper, and thank you!" She grins, "You'll have to ask the guys if you want to poke around, however... they take almost maternal care of her." She adds ruefully, "The trip... well, long, mostly -- hyperspace travel is like that. So, is Master Roakkana arrived yet?"

Freyja wonders if the Sith lord is arrived yet either... then decides probably not yet, or the news would be nothing but his arrival. She adds a little belatedly, "So, how's my family handling things?" Then she wonders a bit nervously if Leif liked the small giftings she'd periodically sent him. They'd been meant to assist in the difficult first times with her family. She hopes they did so, and didn't insult him or anything.

"Oh, aye, 'e 'as! 'E's comin' back fr'm th' Jedi Chapter House, 'e an' 'is 'watch-frehkee.' As f'r ye family, they're well enough. Yer father's had a wee bout but 'e's better now. I'm thinkin' th' arguments o'er th' summit arrangements revivified 'im -- 'e seems th' sort tae thrive on thot sorta thing! An' yer mother, she's keepin' quite busy with th' weddin' plans. Young Lord Leif is dealin' well enough wi' the businesses. 'E's on 'is way back from th' moon e'en now -- if'n ye look tae port, 'bout fifteen degrees above th'orizon, ye kin see 'is shuttle, actually. Bit o' a problem wi' th' farmers up yonder -- they were gettin' a mite antsy wi' th' Sith comin' in."

Freyja murmurs half under her breath at Piper's comment regarding the farmers, "Hai... and who could blame them?" She tilts to look out the viewport to see if she can see the shuttle, even as she debates refusing Haus hospitality to Master Roakkana's Calefactor. Well... it's Master Roakkana's choice, she decides.

Freyja sees the shuttle, she thinks, but it's little more than a speck of reflected light currently. She adds in more normal tones to Piper, "ETA on the shuttle? Too long to wait and descend with him, or neh?"

"I'm afear'd so, Freyja. We're takin' up th' insertion window f'r this orbit; 'e'll be comin' down 'bout 'alf an hour aft'r us."

Freyja nods, "All right, let's clear out then. Neh need to clog up traffic. Thanks!"

Zero says, "Atmosphere interface coming up. Hold tight..."

Freyja sighs softly, leaning back in her seat again. She can feel herself pulling the mask of 'aristoi' on... a necessary form of emotional self-protection for herself. She hopes Leif has mastered it better than the last time she saw him... and yet, in some ways she hopes not too well. She'd like to be able to still talk to him, even as she does not want to see him hurt in business by innocence.

The final approach is somewhat rougher than usual -- a freak storm system is developing that the weather control system either missed or couldn't compensate for. It's nothing the spaceships can't handle, however, and they land at the Rigg manse landing pads in an increasingly overcast midday with some strong winds picking up.

Predictably enough, this time they are met with the full sturm und drang of a welcoming party worthy of a Haus Arving Lady, even if it's only the immediate family and some (very) early arrivals to the wedding. The huskarls are formed up as an honor guard, and everyone seems bedecked in various fineries -- though, fortunately, not to the extent as if it were a formal dinner.

Freyja straightens her long-coat and hair, knowing full well the wind will play havoc with them anyway, then takes a deep breath. She looks at her friends and smiles gravely, "Still winter here... hopefully we'll get a chance to play..." She pauses, considering, then simply shakes her head -- she knows better. Instead she simply rests one hand on the button to open the airlock, murmuring, "Ready?"

Zero turns up his collar, "Ready as ever. Let's get this show started."

Freyja sighs, smiling as she turns towards the door, "Show... hai, that it is. Well... onwards." She straightens as the door opens, pacing slowly down the ramp, smiling gravely and nodding politely to those assembled.

Zero makes an 'ugh' noise, almost silently to himself, as he sees the welcome party. Yes, farmer's son, you're among the aristocracy now. Gods below, who has time to work on their wardrobe this much?

As the haus anthem plays while Freyja steps from the courier, there is the faintest murmur that goes through the crowd. Even her parents seem surprised, if hiding it reasonably well. "Welcome home, Freyja!" her father says expansively, echoed by her mother. "And welcome to you, Zero Satau; it is a pleasure to see you again."

Freyja belatedly remembers -- skin and hair color changes! Well, at least neh one turned away in disgust, she thinks with quiet resignation. She gently hugs her parents, wondering with faint amusement just how quickly her mother will get her into more "appropriate" clothing.

Zero gives his small, open-handed bow. "Sah, master Rigg. It's good to see you well."

"And... Fhazil Taas, isn't it?" After greeting Fhazil formally, the Baron Rigg grumbles a little, turning up his collar. "Let's retire to the manse," he says, a shrill wind dancing through the trees as if to emphasize his words. "Blasted weather system -- might as well not use it if it's this unpredictable....!"

Freyja smiles politely, not really affected by the weather as she follows her parents. She's careful to walk such that her paramours can easily pace her... it's a small thing, but very comforting to have them so close. She sighs softly, internally... it's going to be a long week, she knows. She grins, rubbing the ears of the excited frehkees who manage to wiggle through the crowd to her... them she's unreservedly happy to see. Then she murmurs quietly as they walk, "Mother, if nothing's scheduled for later today, I'd like some time with, ah... Fafnir when he arrives, please?"

Erde smiles and nods. "Certainly, Freyja, that's fine. He should be arriving in a bit under an hour, actually."

The return to the manse is accomplished in short order, and everyone soon ensconced within the warm walls of the lounge. Once there, the Baron introduces the early guests. This is, namely, a tiny waif of a girl, pale with black hair, who is one of the princesses of House Jinn of Alderaan and here to deliver House Jinn's own respects to the Arving lady and lord. With her is her bodyguard, a tall Ithorian wearing the blues of House Jinn.

"It is an honor to meet you, milady," Nieni Jinn says, bowing in the Balmorran manner to Freyja. Freyja and Zero would place her age at a remarkably mature and somber fifteen -- just at her age of majority for Alderaan.

Freyja returns the graceful gesture appropriately, rather touched, "It is a pleasure, Princess Nieni. You do my Haus great honor." She wonders internally if she was this gravely large-eyed and silent at that age... was she ever much of a child? She pushes the thought aside for later, concentrating for now on the present, and behaving with appropriate grace.

A moment later she wonders if the young princess is Force-aware, like herself, or just grown up way too fast? After a moment of reflection, she decides probably the latter. Alderaan can't be any less rough, socially, than here, and is probably worse in many ways for the reigning families. There are a lot of 'junior' princes and princesses of the various houses, and political intrigue is likely a national aristoi pastime -- when they're not addressing the issues of governing the principalities of Alderaan.

Freyja sighs softly, internally, hoping Master Roakkana turns up soon. Is she 'cheating,' in a way, by putting all this aside to roam with what she sees as the will of the Force? She wonders, with a trace of wry humor, how her paramours see this. Bad enough the poor things are still conflating 'marriage' with 'love,' as it's making them uncomfortable... but how do they see the careful, slow, intricate, constant and never-ending 'dance' of ritual and protocol?

Freyja and Zero are saved from any further necessities of formality by the door opening and a familiar voice saying in Shiryywook, "I do hope I'm not too late to welcome my apprentices..."

Freyja grins in spite of herself, turning and lighting up visibly, "Master Roakkana!" She paces over and hugs him tightly, "It's so good to see you again! How are you?" She adds silently, audible only to her Family of the Heart, We missed you greatly!

Zero says, "Ah, master!" He bows deeply. Stang, but it's a relief to see him...

Roakkana looks... well, it's hard to tell, but it has been almost two years since they last saw him. A few more hairs on his pelt may have turned a tad more silvery, but all in all he looks utterly unchanged. He beams a smile, bowing pleasantly. "Freyja, Zero, so good to see you again! Ooof!" He laughs again and embraces Freyja as she hugs him. "Yes, it has been a long time, hasn't it? It's so very good to see you both again, and doing well!"

Freyja beams, stepping back but still holding his huge furred hands, "You also, Master. I hope you don't mind, but I've every intention of introducing you to Sith Lord Ghang Si'yul when he arrives. I couldn't think of anyone better!"

Zero folds his hands politely behind his back and smiles, pleased to see his teacher again. To Freyja he says simply, Back home we call politics the Game of Ministers. It's just a game to the peasants... I never saw much use in it, myself. And you're wrong about the conflation, but we can talk about that later.

Freyja's small grin is silent and internal, as she replies, It has much the same reputation here... although weirdly enough, I think the kurasai find it reassuring the aristoi busy themselves with that... instead of with the kurasai.

Zero scratches his nose absently, I'm given to think the farmers back home feel similarly.

Freyja can't stop a small grin at that thought! To Fhazil and Vakkal she murmurs, Is it that way on your birth worlds too?

Zero mms. There's a curse on my planet: may you come to the attention of those in high places. Freyja coughs, trying to conceal the laugh that provokes.

Mention of the Sith lord's name doesn't quite cast a pall on the group, but it does raise the tension a little. Everyone -- except Baron Rigg, interestingly -- seems nervous at the reminder that in a few days a Sith Lord is going to be not only allowed on-planet, but also welcomed.

Roakkana smiles. "I look forward to it. I only hope that there's time in between that and whatever it is he is going to be talking to the Republic about..."

Vakkal's reply is his world is still so very clannish that there's very little separating the clan leaders from the people they rule. As for Corellia, it's a Republic world like any other. There are people, and then there are politicians, and how much power the politicians abuse is entirely up to how much power the people let them have.

Freyja's thought towards Vakkal is fascinatedly curious, Huh... so the lord Ghang isn't really considered that close to the people? She chuckles quietly at Roakkana's comment, "Well... perhaps we'll have a chance to chat later, hai? I'm sure my parents want to talk with us also."

She turns to look at the present guests, "Thank you all so much for gracing our Hausa union with your presence. I hope to be able to properly thank you later, individually. However, for now, may we beg your indulgence, that we might take some time to clean up from the flight in?"

Baron Rigg nods. "Of course. Your quarters have been prepared, as with your last visit. There will be a somewhat formal dinner this evening in the family dining room; tomorrow of course will be the feast in the evening."

Freyja nods politely to her father, carefully hiding the faint sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, "We shall attend." She releases Master Roakkana's hands, turning to salute each guest individually in the Balmorran fashion, "For now... may the Force be with you all." Moments later she quietly extricates herself and her friends from the group, taking a deep breath once the door is shut behind them. "Whew! All right, shall we hit my rooms for a bit, so we can talk with Master Roakkana?" Then she looks around curiously, "Where's your young Calefactor, Master Roakkana?" A moment later she adds with faint relief, "Thank goodness neh one was aghast at the change in our various looks."

Zero says, "I hardly think there's anything to be aghast about. It's not as if we came back with extra limbs or anything."

Roakkana smiles. "He is... pleasantly discrete. The Baron Rigg knows I am not fond of him but I declined his offer to evacuate him from the manse. He is just outside the room. His work is finished, as it is. As I am now reunited with you, as they suspected, he will be departing in the early afternoon for whatever task his superiors have slated for him next."

One of the house servants starts to escort them to their rooms in that wing of the manse. As they leave the room they see the curl of Jedi robes go around another corner; apparently the Calefactor watch-frehkee has been instructed to avoid contact with the group. There is nothing amiss, as an armsman is visible through the doorway, watching the Calefactor.

Freyja grins ruefully at Zero, "True... I suppose I'm just paranoid, after years of being looked at with pity, in comparison to Syffie."

Zero says, "I think you worry too much, lover. Unless your parents have some sort of morbid fear of your getting sun." Then he nearly chokes, realizing he used the word 'lover.' He isn't sure it was time to break that to Roakkana yet...

Freyja laughs in spite of herself, leaning to give Zero a happy hug. "Thank you... sometimes I need to be grounded again, I think!" Then she blinks, straightening abruptly from the hug as Zero seizes up, "What?! Did I hurt you? I'm sorry!"

Zero says, "Erm... no, of course not. Um... I think I may've just let the sarlacc out of the bag, though."

Freyja gives Zero a confused look, "What? My parents can't possibly have talked with you about me getting too much sun, surely?" She adds curiously, "What's a sarlacc?"

Zero says, "Uh, actually I was thinking more of my choice of terms of endearment. In front of the Master. You know?"

Freyja studies Zero with puzzled interest -- then the light dawns. She laughs, "Oh, that! Surely you know Master Roakkana would know that already?"

Roakkana is listening to this with a merry, benevolent smile. Zero says, "Well... I'm hoping."

Freyja grins, "Besides, you and Fhazil are in my will already... as my paramours. I knew Vakkal would always be cared for here, even if I died before the quest was ended, but I wanted to be sure you and Fhazil would be too, regardless of what happened to me." She tilts her head thoughtfully, pacing along with one arm looped through Master Roakkana's and the other through Zero's, and muses, "Did I forget to tell you all that...?" She grins at Zero, her eyes dancing with mischief.

Zero shakes his head. "The strain must be getting to me."

Freyja giggles, hugging Zero gently, then continuing down the hallway after the servant to her wing of the building. A short while later everyone is comfortably seated in one of the rooms of her personal suite, with tea and refreshments for everyone, and the smiling servant quietly departed. Freyja sighs, sipping her tea and relaxing back on the seat cushion, "Well now! So... how're you doing for real, Master Roakkana? Do you want to hear the condensed or the long version of what's been happening with us?"

Roakkana settles into a chair, chuckling softly. "Much, much better now the watchdog has retreated. A pleasant enough fellow... very much a Lightsider, but with the personality of a tuber. I fear he will in time gladly subsume himself into the Force. I did at least make him promise to keep in touch with me, so perhaps I may yet avert him from that fate. Other than that, I am well, all told. The lack of travel this past year has agreed with me quite well, all told."

Regarding her query, Roakkana says cheerfully, "We seem to have quite some time. Best to tell me the long version, I think!"

Freyja grins ruefully, "Poor Calefactor. Ah, well..." She smiles, adding sincerely, "I'm very glad to hear you're feeling better." She pauses, then with assistance from her three friends, the story slowly comes out. It takes a while -- impressions, back-filling, speculations, and a bit of jumping around chronologically occurs, just as it does with any long, complex, and interesting story -- but eventually several cups of tea and plates of tiny nibbles are consumed, and Roakkana is updated on the events of the last nine months to a year of their lives.

Roakkana takes in the entire story slowly, asking questions as needed, and is quiet when the group finishes. Finally he smiles slowly. "So... you seemed to have been successful in communicating with Lord Ghang and bringing him here. Your father has actually been looking forward to this. Sadly, Kalatis seems to have disappeared."

Freyja nods happily, cheered that Master Roakkana is pleased with both the success of their initial mission to form a triat, and in having persuaded the Sith lord to come speak. "Hai, he's going to try speaking plainly to the Republic, to see if it will help end the war faster. Personally I think the Sith would do better to just let us work it out at our own speed -- taking time out for the war just slows justice down, after all -- but I guess that's just how they see the universe..." she glances at her Darksider friends for affirmation or correction, "Hai?"

Freyja adds with a wry smile, "It's entirely possible the Sith have already dealt with Kalatis, after all. Although I do wonder why Father is looking forward to this." She's silent, pondering a bit, then wrinkles her nose slightly, "Hopefully he's not going to do something silly like surrender to Sith Lord Ghang, or anything. He had some weird ideas about the Sith, last I heard."

Zero says, "That would be bad. That would make leaving the system a military action on our part."

Freyja gives Zero a puzzled look, "How so, please?"

Zero says, "Being as we're, nominally at least, agents of the Jedi Order which is at the heart of this whole idiotic conflict."

Freyja says, "We were just planning on going to Tanaab, so Fhazil could properly reunite with him, though... is that truly military action?" She considers again, then sighs quietly, "Then again... if Tanaab chose to fight, I know I at least would want to aid them... so I guess you're right, Zeriza." She looks soberly at Fhazil, "If we go to Tanaab, and they're fighting, and I want to help... how will you feel, sweetheart?"

Zero says, "Frankly, anyone besides maybe Ghang who hears the word 'Jedi' is going to shoot first. And second and third if possible. We need to be careful regardless of what your father does."

Freyja nods slowly, "Hai, this is true, especially once Ghang has spoken of the reasons for the war." She looks unhappy, "We still have to try, though. We have to at least try -- for the people. We owe them that, at the very least."

Roakkana coughs. "Perhaps I should explain. Your father is curious about the droids which have been seen in Sith service. He's eagerly looking forward to the explanation he is certain Lord Ghang will be making. I, ah, also mentioned to him the roasts served at your last visit here were of Sith origin. He seemed rather fond of them."

Freyja looks a little blankly at the Wookiee, "My father... is looking forward... to an explanation... of droids?!" She blinks, then adds confusedly, "He's eager to hear how the Republic has failed technologically?!"

"Er... no, he's eager to hear how the Sith got hold of them. You do recall the furor which accompanied the accusations that Balmorran companies had been selling to the Sith. He's quite eager to hear the truth and be done with that matter."

"Oh!" Freyja sounds greatly relieved, "Thank goodness... for a moment there..." She lets her voice trail off, not wanting to verbalize her sudden worry of insanity or something in her family. Instead she just smiles wryly and shakes her head once, "Ah, well... he's not going to like the answer, then." Wistfully she adds, "I sure would love to get my hands on one of those invisible Sith ships... now there's a mystery I'd like to see the Republic get resolved in their favor."

Fhazil says, in reply to Freyja's earlier query about Sith viewpoints, "They might not see it that way, Freyja. I get the feeling that at some level the Sith are viewing the galaxy as a whole when they're aiming to deal with Khoud, rather than a galaxy divided between Empire and Republic and Everyone Else. And you heard Lord Ghang -- the Moot doesn't trust the Order enough to effectively deal with the Calefactors. This is a stretch for them to give us this much time to deal with it."

Freyja gives Fhazil a curious look, "Do they subsume themselves into that galactic whole... or is it subsumed under them, in their view?"

"I don't know, Freyja. I can only guess. There are as many philosophies within the Sith as there are within the Jedi Order. I can only think they're mostly concerned with dealing with the Calefactors at this point."

Freyja nods, slightly reassured by that, "All right. If they've as many philosophies as the Light, then I think we have a good chance to achieve some form of balance within the Force together... if only we can keep the hardliners from either the Order or the Sith from madly attacking each other to the death."

Freyja looks hopefully at Master Roakkana, "Which reminds me -- are the Templars keeping their oaths better now?" She grins a bit shyly, "I admit, I wouldn't mind having to tell Templar Cassandra I was wrong."

Roakkana shakes his head. "I honestly do not know, Freyja. I have heard it said the Templars are, at least publicly, keeping out of this dispute. I've also heard it said the 'special' commanderies where Templars are being trained have not shut down."

Freyja sighs, a bit disconcerted by that. "Well, wolf-feathers." She tilts her head, considering, "Hm... any news of Master Balin Khoud? For that matter..." she grins wryly, "how're things shaking down in the Order?"

"Only that he was last on Coruscant. He is very likely attempting to make his way to this sector after hearing the Sith will be here, but if so then he is several weeks away still."

Freyja grins, deadpanning, "Oh, dear... we may miss him."

Zero mutters, "...nerfherder." Freyja giggles at Zero, then gives the Wookiee a hopefully inquiring look. She doesn't know if he's more up to date on Order politics than she -- but she hopes so!

Roakkana sighs a little. "In some places it is as if battle lines are being drawn, though of course there is no fighting. Many, many people are coming out verbally supportive of either the idea of war against the Darksiders, or cautious reconciliation, dealing with them in a manner other than war. "Then there are extremists, not only those who favor a war of extermination but also those who are calling for a unification of sorts, and a handful who are... reconsidering their devotion to the Light. The extremists are very rare, however, I should say. As a whole we are a very introspective Order and not inclined to extremism. This is increasingly an issue which is polarizing us, however."

Freyja nods, frowning. It's to be expected, she supposes, even if she's not happy about it. "Well, it seems we've successfully brought some Dark to the Light of the Republic..." She sighs quietly. "So... now, I guess it's time to bring some Light to the Dark of the Empire. I just..." she looks down at her tightly clasped hands, worrying, "Well... I wish there weren't so many folks being hurt by this..." She looks at Fhazil and adds, "So... how would you feel, at Tanaab? You never said...?"

Fhazil lets out a breath. "It's... a hard thing, Freyja. On the one hand, to fight against my own nation... on the other, to fight against you." He sighs, shaking his head. "I'd fight with you... but you'd have to expect me not to like it."

Freyja nods, unsmiling, and leans to hug him tightly. A little muffledly she murmurs, from where her head rests against his shoulder, "Would it help any to know I'd be doing my utmost to harm as few as possible?"

Fhazil smiles a bit returning the hug. "Not really," he says softly. "They don't stand a chance, anyway." He changes the subject. "So... ah, I imagine the Arving Lord will be arriving soon, actually. It's been almost an hour...."

Freyja blinks startledly as she straightens. There it is again -- that odd feeling she sometimes gets from Sith about the... almost the omni-power of the Order! Or... could he be referring to the power of the triat?

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