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Post by Brock Ferrum on Aug 28, 2019 20:01:16 GMT -8
Well that plan didn’t last long. In truth he had never expected his charade to fool his friend, but he hadn’t known what else to do. He really wasn’t looking forward to what was about to happen and the implications it could have going forward, but he had been called out and although he was willing to try to hide his thoughts he wasn’t about to lie to her. They had spent far too long in far too many dangerous situations for him to betray that with that sort of overt deception. Whatever followed was likely to fundamentally alter their friendship, either for good or ill. He didn't want things to change but now was a time of change and it was going to be changed for him one way or another. At least this way it was to some degree on his own terms. Taking a deep breath the Corellian man pulls himself up from his knees and half collapses into the offered chair his smile disappearing as his shoulders slump. This Brock wasn’t the same brash and charismatic young man who had earned the nickname the Laughing Storm in his youth, it was a tired man who had been holding something back for so long and was about to let it out. Faina had seen this more vulnerable side to him before but almost always it had been after a death. This time there was no death on the line, at least not physical death. He used the breath to collect his thoughts, trying to sort out both what he actually feels and how to present it to his friend. Finally he decided to start with the most simple part of the larger whole.
His voice grew quiet as he stared past her head to the wall of her office, unable to fully meet her eyes. ”Do you love him?” He knew it was a loaded question, perhaps even one of the most loaded question you could ask someone. Something about the way the words were said conveyed more than just a casual asking about someone's relationship, but instead a deep question about love, not affection, not attraction, but the feeling that someone is more important to you than anything else in the universe and you'd do anything in your power to keep them safe and happy. He didn't know what answer he would get and if he was being honest with himself he didn't know how either answer would make him feel. In truth he wasn't sure he wanted to know at all, but he he did know that he NEEDED to know. Despite everything else going on in the galaxy he was sure the answer to this single four word question would effect his life more drastically than anything else happening right now.
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
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Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Sept 1, 2019 14:24:50 GMT -8
Something in Brock';s posture as he drops heavily into the chair reminds Faina of how he had looked after they had dealt with the last of the traitors within the ranks of the Imperial Knights; the aftermath of the unpalatable yet vital task having, for both her and Brock, proven nearly as brutal as the battle itself, and requiring that Faina witness her friend, normally buoyant enough to endure even the most wearying battles with a grin and, as often as not, an apparently bottomless reservoir of amusing, or annoying, quips, at one of the lowest, most vulnerable points she had ever seen him at. Faina remembers, as well, that there was a moment where his thoughts and feelings had been unguarded and unfiltered, affording her a brief glimpse at the depth of his feelings for her; a depth that she, had then perceived inaccurately, and now continues to misjudge as she falls prey to the all too easy mistake of interpreting things from only the limited vantage of her perspective, for while she and Brock have been boon companions, she has never felt or sensed that, for him, there might be more to their bond than friendship, and it is through that filter or lens that she interprets his question when it is asked.
"I do, Faina answers in her customarily straightforward, dry manner, unaware of the possibility that to do so at this particular moment could be unnecessarily harsh or that there is any need to soften an answer that might be felt as keenly as any blow. Laughing with a shake of her head, potentially salting the potential wound her reply might have caused, Faina, incorrectly guessing that Brock's question is primarily born from a concern that her impending marriage is founded more on politics than love, explains further, I can see why you would be concerned, but Nicademus and I have been close ever since I first became an Imperial Knight, Brock. Feeling that, given that she has never spoken of her feelings for Nicademus with Brock before now, that some additional explanation is in order, Faina goes on, It is just that, until now, the time was not right for us to act on what we felt for one another, and by the time you and I met I was not sure that the time ever would be right." Brock knows Faina well enough that, even without the aid of their Force bond, her brief explanation has layers of meaning and depth beyond the brevity suggests; knows that her fondest dream ever since she was a child was to be an Imperial Knight, and that she would have sacrificed even love in order to ensure that she fulfilled that dream and the duties that came along with it, and knows that she has enough pragmatism at her core that she would have not let the sacrifice weigh on her anymore than she would have burdened anyone with the knowledge of it. Brock, as well as he knows Nicademus and their Emperor's history, will know too of the reasons that he and Faina had been unable, until now, to act on what they felt for one another.
Unwittingly twisting the knife her words may have slipped into Brock's heart, Faina smiles and tells him, "I am happy Brock, happier than I have ever been. Thinking that she has done nothing more than set Brock's mind at ease, she adds, See? You can be happy too now."
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Post by Brock Ferrum on Sept 1, 2019 15:20:30 GMT -8
The simple admission was enough to stab a hot knife directly into Brock's chest, but it didn't stop there. The explanation of a secret love shared all this time beneath his eyes was enough to twist the blade, but it didn't stop there either. The final act of his friend unknowingly assassinating his heart was enough to make it feel as if he had been gutted completely. His friend's happiness combined with her equally happy exclamation was that he could be happy now as well was so genuine and pure despite the implications it held, even if she didn't know what she was doing. He knew Faina would never intentionally hurt him and that what had just occurred was a combination of her sometimes dubious understanding of social cues and the fact that despite the connection the two shared it was quite apparent that there was a part of their hearts that both had hidden from the other. In a more reflective moment Brock might have that it interesting that two people who shared so much for so long ad things like this so hidden, but now he was too stunned to think in those terms. It took every ounce of training he had just to keep himself from slumping over. Even with a lifetime of training on controlling his emotions there were still some pains he couldn't dull. He experience the first when his Jedi master had been killed, the second when he had slain his mentor in the Imperial Knights so recently, and this was apparently the third.
Drawing on that training he does manage to sit up straight, making an attempt to distance himself from his feelings despite the devastating emotional blow that was just dealt to him by the person he was closest to in this galaxy. That was the end of it for him though. If Faina was happy he wasn't about to stand in the way of that no matter his own selfish feelings. This was clearly to culmination of her getting to have her cake and eat it too. She got to have her dream as Grandmaster of the Imperial Knights as well as the love of a man she had loved from afar for years. He wasn't about to jeopardize his friendship with her even if it ripped the heart right out from him. Unable to summon a smile in return to her happiness he switched rather abruptly to business, his voice going completely flat, using every bit of training he had to keep it devoid of the emotional turmoil going on under his skin. "I am glad to hear it." Knowing that that sort of sudden shift would set off just about every alarm bell Faina had he attempted to deflect the conversation. "I assume you brought me here to talk about something other than your love life? What do you have for me Faina? He doubted she would fall for such a move but it was the last one he had available to him, and he had to try to pull this back from the brink it had just about fallen off of. A little too late he realized that addressing her as Faina instead of the Fai that had become most common when the two were alone wasn't likely to help his case of normalcy, but he was scrambling now and was losing control of this discussion fast... if he had ever had it at all.
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
Posts: 301
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Sept 1, 2019 23:15:40 GMT -8
Blinking in commingled surprise and puzzlement at the tonal shift in Brock's response, devoid of any hint of the sentiment it purports to communicate, Faina is flustered enough that she looks at him with a befuddled expression after he has abruptly shifted the topic as well as the tone, momentarily at a loss for words as she replays the conversation in her head in an effort to try and make some sense of what has proven to be a more erratic meeting than anticipated.
Lifting a hand and gesturing towards Brock, her brows knit in as much confusion as the beginnings of annoyance, Faina nearly points out that it was Brock that brought up the topic of her love life, only the recollection that it was in fact her pressing him to reveal what was on his mind that led to the subject in the first place stopping her from doing so. The pause between her lifting the hand and speaking is minute, but long enough that Faina manages to compose herself by, missing the actual mark once more, reminding herself that things between her and Brock have been somewhat strained ever since the botched operation on Drall; it being far easier to mistakenly attribute his present mercurial mood to that than to anything related to her impending marriage given that she so spectacularly failed to perceive that it would be the cause of any distress for him. "A promotion," Faina answers, her tone customarily even and dry despite the lingering wariness in her eyes, as though she cannot be sure now of how Brock will respond to anything at all in his current frame of mind.
Forging ahead, abandoning any hope of discerning what lays at the heart of Brock's mood as she decides to follow his cue and keep things between them strictly professional for the time being, Faina explains, "I am making you my second in command. You will be responsible for leading the Imperial Knights in my stead when my duties as Empress require that I be elsewhere." Under normal circumstances Faina might make an attempt at humor at this point, making a quip about now being the moment for him to object politely so that she needs to compliment him in the course of persuading him to accept the promotion, but his stilted formality has succeeded in, if nothing else, summoning forth a like mindset in her, and so Faina instead simply arches an eyebrow as, clearly believing that his acceptance of the position is a foregone conclusion, though inviting him to ask any questions about his new responsibilities that he might have.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2019 8:42:06 GMT -8
After the meeting with Brock Anya continued to go through her exercises, working to ensure she was still in shape. It wasn't so much of a concern since she had spent her time away still out in the field, fighting to aid civilians and get them away from war zones with her adoptive father's sister, @kia. Even when she finally stopped that work and stepped away, she still kept up with her routines to ensure she was always ready. The biggest thing she needed to practice and get back into the flow of was the ways of the Imperial Knights and how they fought. Their particular styles of combat were different than most and she didn't want to become a liability to them in the field just because she fought her own way.
By now, her training had dissolved her anger for the time being over everything that had happened at High Port. Her mind was once again focused and sharp. That was until her datapad went off. Taking a deep breath, she took a look at it, an immediate scowl coming across her face. It was from the Grandmaster requesting her presence in the woman's office. She loathed the idea of seeing the woman's face, the words Nicademus spoke ringing clear as a bell in her head, proclaiming Faina the new Empress. The thought made her tighten her grip on the datapad a bit more as she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath after deep breath to calm herself. As much as she didn't want to see her, Anya knew she had no choice. Faina was the Grandmaster of the Imperial Knights as she had agreed to rejoin them, she had to obey the call sent by the one in charge.
Deactivating the golden blade of her lightsaber, she replaced it as she moved to the corner and took a seat. At the moment, she was in no position to go right away for fear of what would happen. Even with a calm mind, she worried that she would make an outburst that would only cause problems in the future. She had to reflect upon the training she received from her father, undergo the process of controlling her emotional state. First was all about calming herself with the second step putting herself into the central state of mind that allowed her feelings and emotions to pass by her without touching her heart, mind, or spirit. It took nearly twenty minutes before she stood to her feet, her mind calm as if everything that happened never existed.
Moving through the tower, she made her way to the Grandmaster's office. Upon her arrival, she had come with a Stormtrooper by Nicademus's request, yet Faina was not around. For the entire time up to this point, the woman had seemed to be unavailable. Guess that was the life of someone in charge who was to now become Empress as well. As the thought crossed her mind, a small twinge fell upon her, something she quickly quelled as she stepped up to the doors, the two women standing before it. taking a deep breath. "I have been summoned by the Grandmaster."
It wasn't like she really needed to tell them. To ensure a smooth interaction, anyone being sent for by the Grandmaster would be known by the two. They even parted a bit as the young woman stepped closer. Giving her the room needed to step inside. Within the office, Anya saw Faina sitting there at her desk, reviewing a datapad on who knew what. Her heart tightened as her eyes fell upon the women, another twinge of emotion touching her mind. Even with the training she had, the strongest of emotions still seemed to slip through her defenses. Still, she stepped up and stood at attention.
"You wished to see me, Grandmaster Nikulin?" |
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Post by Brock Ferrum on Sept 3, 2019 13:31:38 GMT -8
"A promotion," Faina answers, her tone customarily even and dry despite the lingering wariness in her eyes, as though she cannot be sure now of how Brock will respond to anything at all in his current frame of mind.
Forging ahead, abandoning any hope of discerning what lays at the heart of Brock's mood as she decides to follow his cue and keep things between them strictly professional for the time being, Faina explains, "I am making you my second in command. You will be responsible for leading the Imperial Knights in my stead when my duties as Empress require that I be elsewhere." Under normal circumstances Faina might make an attempt at humor at this point, making a quip about now being the moment for him to object politely so that she needs to compliment him in the course of persuading him to accept the promotion, but his stilted formality has succeeded in, if nothing else, summoning forth a like mindset in her, and so Faina instead simply arches an eyebrow as, clearly believing that his acceptance of the position is a foregone conclusion, though inviting him to ask any questions about his new responsibilities that he might have.
From there it got more personal as his concerns for Faina herself came to the surface. He worried that the relationship with the Emperor would slowly pull her away from the Imperial Knights, letting politics take precedence over their mission. He worried that the choice between her dreams of being an Imperial Knight and the Emperor's love would rip her apart should they ever come at odds again, which to his mind was growing every more likely as the Ren's influence grew steadily more prevalent. He worried that if Fiora went to the Knights of Ren it would destroy her no matter how it happened. He knew that she believed in the mission of the Imperial Knights including protecting the Emperor from falling to the Darkside and that giving the Emperor's Daughter directly to the darkside went against the spirit of that mission. Finally the emotional turmoil moved back to the first mission the two had had when Brock had returned. The emotional wounds and nightmares that had haunted him since he had killed young Caspian, the Ostia siblings, and his own mentor. Even to this day he couldn't condone what they had wanted to do. Their actions were completely wrong, but he couldn't completely discredit their reasoning. Knowing that any number of things he had just shared with her would be both shocking and grounds for a withdraw of the offer (or possibly his execution depending on how they were seen), he slowly pulled back from the bond, not completely severing it as he had before but allowing it to settle back to it's more normal vague sense. Standing up he pulls a piece of nerf jerky out of his belt pouch and offers it across the desk to her. "Jerky?" He offers with a somewhat lame attempt at his usual smile. All the cards were on the table, now all that was left was the fallout. |
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
Posts: 301
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Sept 4, 2019 23:14:48 GMT -8
Faina's initial, unfiltered reactions to all that their Force bond reveals will, by virtue of the fact that Brock had ceased his efforts to hold back the tumultuous torrent of his thoughts and emotions, be felt by Brock with the same intensity and in the same jumbled manner in which what he had allowed to be revealed had been felt by her.
That Brock has harbored some degree of unrequited romantic love for her comes as a complete surprise to Faina, the fact that she had never felt anything for him beyond the platonic love she believed, and still believes it possible for them to share despite what Brock has allowed their bond to reveal of the depth of his feeling for her, causing her distress borne from the fact that she understands that it could, if they allow it to do so, come between them to one degree or another, as well as from the realization that she had unwittingly wounded him so by how she had spoken and acted before knowing what she knows now. There is, amidst the more firm, solid hope that their friendship will endure, some less tangible, wisps of concern that she had unknowingly done or said things that had engendered the shift in Brock's love for her from the platonic to the romantic, or that they will have to alter their interaction with one another going forward in light of what he feels, but by and large the cares and worries attending the revelation break like waves against the solid, unyielding bedrock of the foundations of her feelings for him, which remain strong, rooted too deep to be easily torn free by what she has learned alone - only how they go forward, Faina feels beneath the waves of surprise and concern, could undo what all they have been through together and endured and shared and are to one another.
Brock's thoughts and feelings about Nicademus and his children are, in testament to how much akin his and Faina's beliefs and thoughts often are, felt almost like a physical blow to Faina, so alike are they to her own doubts and fears - and their tumult adds to her own inner turmoil where her worries and fears for Fiora are concerned; for she has struggled with the knowledge that her future daughter has been promised to the Knights of Ren, felt as though consenting to Nicademus' wishes where the matter is concerned is tantamount to failing her duty not only as a mother but as an Imperial Knight. Brock's thoughts and emotions compound the guilt that wracks Faina's conscience for having resolved not to stand in the way of the promise Nicademus has made to the Knights of Ren despite her own misgivings, and enhances and stirs the fear in her heart that only tragedy can come of the arrangement. Beneath all, however, is the unshakable faith that she has in Nicademus, in not only his vision for the Empire, but also in the strength of his love for Fiora to intercede if it ever became clear that she were in peril of succumbing to the Dark side entirely. Brock's worries about her being torn between her duty as an Imperial Knight and her love for Nicademus, too, mirror her own to the point it is nearly impossible to discern where their individual thoughts and concerns begin and end; that very conflict one that Faina had struggled with coming to terms with when Nicademus had asked whether she could be all to him that he needed her to be. The blindness that love can inspire is not, Faina knows, for her something she can afford when she has vowed as an Imperial Knight to stand watch over not only Nicademus' personal safety, but over the threat of the Dark side influencing him - a task made even more difficult by Nicademus' decision to ally himself with the Knights of Ren. Brock will be able to feel the firm resolve within Faina to, as she has promised Nicademus himself, stand watch over him as his Knight no matter how she feels for him personally, as well as the bitter certainty she harbors in the deepest corner of her heart that, if it came down to it, she would choose duty over love and do what needed to be done should he fall under the influence of the Dark side and not be able to be freed from it's hold over him.
It will likely come as little surprise to Brock that he is not alone in still feeling the effects of the first mission they had undertaken upon his return, or that Faina harbors no small amount of guilt for having involved him in it when it meant that he would have to share with her the heavy burden of executing their fellow Imperial Knights, oathbreakers that betrayed their vows for reasons they both can understand all too well - for the traitors had believed to the end that the Emperor had fallen under the sway of the Dark Side, evidenced by the allies he has chosen who are not of the Light. Were she able to somehow go back in time, Faina would have spared Brock the pain she will always feel she caused, but she cannot, just as she cannot ever forgive herself for causing it. Knowing that any number of things he had just shared with her would be both shocking and grounds for a withdraw of the offer (or possibly his execution depending on how they were seen), he slowly pulled back from the bond, not completely severing it as he had before but allowing it to settle back to it's more normal vague sense. Standing up he pulls a piece of nerf jerky out of his belt pouch and offers it across the desk to her. "Jerky?" He offers with a somewhat lame attempt at his usual smile. All the cards were on the table, now all that was left was the fallout.
Knowing that how they move forward will be, in part, determined by her next words, Faina uses the time spent chewing the jerky choosing them carefully. As emotionally charged and conflicting as some of the things they have just shared are, it is her relationship with Brock that feels at the most delicate moment, and Faina, surprised and concerned as she is by what she has learned he feels and what it could mean for their friendship going forward, is stubborn enough in her belief that their friendship can survive intact, changed only in its strength, by what they now know, that she risks making a joke, hoping against hope that the fact she does so lets Brock know of her intent and begins diffusing the obvious awkwardness and tension of the moment, even adding an obviously theatrical stern look as she wags the jerky at him and says, "Do not think for even a moment that you are getting out of the promotion, and all of the additional work that comes along with it, she adds with a tentative smile as she watches Brock's eyes and body language for his reaction to see if she has chosen poorly or well, just by pulling something like that." After the meeting with Brock Within the office, Anya saw Faina sitting there at her desk, reviewing a datapad on who knew what. Her heart tightened as her eyes fell upon the women, another twinge of emotion touching her mind. Even with the training she had, the strongest of emotions still seemed to slip through her defenses. Still, she stepped up and stood at attention.
"You wished to see me, Grandmaster Nikulin?"
Turning the datapad off and setting it aside while waiting for Anya to sit, or remain standing should she so choose, Faina mentally takes a deep breath, not at all certain of how this interaction will go after what Nicademus had shared with her about the reason for Anya's departure and recent return to the Imperial Knights; for though he did not go into great detail, Faina understands enough to know that she is not likely to be high on Anya's list of people she wants to be interacting with.
Not having the benefit of knowing Anya well, their paths not having crossed save for a single mission briefing, Faina has chosen to keep the tone of the meeting with Anya strictly professional - Anya's service record and Faina's own brief observation of her suggesting that she is, like Faina herself, quite self-contained to the point where it could seen intrusive to speak of personal matters without invitation - rather than overly familiar, which would only ring false when they know so little of one another.
"Welcome back, Anya, Faina begins, tone warming slightly as she is genuinely glad to have someone with Anya's demonstrated skill and loyalty returning to the ranks of the Imperial Knights. Lacing the fingers of her hands together on the desk in front of her, Faina observes rhetorically, to let Anya know the direction she will be heading in, You were never officially made an Imperial Knight, and then asks, Was that a personal choice, or a matter of not having completed your training in some area or areas? Pursing her lips, adding a final pair of questions the answers to which, to her mind, will make the matter of how Anya will best fit, or wishes to fit, in with the Imperial Knights more easy to determine, Faina asks, Is it your wish, now, to become an Imperial Knight? If so, or not, what role do you see yourself fulfilling now that you have returned?" Knowing whether Anya will want to remain, as she had been before, an adjunct member of the Imperial Knights rather than one herself, and what kinds of duties she is wanting to perform, Faina believes, will make it easier to not only help Anya feel as though she is appreciated and welcomed back among the Imperial Knights, but also hopefully ensure that she has a sense of purpose that suits and motivates her.
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Post by Brock Ferrum on Sept 5, 2019 6:03:04 GMT -8
Visibly shaken and drained by the intensity and nature of what they have shared, an exchange more deep and profound than any conversation they might have had about the many things that they have just shared, Faina takes the offered piece of nerf jerky on autopilot, the familiarity of the offer - a signature Brock action that may have been every bit as automatic as her acceptance - comforting in its own way, and makes a vague motion with the jerky to bid Brock to sit before she takes a bite and chews slowly.
Knowing that how they move forward will be, in part, determined by her next words, Faina uses the time spent chewing the jerky choosing them carefully. As emotionally charged and conflicting as some of the things they have just shared are, it is her relationship with Brock that feels at the most delicate moment, and Faina, surprised and concerned as she is by what she has learned he feels and what it could mean for their friendship going forward, is stubborn enough in her belief that their friendship can survive intact, changed only in its strength, by what they now know, that she risks making a joke, hoping against hope that the fact she does so lets Brock know of her intent and begins diffusing the obvious awkwardness and tension of the moment, even adding an obviously theatrical stern look as she wags the jerky at him and says, "Do not think for even a moment that you are getting out of the promotion, and all of the additional work that comes along with it, she adds with a tentative smile as she watches Brock's eyes and body language for his reaction to see if she has chosen poorly or well, just by pulling something like that."
There was still tension in the air however until Faina does just the right thing and plays her hand at a joke. It was something few people ever saw but she really did have a decent sense of humor whenever she wanted to act on it. Some of his proudest moments were when he could convince her to come out of her formal shell a bit and this was no exception. It was a sign that things were going to be alright, and a very welcome one. Slumping back into the chair with his own piece of jerky he's once again slouching, but this time it's the more usual choice of casual informality than the posture of someone who's under immense emotional weight. Swinging his boots up on Faina's Desk he completes the look with something much closer to his usual grin as he chuckles at her attempt at humor holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright you win, you've defeated my best efforts to avoid responsibility and have backed me into a corner. Which bothersome parts of your work are you planning to saddle me with? All the paperwork? The annoying briefings? Let me guess, I have scrub the royal toilets now?" His usual grin splits his face again as he gets increasingly ridiculous, shifting slowly back into his usual personality now that most of the emotional weight has been lifted from his shoulders. Some of it was still there and some, like the weight of the mission against the traitors, would likely always be there. But he would never have wanted to be spared that pain. It was necessary work and if he could hold even a fraction of the burden so Faina wouldn't he would have chosen to go even if given the chance to go back and change things. Things with Faina weren't completely back to normal, but now that they both knew the whole score things were definitely back on track to be more normal, and perhaps given time even better. |
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
Posts: 301
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Sept 6, 2019 16:02:57 GMT -8
Faina feels some of the weight lifting from her as Brock, rolling with her joke and even seeming to relax and reacquire some of his natural nonchalant composure, makes it clear that he, too, is intent on moving forward and trying to maintain their friendship, changed as it may prove to be in some ways, and strengthened in others. Though Faina knows that it is not likely that they will not find some unexpected challenges or potential awkwardness going forward, she feels more certain than ever that their friendship will endure.
Arching her eyebrow, nose crinkled somewhat theatrically as she glances at Brock's boots on her desk, Faina elects to ignore the less than formal posture Brock has adopted - it being nothing new, and something she knows is an integral part of his nature that he, at least the majority of the time, understands he needs to indulge or suppress given the audience he finds himself in - and then jokes, "I could add the toilet cleaning if you would like, but it is not on the original list I had planned. Pursing her lips in thought as she searches the top of her desk for the datapad she had prepared for Brock in the event he agreed to the promotion she would have backed him into one way or another even had he not agreed, Faina finds it and tosses it across to him as she explains, For starters, I will want you to start shadowing me, more often than you do without being asked to anyway, so that you get an idea of what I do so that you can do it should I be needed to do Empress things that would prevent me from doing Knight things at the same time. Smiling mischievously, she adds, It will also give us a chance to work on your comportment, as you will need to start cultivating a bit more . . . command presence than you are accustomed to demonstrating. Nodding her chin towards the datapad, she continues, There a few items on there that I will have you take point on as a way to ease you into the idea of taking on more of a second in command role, or command one when needed. One of the main initiatives I want you to take on, as it will help you get used to delegation, is the sourcing and recruitment of new initiates for the Imperial Knights. It might be useful to reach out to Imperial Intelligence as well, as they have resources on the worlds throughout the Empire that could make the search easier. The other initiative I want you to focus on is the integration of Commander Tagge's unit with our Order. He and I discussed some training exercises to get him and his unit acquainted with some of our ranks, and I think some of our newer Knights could benefit from the experience. Gesturing with a hand to encompass the overall portrait of the duties she has in mind, Faina explains, In essence, I will want to start introducing you to the individuals I work closest or most often with so that you can start developing a relationship with them so that, when you need to fill in for me, you can do so with as little disruption as possible. Questions?"
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Post by Brock Ferrum on Sept 6, 2019 20:51:35 GMT -8
Brock Listens intently as Faina begins giving the basics of what would be expected of him, at least initially. There is a slight pang as she mentions Empress duties but he quickly suppresses it as he accepts the datapad and begins skimming it's contents as he continued to listen to Faina. He didn't mind the excuse to hang out with Faina a little more before she got suddenly busy with everything else and likely became less available but he suspected most of that time would be spent in boring but necessary meetings. He had always been an active agent of the work of the Imperial Knights and had almost never been responsible for any sort of administrative work before. It was not a shift he was necessarily looking forward to, but if it was something that would make life easier for his friend then he'd put his full effort into it. He chuckles a little as she mentions his comportment, gesturing at his current posture as if to say "what's wrong with this?". He was sure he'd have to tone down a lot of his usual mischief but he also knew that he'd never be quite as formal and dignified in the post as Faina would hope, but he'd find his own happy medium to work with to keep authority while still being true to himself.
As she continues on to mention recruiting and troop integration he can't help but think back to idle thoughts he had on the way over here, earlier dismissed but now starting to expand further. Talking to Imperial Intelligence was a good suggestion, and he was still on friendly terms with the Director over there, well at least as friendly as you could get with a man who Brock was still half convinced was part statue. In any case it would be a good place to start that particular journey. As for the troop integration he figured that it would soon expand beyond just Commander Tagge's unit now that they were going to have Star Destroyers to command, there was likely to be a lot of military integration with the Imperial Knights here to come.
Brock Smiled as she asked for questions and answered with a genuine smile on his face. "How much of a pay bump does this give me?" Sure the Imperial Knights didn't precisely get paid, but who couldn't ask that question uppon getting a promotion, even if it was just for a laugh. He didn't give Faina any time to make an attempt at an answer though before continuing, the smile remaining but growing just a fraction more serious. "On a more serious note however, there is one demand I would make before officially taking the position. Sure he wasn't exactly in any position to make a demand and he knew Faina wouldn't like this one very much, but it was necessary. "You are no longer in charge of your own protection." He points toward the door to her office. "I'm giving the two out there official command of your protection detail and free reign to chose any 4 other Knights to the service. 2 of them are to be with you at all times. I know you aren't going to like it, and I know you can handle yourself, but you shouldn't have to look over your shoulder while doing "Empress Things"" Yes, Brock really did just use air quotes there. "As the Empress you're entitled to the same protections as the Emperor and his children and you're going to have it." At some point as he kept speaking on the subject his smile had disappeared and his eyes focused intently on Faina's. This wasn't something he was happy to bully his friend into accepting but it was definitely something he firmly believed was the right call and he wasn't about to back down from it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2019 8:58:36 GMT -8
Looking up from the datapad, having been reviewing Anya's service record with the Imperial Knights as she had been waiting, Faina, her expression customarily stoic, nods and motions towards a chair in front of the desk, offering Anya in her usual somewhat dry tone, "Take a seat, please."
Turning the datapad off and setting it aside while waiting for Anya to sit, or remain standing should she so choose, Faina mentally takes a deep breath, not at all certain of how this interaction will go after what Nicademus had shared with her about the reason for Anya's departure and recent return to the Imperial Knights; for though he did not go into great detail, Faina understands enough to know that she is not likely to be high on Anya's list of people she wants to be interacting with.
Not having the benefit of knowing Anya well, their paths not having crossed save for a single mission briefing, Faina has chosen to keep the tone of the meeting with Anya strictly professional - Anya's service record and Faina's own brief observation of her suggesting that she is, like Faina herself, quite self-contained to the point where it could seen intrusive to speak of personal matters without invitation - rather than overly familiar, which would only ring false when they know so little of one another.
"Welcome back, Anya, Faina begins, tone warming slightly as she is genuinely glad to have someone with Anya's demonstrated skill and loyalty returning to the ranks of the Imperial Knights. Lacing the fingers of her hands together on the desk in front of her, Faina observes rhetorically, to let Anya know the direction she will be heading in, You were never officially made an Imperial Knight, and then asks, Was that a personal choice, or a matter of not having completed your training in some area or areas? Pursing her lips, adding a final pair of questions the answers to which, to her mind, will make the matter of how Anya will best fit, or wishes to fit, in with the Imperial Knights more easy to determine, Faina asks, Is it your wish, now, to become an Imperial Knight? If so, or not, what role do you see yourself fulfilling now that you have returned?" Knowing whether Anya will want to remain, as she had been before, an adjunct member of the Imperial Knights rather than one herself, and what kinds of duties she is wanting to perform, Faina believes, will make it easier to not only help Anya feel as though she is appreciated and welcomed back among the Imperial Knights, but also hopefully ensure that she has a sense of purpose that suits and motivates her.
When the questions came, Anya averted her eyes from the Grandmaster as she reflected back on the past. The time she went to Aargau when she was fifteen t learn from the Knights played in her mind, the lessons she had learned in that short time rising. Taking a deep breath, her gaze returned to Faina. "I can't really explain why I never became an official Imperial Knight. It wasn't due to the lack of training in any particular area, that make is certain. Perhaps during the time in which I joined, the slow transition from the Galactic Empire on Kuat to the First Order here, perhaps everyone was more focused on what was happening. I also wasn't a part of the Knights when I went to Kuat. So it could be said that even though the Emperor accepted me into the role, I was never properly inducted past that. But still, it could very well be the reality that I am not the same as the other Knights, nor do I fully see things in the way they do. Giving a small sigh, she knew she needed to explain the last statement in case Faina didn't know about her upbringing "My adoptive father was the one who trained me in the arts of combat and the Force. He taught me many things, including the deeper realities of light and darkness. As my training progressed, he carried me across the galaxy and had me learn from the different orders in whatever capacity we could get. He wanted me to see things from different perspectives so that when my training was over, I could better decide my own path and not accept something so blindly by an assumed belief in who they were. I was fifteen when he took me to Aargau to receive some training with the Imperial Knights. Panno was the one who aided me in that regard. It wasn't until I was twenty that my father felt I had learned all I needed, at least to the point where he felt me ready to decide my own path. Of all I learned, Jedi, Sith, and so much more, it was the mission of the Knights that stood out to me the most. To protect and defend the ruler of the Empire and ensure he didn't fall to the Dark-side. It felt like a calling worth following, to aid a leader who would seek to unite and bring peace to the galaxy, one who trusted a group to be his guardians and his guide in the Force."
Here fists tightened a bit as she continued to speak, letting the darkness within her flow a bit as her jade eyes shifted to their crimson gaze, the iris outlined in a shimmering yellow. "But I am not like the others. One can say that from a philosophical standpoint that darkness and light exist within all of us and that we must choose which path we follow. But for me, it's not the case. The darkness is very much a part of my being, granted to me through my heritage. And through my training have I come to see its value and its place within me. As such, I have no issues in utilizing it when need be. That is what separates me from the others and what has kept many at bay during my time here. It made me as much a target the one day the Emperor was targetted by the Knights in the attempted coup as well as Panno."
And that was that. It was now up to Faina to make the choice in letting Anya stay within the Knights or if her feelings and beliefs would dictate her being cast out. But at least now, it was out in the open. Letting the darkness subside a bit, it didn't fully dissipate as her eyes reverted back, he current distaste for the woman still holding itself in place. "As for the role I see myself fulfilling, I do not know. For now, I leave that decision to you if you feel you still want me among the Knights." |
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
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Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Sept 9, 2019 21:10:25 GMT -8
"How much of a pay bump does this give me? On a more serious note however, there is one demand I would make before officially taking the position. You are no longer in charge of your own protection. I'm giving the two out there official command of your protection detail and free reign to chose any 4 other Knights to the service. 2 of them are to be with you at all times. I know you aren't going to like it, and I know you can handle yourself, but you shouldn't have to look over your shoulder while doing "Empress Things" As the Empress you're entitled to the same protections as the Emperor and his children and you're going to have it." At some point as he kept speaking on the subject his smile had disappeared and his eyes focused intently on Faina's. This wasn't something he was happy to bully his friend into accepting but it was definitely something he firmly believed was the right call and he wasn't about to back down from it.
Tossing an imaginary object on her desk as though to illustrate that the matter of protection details is now concluded, Faina teases Brock dryly, her eyes twinkling with the amusement absent from her tone, "That was a fairly decent serious and stern tone, by the way. Keep practicing and you will be able to issue commands convincingly in no time." "I can't really explain why I never became an official Imperial Knight. . .As for the role I see myself fulfilling, I do not know. For now, I leave that decision to you if you feel you still want me among the Knights."
Anya's belief that she can use the Dark side and not be corrupted by it goes against everything that Faina has been taught about the Force, and everything that she has always believed to be true about the nature of the Dark side; and she wonders how many Force sensitives that believed that they too could use the Dark side for noble ends wound up being subverted and twisted by it, becoming in the end all that they had fought against. Have any, Faina wonders, not ultimately been suborned? Were she younger, had she not witnessed what she has in the time since the Emperor has allied with the likes of the Knights of Ren and other Dark side Force users, Faina's instinct would be to tell Anya that there is no place among the Imperial Knights for someone that has resolved to continue using the Dark side despite the inherent risks, and the inevitable dangers; but she is older now, and has had the binary nature of her view of the Force challenged. There is also, Faina is self aware enough to recognize, a personal reason for her to want to wrong in believing that using the Dark side will always result in a fall into depravity or worse; for if she can believe that Anya can use the Dark side and remain true to herself and to the Imperial Knight's cause, then Faina can also believe, as she so very desperately wants to believe despite what she has been taught and what history has time and time again demonstrated, that Fiora's training with the Knights of Ren does not automatically condemn her daughter to a fall.
Nodding when Anya has finished speaking, Faina is silent for a moment, weighing her decision carefully after reviewing her thoughts, before replying. Anya's words about being called to follow the mission of the Imperial Knights, in the end, sway Faina the most, and she hopes that her instinct that the mission could prove to be a mooring post for Anya, a strong line tethering her and preventing her from falling to the Dark side entirely, proves to be true, just as she hopes that she, Octavian and Nicademus can be the ties to Fiora that do the same. "You may not believe exactly what we believe, Anya, but more important than that is the calling you described, which is the very one that all Imperial Knights are sworn to. There is a place here for you, if you would have it. Smiling one of her rare smiles, Faina lifts a hand and motions towards Anya as she says, We will find a role for you once you have been Knighted, she arches an eyebrow as she asks, in answer to Anya's question about whether or not she wants her among the Knights, if that is what you want? Faina hopes that, by making Anya an official Imperial Knight at long last, she will begin to focus more on the shared purpose she and the Knights have than on the philosophical differences that have made her feel separate from them, and that the younger woman will, as a result, feel more secure in her place among the Knights. Knighting Anya also makes it clear that Faina believes she belongs among the ranks of the Imperial Knights, which she hopes will help Anya and the other Knights look past the differences in belief that appear to have prevented the younger woman from forging the bonds of camaraderie that should exist between those sworn to a singular purpose. If so, Faina concludes, speak with the smith so that you can get fitted for the armor you will need for your Knighting ceremony." |
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Post by Brock Ferrum on Sept 10, 2019 8:40:02 GMT -8
Brock lets out a full laugh at her sarcastic assertion that he might indeed one day be able to command people. The stipulation about adding the two knights to the protection detail was perfectly acceptable to his own mind. He didn't correct Faina in her assumption that all six would be on duty at one time however. He intended there to be six so that shifts and at least two of the group were always fresh and ready should they be required. He kept that to himself as a sly half-smile came to his face. It slid right past her threat about sending the others to protect him and he didn't even have to protest. He figured that he wasn't completely free of the possibility of a protection detail, either official or unofficial, however only being the Grandmaster's lackey instead of the grandmaster he figured he might be able to dodge at least the worst of that particular aspect of the job. Leaving the smile on his face and taking another bite of his jerky he sat up slightly, taking the boots off her desk. "So do I get a desk in the corner?" He points arbitrarily at one of the corners of the already not too large room. "Or do I get to leave all the paperwork for you to do in your free time?" His eyebrows hop up somewhat mockingly as if to jokingly threaten to do just that.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2019 22:51:47 GMT -8
As Anya spoke, she watched the Grandmaster, curious as to her thoughts on the matter. There may have been nothing said and her thoughts and feelings closed off, but theay her face changed was more than enough of a sign to what Faina thought. Part of her training with Gavin was observation of the slightest details, something that had proven to be a boon and a hinderance. If not for that, she may have never truly picked up on anything regarding Nicademus and much of the problems that have happened could have been avoided.
Still, after some silence between them upon the ending of Anyxa's explaination, the woman before her gave her answer. It was a bit surprising that after all that was said, she would still be accepted into the Imperial Knights. She expected that little to none of the Knights would think highly of her use of the darkness or her beliefs regarding it, but if any wished to ask, she'd be more than happy to explain the reasons why she felt such a way.
Then came the question. Did she want this? Despite all her feelings currently, her dislike of Faina for no other reason than her own lingering love for Nicademus, the answer was a quick and easy one to make. She still believed in the man and what he attempted to achieve as well as the mission of the Imperial Knights. Taking a breath, she nodded. "It is among the Imperial Knights that I wish to be."
Then came the instruction of being fitted for her new set of armor. She cringed slightly at the thought, never having been a fan of wearing anything so heavy. It held her back in combat when utilizing her Ataru form. Still, she nodded, knowing it was required of her.
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
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Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Sept 29, 2019 18:24:05 GMT -8
"So do I get a desk in the corner?" He points arbitrarily at one of the corners of the already not too large room. "Or do I get to leave all the paperwork for you to do in your free time?" His eyebrows hop up somewhat mockingly as if to jokingly threaten to do just that.
Though they could banter all day, Faina decides to follow up the discussion of desks and paperwork with one that serves to give Brock an overview of the tasks that she has determined are most likely to require his attention during the times that he will be called upon to serve in her stead, including any pertinent information about the individuals that he would either be directly involved with or that he might find it useful to reach out to in the event he needed advise or other kinds of assistance. Once they have finished the overview, Faina able to tell that they are probably fast approaching the limits of Brock's attention span, she has him decide who he wants to assign to his security detail so that he cannot try to put the matter off in the hopes one will not be put into place, and, assuring him that she will look after the assignments herself to make sure that they are made, sighs and stretches her arms over her head as she says, "I think we have done enough for the day, so consider yourself free for now, smiling with an eyebrow arched in amusement as she asks, Or would you look to keep going rather than make good on the opportunity for escape I have so graciously provided?""It is among the Imperial Knights that I wish to be."
Adroit enough a student of human nature to suspect that Anya would prefer to keep their interaction as brief as possible, Faina decides that there is little left to say for the time being, and so only adds, "I will give the matter of the nature of your duties some thought, and reach out to you once I have some options for you to consider. Until then, look after your armor, take some time to settle in, and maybe get to know some of your fellow Knights. Once your armor has been completed, we will have your Knighting ceremony here in the tower. Gesturing towards the door to her office as much to indicate the meeting is concluded as to illustrate her parting comment, she concludes, If you ever need anything, my door is always open." |
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Post by Brock Ferrum on Oct 4, 2019 18:09:02 GMT -8
Gratefully taking the offered opportunity to escape Brock quickly stands up, a genuine smile splitting his face as he makes an unnecessarily formal bow to Faina. "No my glorious almighty Empress, I shall gladly take the oportunity to withdraw that you have so graciously offered me." After a quick wink his face softens slightly and his tone becomes a little more serious. "I'm glad we were able to have this talk Fai, it's good to know you still have my back" More than just gratitude flows out of him through their bond, there is still the barest hint of pain but it it is overwhelmed by a river of calm and even satisfaction. The future wan't going to be ruined by this one moment, and in fact it might even be improved by it. Not giving either of them a chance to get too emotional about the whole thing Brock tosses another piece of Nerf jerky to his friend as he makes his way quickly out of the office and into the future...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 8:40:15 GMT -8
Faina nods, dryly intoning, "That settles the matter then." Faina supposes that she should not be terribly surprised that Anya evidences little in the way of enthusiasm for being officially made an Imperial Knight, either due to having taken for granted that Nicademus' having sent her back among the ranks was his way of making it known he wished for her to be Knighted or perhaps because enthusiasm is simply not in her nature; and she supposes that she can only hope that Anya's marked lack of any discernible reaction is not an indication that either one or both of them are making a mistake - Anya for believing that she wants to be an Imperial Knight despite the philosophical differences she made sure to make Faina aware of, or Faina for believing that those same differences cannot be overcome with acceptance and doing what she can to make a place for Anya in the Imperial Knights and will not instead one day come back to haunt her.
Adroit enough a student of human nature to suspect that Anya would prefer to keep their interaction as brief as possible, Faina decides that there is little left to say for the time being, and so only adds, "I will give the matter of the nature of your duties some thought, and reach out to you once I have some options for you to consider. Until then, look after your armor, take some time to settle in, and maybe get to know some of your fellow Knights. Once your armor has been completed, we will have your Knighting ceremony here in the tower. Gesturing towards the door to her office as much to indicate the meeting is concluded as to illustrate her parting comment, she concludes, If you ever need anything, my door is always open."
As the meeting came to an end and her instruction given, Anya stood to her feet and gave a bow. Without another word, the woman left the office and made her way through the tower, making her way to the forge so as to have herself sized for the new set. Upon reaching the area, she had thought to find Panno, someone she could speak to and bring her some semblance of a smile to her face. However, the man was not there when she arrived, someone else tending to those duties. It was a face she recognized from her time before and when he looked at her, it seemed he did as well. He didn't seem too happy to see Anya, knowing she had walked away some time ago. So many others were killed for their traitorous ways and abandoning of the Knights, but not her. She had been allowed to return. But despite his feelings, she was going to be made a Knight and it was his task to ensure she had a set of armor.
It was a stressful task, his feelings and her quickly figuring out why. Silence hung in the air except for the few questions he asked regarding the armor. When all was said and done, Anya gave him a bow and departed the forge, making her way back to her chambers to rest and clear her mind from the days events. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2019 15:10:42 GMT -8
A couple weeks had passed as Anya waited her armor. Orders for repairs and preparations for a move on Coruscant delayed the progress of her armor to ensure all current Knights were ready to be deployed. This didn't bother Anya as she wasn't quite ready to step into battle beside them yet. She was still adjusting, still trying to come to terms with so many things. The days and nights were long as thoughts continued to plague her mind. Her only solace was when she trained. It distracted her or otherwise shifted her attention, allowing her to think back on her adopted father. It had been so long since they last spoke. She had never told him of her departure from the First Order, though a couple of years in, he had found her again. So they tried to stay connected better, but time still passed by in chucks between calls. She knew he had important tasks of his own and sometimes, keeping in contact was tough.
Standing within the tower, all the remained were trainees still working their way up to gaining their armor. By what she knew, her armor would be finished in a day or two. With that, once everything was finished up on Coruscant, she imagined she' finally be officially inducted into the order for the first time since originally joining them. She looked at the silver blade in front of her as she thought about what it meant to be an Imperial Knight and her words to the Grandmaster. Even now, she believed her words, believed in its mission. She had learned to understand both the darkness and light within her and without. Even with how the Imperial Knights conducted themselves in the light-side, she couldn't. However, that fact wouldn't keep her from fulfilling the duty she agreed to in joining the Knights, for it was the path she wished to follow. She believed in Nicademus's vision and would work to protect him and bring it to fruition.
But for now, all she could do was continue to train and regain the way of fighting as an Imperial Knight.
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
Posts: 301
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 18, 2022 19:58:44 GMT -8
Holocron Hunting
Faina mutters a curse under her breath as she finishes disassembling the coffee table in Kortos Vel's old quarters only to find no hidden compartments concealed within its legs, side stretchers, or top. Kortos had been killed in action, assisting Harnan Ren in slaying the former Master of the Knights of Ren, before The Imperial Knights had relocated their primary base of operation to Coruscant, and so it was to Muunilinst that Faina, accompanied by her self appointed personal guards Voshkie and Nechama, has come to search for a holocron Harnan believed was in the possession of Kortos, who had his personal quarters in the Tower of the Imperial Knights, now home to a much smaller force of Imperial Knights and used most often as a waypoint on operations or a place to resupply or recuperate after action. If not for Harnan's claim, which Faina has no cause to disbelieve, that the holocron needs to be found for the sake of her daughter, Faina would not have spent the last several hours tearing apart the furniture in Kortos' quarters in search of the holocron so that she can take it to Harnan, the price she has been asked to pay in order to visit her daughter, Fiora, who is training under Harnan to be a Knight of Ren.
Voshkie Sarkissian., a 43 year old female Atoan with pink skin and dark black hair, had scanned Kortos' quarters with a SE-90 structural engineering scanner, capable of determining the building materials used in the construction of a structure as well as detecting the presence of any hidden spaces or structures, only to find none of the latter and that the former were all the original materials used in the tower's construction, leaving them all with the far more involved task of physically searching the rooms and furniture for the holocron; their efforts thusfar having proven in vain.
Nechama Matos, a white haired, pale skinned 45 year old female Sarkhai with blue facial tattoos in the place or the more traditional warpaint common among her species, is sitting on the floor near Kortos' wardrobe as she goes through the odd assortment of clothing and objects contained within the wardrobe for the third time. Holding up the hooded robe of their fallen comrade, a former Jedi that had joined the ranks of the Imperial Knights after a series of misunderstandings and complications between him and his former comrades, Nechama asks, "Did he have any old friends among the Jedi he might have given the holocron to for safekeeping?"
Faina, sighing as she removes the cushions from a sofa for the sixth time to check if there are any compartments or holocrons in the cushions or body of the sofa that she failed to find the previous five times, shakes her head, "I highly doubt it. He didn't leave the Order on the best of terms, and I don't remember him ever mentioning any Jedi in particular. Rubbing her left temple as she tosses the cushions back onto the sofa and sits on it, Faina admits, I wouldn't say he and I were close either, so the fact he never mentioned anyone doesn't really mean much. The question giving her another idea, she asks, What about here, was he close with anyone among our ranks?"
Voshkie, having given up on her scanner and currently disassembling Kortos' bed and mattress, pauses and purses her lips in thought, "Well, he and Charratha Korr seemed close.. . ."
Nechama laughs, "Oh yeah, they were pretty close alright. Loud too. My quarters used to be across the hall from hers, and let me tell you, girlfriend was not quiet when . . ."
Faina, far less interested in gossip than she is in the possibility of finding the holocron, holds up a hand to keep Nechama from going into any more detail, "Right. Thinking back to what she recalls of Knight Korr, Faina feels a bit of hope rising within after remembering that Charratha had been declared missing in action before the relocation to Coruscant. meaning her old quarters will be here in the Tower as well. Standing up, she says, I think it's safe to say it obviously isn't here, so grab the scanner and let's see if we have any better luck in Knight Korr's quarters, assuming they haven't been reassigned. Arching an eyebrow with the faintest suggestion of a amused smile curling up the left corner of her lips, Faina asks Nechama rhetorically, Do you remember the way?"
Nechama nods, grinning as she starts leading the way to Charratha's old room, "How could I forget?"
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Faina Delvardus
The First Order
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Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 20, 2022 5:06:29 GMT -8
Holocron Hunting
Not seeing the point in starting to dismantle the furniture until Voshkie has finished scanning Charratha's quarters with the SE-90 structural engineering scanner to determine if that will be necessary, Faina settles on the couch and somewhat absently looks around at the room to see if anything leaps out as an ideal spot to hide the holocron they are searching for in plain sight, her efforts revealing there are only a few decorative items on shelves or alcoves that might be worth looking into.
Nechama, having apparently already decided that the odds of the scanner turning anything up are slim, has already begun going through the contents of the closet to see if there are any boxes or other storage containers the holocron might be stashed in.
"Got something over here, Voshkie says, kneeling in front of the bathroom sink as she examines the data on her scanner. The flooring under the tile here is different than the rest of the room, and, she nods, after making a few adjustments to the scanner, it looks like there is some kind of scanner-blocking field in place too, concealing whatever is beneath the floor."
"Sounds promising, Faina says, getting up and joining Voshkie and Nechama in the bathroom. Any sign of a way to open the compartment?" Kneeling beside Voshkie and running a hand over the section of tile over whatever the scanner-blocking field is concealing to feel for any pressure plates or crevices that might indicate a way to access what is beneath the tile, Faina shakes her head when she finds nothing.
"Hidden button maybe?" Nechama suggests, feeling around under the sink and then bathroom cabinets, groaning in disappointment when her search, too, proves futile.
It is Voshkie that eventually finds the way to open the hidden recessed compartment, a button cleverly concealed within the cover of the light switch just inside the bathroom door. The compartment in the floor reveals, naturally, a safe, which, once they carefully determine is not rigged to explode or release deadly poison gas if tampered with, Faina opens by carefully using her lighsaber to remove its top so she avoids damaging any of the contents.
Taking out the only thing inside the safe, an object roughly the size of a large hand wrapped protectively in oil cloth, Faina holds her breath as she unwraps the item.
"Sweet! Nechama says as Faina holds the triangular blue and gray holocron up after unwrapping it. What did you say was on this thing again?"
"I didn't," Faina answers dryly, her tone making it clear that she won't be discussing the matter any further. As much as she trusts her self-appointed personal guards, Faina has no desire to trouble them with the details of why she has sought the holocron, or what she intends to do with it now that she has it. While Nechama and Voshkie might understand that she is bringing the holocron to Harnan, the Master of the Ren, for the sake of her daughter, who is training to be a Knight of Ren herself, Faina highly doubts they would let her deliver it to Harnan without protest, especially if she told them she intends to do so alone. A darker reason for her decision not to let her Knights know what she intends to do is that Faina does not want them to bear any guilt in the event she is making the biggest, and perhaps last, mistake of her life in trusting that Harnan is not using her desire to see her eldest daughter as a way to lure her alone to Prakith for nefarious reasons; though she has come to trust him, Faina is well aware of how naive it might be that she does so.
Getting Voshkie and Nechama to leave her side long enough for her to get away from them so she can go to the landing platform and depart for Prakith proves to be an arduous, lengthy affair that, in hindsight predictably, ends with Faina having to remind them of her rank and title before ordering them go into Harnaidan for a few hours so she can work on accessing the holocron alone. Once Voshkie and Nechama, protesting all the while, finally leave, Faina, having no intention of trying to access the holocron even though she very much wants to know what it contains and how it pertains to Fiora, gives them enough time to get far enough away from the Tower that she feels she has enough time to get underway before they return, heads to her old quarters to remove her armor, throw on some of her old civilian attire over the reinforced armor mesh body suit worn beneath her armor, toss a few toiletries and random articles of clothing into a rucksack, and then quickly make her way to the landing platform to board the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle, the Dione, she and her fellow Imperial Knights arrived in. After completing the pre-flight checks, Faina takes out her datapad and sends a brief message to Harnan:
H -
Found it. On my way. Make sure your people know to clear Imperial shuttle, Dione without hindrance.
F
The message sent, Faina lifts off, folds the shuttle's lower articulated flanking wings outwards, and begins her journey to Prakith. Piloting the shuttle would be easier with a co-pilot, especially given that she will be traveling through hyperspace to reach her destination, but Faina has become proficient enough a shuttle pilot over the years that she anticipates no difficulty making the trip alone, as agreed upon.
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