Anybody else had a problem with disappearing front panel of Darth Sion's Pauldron's? It might be the outfit piece combo I am wearing, not sure, but that front panel likes to go away fairly frequently so I can flash my undies at people I guess. ;)
Disagreement: Shaydia and Nik'khe, Alderaan, Kaliyo and Quinn, no spoilers,
By: Age and Treachery and The Sherastiliin Legacy, our Joint World of combined Legacies
Cast of Characters:
Shaydia-Human, Imperial Agent and Kaliyo IA Companion
Nik'khe-Sith Pureblood/Human, Sith Warrior, daughter of Andronikos Revel and A'iofe, Sith Inquisitor, and Malavai Quinn, SW Companion
Nanna-Ashara Zavros Drellik, family to Nik'khe Revel, helped raise her on the ship along with the other companions of her mother A'iofe.
Shaydia wrinkled her nose in distaste. She knew this was necessary, and would be in the best interests of the Empire, but stealing medicine from the wounded did not sit right with her. She reminded herself again that this was the enemy and bent to pick up a pack of medical supplies.
A blaster shot followed by the crash of breaking transparisteel, the slosh of liquid, and a pained groan turned her attention to her Sith companion. Nik'khe had a malicious grin on her face. Kaliyo let out a bark of laughter and aimed her blaster at the next kolto tank, spilling its occupant onto the ground.
"What are you doing?" Shaydia asked, a slightly sickened look on her face.
Nik's eyes held a wild glee as she laughed. "Taking care that the forces that come next against the Empire are short a few more soldiers? We need the medicine for the Empire, yes? If we can reduce the number of combatants less medicine is needed. Logical don't you think? Besides, they're the enemy." Aiming again with her blasters for the far side of the tent two more kolto tanks exploded with kolto spilling out followed by a body leaking more than just kolto gel.
"I don't care how logical it is. Stop it!" Shaydia was shaking with anger, "They are helpless, wounded, and can't defend themselves."
Kaliyo snorted, "Agent, you are way too soft." She took aim again.
"That's an order, Kaliyo!" Shaydia barked. She turned to Nik'khe, "I know very well I can't order you to do anything, so I'm not going to. But you know what I think." She turned to march off, Kaliyo following sulkily.
Guns flipped through Nik's fingers while she considered what Shay had said. Nanna's face swam up remembering ….that however much the enemy they were, they were also people. Alive, they might join the Empire even, dead they never would.
A disgruntled frown crossed her face. The blasters flipped back in their holsters. "Well don't just stand there Quinn. Come on, we have more medical supplies to gather…Wait up Shay, let's see how much of these supplies we have between us."
"My Lord" Quinn inclined his head to her. "Reducing the number of combatants as you suggested does seem to be in the best interest of the Empire."
Nik shook her head. "I am Sith Quinn. I do as I please and today it pleases me to show mercy. Do as I say and gather the medical supplies and count them together with those Kaliyo has to see if we have acquired enough."
Nik pulled on her fancy silver skirt with its attached protrusion Vette liked to call a ‘buttcape’ and put on a silver and white midriff top to match. Hung her vibrosword on her back and straightened the spike in her Mohawk. Sticking her head out into the lounge she watched Vette linger morosely in the bar. Her heart skipped a beat but she turned away, sure that Vette had made the right decision, just had to work on fixing the awkward silences that dominated their interactions right now. “What do you think Vette? Think Nia’ree will think I’m at least going to try and not get into trouble if I’m wearing a skirt?” She spun and stopped in front of Vette with a tentative smile.
Vette nodded. “Yes my lord. Looks good. Don’t get into trouble.” She turned and went back to the communications room whistling to Pinkie to get her to follow.
Giggling she leaned against the table in the lounge where Quinn was studiously working on his datapad. “What do YOU think of the dress Quinn?” When that elicited no response she sighed and shoved the table a bit to get room and plopped into his lap after taking the datapad out of his hands. Looking into his face she tried again. “What do YOU think of the dress Quinn?”
Blinking Quinn looked at the considerably more feminine look currently being sported by his Sith Lord and swallowed. He maintained a neutral expression and studied her. ”You look beautiful my lord.” He held out his hand, a slight smile playing on his face and a subtle twinkle in his eye. “May I have my datapad back please?”
Nik maintained a droll look on her face and handed the datapad back to Quinn. A fond look crossed her face and she leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Well off I go to try and not get in trouble in front of my brother’s girlfriend. Wish me luck! Keep the ship under control while I’m gone, Quinn.” Nik grinned. “Be back in a bit”
The sun was just setting in a glorious display over the Alderaanian landscape when Shaydia arrived at the cantina. It was small, but Nia’ree had reserved one of their private booths for the evening. Shaydia smiled and waved when she saw the Chiss who was dressed informally but still looked elegant.
Her blue-grey hair was still up, but in a looser style that framed her face. Her dress was a bronze and gold, the bodice was beaded and lacy, and sleeveless, and the skirt was light and airy. Shaydia felt very inelegant in comparison. She had a tight, violet dress that came to mid-thigh and her hair was still pulled back in its usual style. Shaydia sighed enviously. She loved styling hair, and Nia’ree’s was gorgeous.
Nik arrived shortly after Shay and smiled at the Chiss and Shaydia. She wore her hair in her usual mohawk but her dress was silver and long, though it did not hinder movement. Her top was sleeveless and extended only to her midriff. She did a few light dance steps on the way over to the table and swirled playfully before sitting at the table and joining Nia’ree and Shay.
Shaydia laughed when she saw the Sith dance over to their table. “You’re in a good mood tonight, Nik.”
The serving droid brought a round of drinks, “I wasn’t sure what everyone drank so I just ordered some standard stuff,” Nia’ree smiled, “It’s good to see you again, Nik’khe. I hear about you all the time of course from Andronikos. Oh, he says you call him ‘Drew’? I hope you don’t mind if I don’t. I realize that’s your father’s name, but it’s how I know him.”
Nik wrinkled her nose and grinned. “Oh I know. I’ll work on realizing you mean Drew and not Daddy. I think it ought to be pretty clear though. Yes. Good mood. I don’t have to think about Baras or the Jedi and her massively large number of family and friends that I am trying desperately not to kill.” Nik leaned forward and put her elbows on the table and her hands on either side of her face and grinned. “Besides, I find it incredibly interesting that you met Drew on Tatooine just like Daddy met Mother there. Although Tatooine is a pit. And I hated it when I was there, even though I did meet a cute twi’lek there. He at least was interesting, unlike…all the sand.”
“I can’t say Tatooine was one of my favorite places to visit either,” Shaydia said quietly, thinking of Mia and wondering if she was still running or if she’d found a place to hide.
Nia’ree shrugged and smiled slightly, “There are some good things on Tatooine.”
“Well, not anymore…” Shaydia giggled, “You kind of took the best thing on the planet for yourself.”
“Maybe,” Nia’ree giggled too, “And it was SO worth it.”
Sighing, Nik looked at Shay. “I should have left an Organa cantina standing. They had bands.”
Shaydia smiled at her friend, “Bored already?”
“Wait,” Nia’ree leaned forward, “That was you? I keep hearing about a couple of women who left the Organa Estate in shambles. The Thuls have been delighted, it broke at the same time as a huge scandal in one of their largest families and took the focus off of that.”
“It wasn’t me,” Shaydia explained with a sigh, “I mistakenly agreed to let Kaliyo loose for an evening and she and Nik apparently got up to pretty much everything they could. And bear in mind that Kaliyo was the catalyst for that huge scandal you mentioned.”
“It was me, well and Kaliyo. Breaking the cantinas was fun. Kaliyo was fun. Scandalizing Quinn was…” Nik grinned broadly, “hugely fun. Other things not so fun though.” Nik looked morose and glanced at the bar. “Okay, I’m getting another drink. What do you two want?”
“If they have some good local wine, I’d have some of that,” Shaydia replied.
Nia’ree shrugged, “I usually drink water, but I’ll try something else.”
“So, a small glass for Nia’ree. I’m not explaining to your brother why we brought his girlfriend back drunk.”
Nik grinned. “Coming up.” She acquired her Corellian whiskey and a glass, and two small glasses of an Alderaanian wine the bartender assured her was a very good year. All three glasses deposited, Nik sat, sighed happily, and sipped her whiskey. “You remind me of Nanna, Nia'ree. Not the old part, the way you feel in the Force. One of mother's companions, Ashara is her real name, I call her Nanna, she helped raise me, and she used to be a Jedi. You feel like her.” Nik blushed and hid her head. “That SO came out wrong.”
Nia’ree shifted in her seat uncomfortably. She wasn’t sure yet where the line between “Andronikos’ little sister” and “rival Sith” was. Admitting she preferred using the Light side of the Force seemed like a good way to get herself on someone’s list to be killed.
Wincing, Nik continued, “I’m so sorry, I did not in any way mean to imply you were wimpy or fluffy or Jedi like. You’d need to know Nanna, she’s really nothing like that…Oh, can we just forget I said that?” Nik swallowed looking at Nia’ree before taking another drink of her whiskey and resolutely shutting her mouth.
Nia’ree smiled slightly and moved her hand over near Nik’s, not quite touching her, “You didn’t offend me, Nik’khe. I’m not a…traditional…Sith, and that can upset those who are,” she sighed, “I guess this means I trust you to tell you that.”
Shaydia had been watching the conversation warily. Despite Nik’s assurances, she wasn’t quite convinced she wasn’t going to take the fall if something happened.
The chime of Nia’ree’s holo made all three of them jump. The Chiss shook herself and pulled it out, “Yes?”
Andronikos’ face appeared, “Hey, Sith, sorry to interrupt, but…” the wail of a very unhappy infant came through the holo’s speakers, “Tessy is kind of upset and wants her momma.”
Nia’ree nodded, “Thank you, Andronikos. I’ll be right there. I’m so sorry,” she turned to her companions, “She’s going through a clingy stage. It was wonderful to spend time with you both.”
Nik nodded. “Probably for the best. I’d probably say something else awful if I kept talking.” She looked at her drink again, took another sip and stared down in the glass thinking about what an idiot she was.
Another installment of ageandtreachery's and my combined writing efforts. Part one of a multi-part story where my Shaydia, and Nia'ree, and ageandtreachery's Nik'khe get better acquainted. We've had a lot of fun writing this, and we hope folks enjoy reading it.
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Shaydia was surprised to see Nia’ree’s face when she answered her holocom, “Hello, Nia’ree. What can I do for you?”
The Chiss smiled, “Why so formal, Shay?”
“Habit, I suppose,” she replied, “And the fact that you never call me, so something must be going on.”
Nia’ree sighed, “It’s not really that something is going on. I just need a break from, well, everything, and was thinking you might like to get that drink we discussed back on Dromund Kaas?”
Shaydia blinked in surprise. Recently she had been in contact with Nia’ree more, and their friendship had progressed to the point where she felt she could actually call it friendship, but a social outing was new. “That would be nice,” she said.
Movement to her right caught her attention and she glanced over to see Nik’khe, who had been morosely flipping her blasters around, was paying attention to their conversation and had looked up in interest.
“That cantina at the Thul estate is small, but I see no reason why it wouldn’t be adequate,” Nia’ree was saying, “Meet there, maybe early evening, in two days?”
“I should be able to make that,” Shaydia smiled, “I’m looking forward to it.”
“So am I,” Nia’ree grinned, “See you then, Shay.”
“See you,” she flipped off the holocom. A fwump at her side brought her attention around to the Sith who had just dropped down to her haunches beside Shaydia and was watching her anxiously. “Yes, Nik’khe?”
Nik’s most charming smile hit her face. “Going out for drink’s with Drew’s girlfriend? Can I come?”
Shaydia gave her a skeptical look, “I know what happened the last time you went out on the town. Or at least I’m still hearing rumors about it.”
Nik’s eyes widened and cast up and down while she bit one side of her lower lip. “I swear I won’t hit on her. Or…break anything…or kill anyone…if I can possibly help it. Please?”
Shaydia still looked doubtful, “You barely even know Nia’ree. Why would you want to come?” This was a ridiculous thing to say, and Shaydia knew it. She only knew the Chiss marginally better than Nik did.
A serious look crossed Nik’khe’s face and she held Shay’s eyes. “I was telling the truth when I told him I always wanted a brother. And if she’s what I think she is to him, I need to know her…I know you think I’m this crazy Sith. And I am. But it’s not all that. My family might be more than a little bizarre but it’s mine and…I want to know…all of it.”
The agent studied her friend; it was still hard to believe that she, of all people, now had not one but two friends who were Sith. Nik’khe had been down the last couple of days. Shaydia had finally managed to get the information out of Quinn that Vette had ended her relationship with the Sith, and Shaydia suspected it had something to do with her troublemaking Rattataki companion. She sighed. Nik’s desire to know her family was certainly understandable. Shaydia knew if the opportunity arose to somehow contact her siblings, she wouldn’t be able to keep from taking advantage of it. “You promise there won’t be any clean-up? I grant you the Thuls were grateful, or at least less annoyed, after you and Kaliyo tore through the Organas,” she saw Nik’s head drop slightly when she mentioned Kaliyo, confirming her suspicions, “But I can’t afford losing face with them again. You’re Sith, and so is Nia’ree, they won’t come after you. I’ll be the one taking the brunt of it.”
“I’ll do my best to make sure nothing happens. I can’t promise…sometimes it’s hard to…not lose it, with the right provocation. But if I do, if won’t come back on you. That I can promise.” Frustrated, she blew out a breath. “It’s hard to explain. I know you think I kill everything on sight. That I go over the edge too easy. But I’m…nothing…compared to Mother. She could take out half a planet without a thought, or regret, if it served her purpose. That’s not me. I’m not like Nia’ree though. She…felt…like Nanna. Mother’s Jedi. So, I want to know…do you understand?” Nik shook her head and muttered under her breath about making no sense even to herself.
Shaydia nodded slowly, measuring her words as she spoke, “I understand what you’re saying at least. I can’t say I understand completely because in my line of work if you lose it you are considered a loose cannon and eliminated quietly,” she stared off into the distance, “There’s a lot of restraint and sacrifice involved. Perhaps that’s why most Sith have so little patience with us,” she met Nik’s eyes, “More of us are killed by Sith than the enemy.”
Nik nodded quietly. “It’s got nothing to do with me being Sith. It’s…Daddy and Mother. DNA. Whatever, it doesn’t get in the way of being Sith, its expected for us to be…unbalanced, crazy, whatever you want to call it.” Her voice dipped to a bare whisper. “I try to stay away from people when I know…I just don’t always know.”
Shaydia sighed, “I suppose if Nia’ree is there things can’t get too terribly out of control. She’s pretty level-headed. Look,” she sighed, “This was Nia’ree’s idea, so I’m going to have to talk to her first. If she’s okay with you joining us, so am I.” Seeing Nik nod eagerly, Shay flipped her holocom back on, “Hi, Nia’ree.”
The Chiss looked surprised, “Hello, Shay. Is something wrong?”
“Um, not really. I was wondering though…how would you feel about Nik’khe joining us for drinks?”
A tiny frown flitted across Nia’ree’s face, “Well, I…” Commotion in the background was audible over the holochannel, “Shay, I need to call you back.”
“Okay,” the image cut out and Shaydia shrugged as she met Nik’s eyes, “All we can do is wait.”
“It’s okay Shay. I’m no company right now anyway. I’ll head back to the ship now that we’ve taken care of your problem with House Cortess.” With a wave of her hand she signaled Quinn and started back toward the spaceport.
Nia’ree cut the call and turned to find out what had happened now. She was grateful for the chance to consider her answer though. From what she had seen of Nik’khe, she didn’t dislike her, she just wasn’t quite sure how to relate to her, or if the other Sith would understand why she did things the way she did.
The cargo hold was the source of the commotion and she found it was because a rather large box had landed on Andronikos’ foot and he was swearing loudly. Sildrest seemed to be taking his time removing it. Nia’ree frowned. The twi’lek was on some kind of revenge kick or something lately. He wasn’t outright acting against Andronikos, but it was clear he wasn’t happy with the man and was taking pains to make sure that was known.
Nia’ree moved the box into place with a light Force shove and gave Sildrest a hard look which he totally ignored. Andronikos limped slightly as he crossed to her, “Thanks, Sith. Certainly wasn’t getting any other help.”
She nodded absently, her mind going back to her current dilemma.
“Something wrong?” Andronikos asked.
“I called Shay to see if she wanted to go get drinks, just relax for a bit. She agreed, but…” she bit her lip, “Then she called back to see if Nik’khe could join us.”
“And you don’t want her to?” Andronikos’ voice was carefully neutral.
“It’s not that. I just don’t know her.”
“Well, this could be a chance to get to know her,” he pointed out.
“I know, I just…”
“Look, Nik’s going through a rough patch. Her little twi’lek broke up with her when she found out Nik had been spending time with Shay’s Rattataki. She could use the distraction. And please,” he added, “Do not tell her that I told you that. I don’t need my newfound Sith sister deciding I can’t be trusted.” He pulled Nia’ree against him, “You certainly don’t have to invite her if you’re not comfortable with it. She’s a good kid, mostly, just a little…young and wild.”
“Well, since she is your sister…” Nia’ree murmured, “I suppose I’d like to get to know her better anyway. Very well, I’ll call Shay back and tell her Nik’khe can join us.”
Neither of them noticed Sildrest listening in the background.
Nik grinned when Shay caught up with them after she got off the holo with Nia’ree saying the Chiss was fine with Nik joining them. “I could kiss you. Thank you so much.” Turning she spun and flipped her guns out blowing a few crates randomly lying on the road sky high. She glanced at Quinn looking disapproving. “Go ahead and get it out of your system Quinn…” Nik proceeded to do a fairly good imitation of his voice saying, “Do you think that is a good idea my lord?” Quinn ran his hand through his hair and looked away desperately trying to conceal the small smile that had emerged when Nik teased him. Failing to notice Quinn’s reaction, Nik turned to Shay. “When are we going and where? And should I send Quinn back to the hanger bay to stay with Vette at the ship?”
“We’re meeting her at the Thul House cantina in two days. So, Quinn has plenty of time to get back to the ship,” Shaydia grinned.
This new and probably unexciting epiphany brought to you by AU writing and finding how important this developing relationship with her brother really is to Nik'khe
Feelings are important.
It's not just fluff to have them. Yeah sometimes it is just fluff, but it isn't fluff by default because its about the feelings.
Finding someone who truly understands you, particularly when you are young and searching, is an important thing in a life. The person who truly understands you doesn't have to be a partner, lover or mate, it could be a sibling or friend.
Two Legacies, One Story: Breaking up: Vette and Nik'khe, with Andronikos (Drew), Nia'ree and Kaliyo, no spoilers
Nik woke up to a series of punches from a cursing Twi’lek. Vette had retreated to her native tongue and from what Nik could make from it, knowing mostly only curse words in Twi’lek, most of the words she knew were currently flowing from Vette’s mouth directed at her. The interspersing of the word ‘Kaliyo’ is what triggered realization in Nik’s face.
Nik stood up and backed slowly from Vette glad for the first time that Vette left her blasters in the crew quarters. ”Now Vette, Kaliyo…is…well she’s not you, she’s just…we just have fun together sometimes that’s all. Calm down.”
Vette found Nik’s armor where it had been abandoned on the floor and started chucking it violently in Nik’s direction. ”It’s the same thing you idiot! Gah! I should have listened to your father! He told me, he told me you….” Vette gulped a breath amid her tears. ”We are done! done!”
Vette grabbed her robe and ran sobbing to the crew quarters.
Nik bit her lip. Thought about following her and thought better of it. Vette was probably right. Total screw up.
She pulled on some clothes and gathered her blasters and vibrosword. And stared at Quinn, looking at her. ”I’m going to Alderaan for a drink. Go back to….she waved her hand…wherever you were. Watch the ship. Make sure Vette doesn’t blow it up. I don’t need a babysitter.”
Nik hit the cantina off the spaceport and got a drink and opened her holo and punched in a code. She knew how late it was but hoped that he might answer anyway. She knew Drew and Nia’ree were still in orbit, but the likelihood was he was asleep, and if he was with her he was unlikely to answer the holo, but if he was alone he might, and while she didn’t need a babysitter, a brother would be handy right about now.
Relief hit her face when Drew’s face resolved on the holo. She bit her bottom lip and ran her fingers through her hair. ”Feel like popping off the ship and coming down to the spaceport cantina on Anderaan?”
Andronikos had been pacing around the Fury for at least twenty minutes. He couldn’t remember ever being in this kind of situation before. He had known Nia’ree now for maybe four months, and she had more or less told him he was welcome to share her bed at any time. He wanted to take her up on her offer, more than anything right now he wanted to crawl into bed behind her and hold her while they both slept. He’d never felt that way about anyone before. It had always been a ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ thing and he always slept alone.
Before meeting her, this wouldn’t have been an issue. He would have gone to his bunk in the crew quarters without a second thought. Any time spent in her private rooms would have meant sex, and that was it. He’d never reached this point before with anyone, usually he had run for it long before, but Nia’ree was different somehow and it both thrilled and terrified him.
He had nearly resigned himself to the cold bunk in the crew quarters when his holo started chiming. Surprised, he pulled it out and answered it wondering who would be comming him at this hour.
His sister’s face appeared and he saw the relief spread across her features when he answered. Something about her demeanor was off and he knew immediately she was upset for some reason. Her voice tried to remain light when she spoke, “Feel like popping off the ship and coming down to the spaceport cantina on Alderaan?”
“Sure thing, kid,” he smiled at her, “In fact, I can do you one better. We’re in a hangar. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Nik had a bottle of Corellian whiskey and two glasses and the booth in the back of the cantina. Situated with her back against the wall she had her blasters out and was flipping them with a blaster in each hand. Forward in a twirl, running through a sequence that looked well worn, forward, twirl, flip, slap into the backs of her palm to end the sequence. When she heard Drew’s footsteps she holstered them with the same fancy flourishing she’d been flipping through without a thought. Smiling she moved over and gave him room to sit.
She bit her bottom lip with a wry look on her face. “Evidently said something in my sleep. Not sure what but … woke up to being vigorously beaten and called every Twi’lek curse word I know, and a few that I feel certain were curse words but I somehow missed knowing those. Only managed to figure it out once she started interspersing Kaliyo and a few other words of Basic in there… She was …pretty upset.” Shook her head. ”Thankfully she keeps her blaster in the crew quarters and didn’t think of mine. So she settled for throwing everything she could find before she stomped out and went to crew quarters. Yeah, major screw up.” Nik quirked a little smile. “Probably be a funny story if it hadn’t been me it happened to.”
Scooting closer she put her head on Drew’s shoulder. ”And she said something funny, well in the ranting, said Daddy warned her and she should have listened..” Nik looked up at Drew hurt plain in her eyes. ”I know Daddy likes Vette, but..”She blinked a few tears away and quit talking and tucked her head back on Drew’s shoulder and whispered, “I really didn’t think I was something to be warned away from…”
Easily spotting Nik in the back of the nearly deserted cantina, Andronikos made his way over to her table, admiring her fancy gun work, before sliding into the bench next to her when she slid over.
“Hey, kid,” he greeted her. Seeing the whiskey, he tossed back a shot and studied her pensive expression, “So, what’s going on?”
He listened in silence while she poured out her story. He was slightly surprised when she slid closer and leaned against him. It seemed out of character for a Sith, but then he recalled what she’d told him about her life growing up and realized that whatever else her childhood was, it wasn’t starved of affection. She had been a well taken care of little girl who knew people cared about her and would do what they could to keep her happy. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer when she whispered her last comment.
He sighed. Unfortunately, he knew exactly where the old man was coming from there. He’d broken his share of hearts the same way and his own mother was proof that he took after his father that way. Obviously Nik did too. “I wish I knew what to tell you, Nik. I can say that I was the same way. Hurt my share, and I never wanted to hurt them, they just were more attached than I was. It sounds like he recognized that you and Vette were in that place where she was more attached than you and was trying to spare you both the additional heartache. I imagine that doesn’t help right now. Now, you just feel like he betrayed you, and that hurts,” she burrowed in closer to him, “You said yourself that you’re a better friend than a lover. Maybe take the opportunity to become friends with Vette, and let your past be past.”
