It's My Party (D2, ME, Shaisha's)

[Kristal Serasai]

"My mother informed me that it was Raven Torsin," she looked to Sylvain, "who attacked her. That is why my mother has all but disappeared from Imperial space. I am certain there are many who believe her to be dead and would prefer it remain that way in order to protect her."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

Shaisha listened with a stoic demeanor as Kris spoke.

"Your mother is here on Nar Shadaa or did she tell you this via holo from somewhere else?"

And let's hope we're not suddenly all going to have our parents here.

[Kristal Serasai]

"My Mother was here," she relented but was a bit more uncomfortable about revealing that aloud.

[Shaisha Vreysk]

Her hand thoughtfully stroked her jawline.

"Makes me wonder if she followed Raven here to settle the score then... the Force is certainly gathering all this in a convergence of sorts, and it troubles me."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain nodded, "Magpie is here to kill Baras. I spoke with her this morning."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

Shaisha resisted the urge to pinch her nose in annoyance. Why oh why had Syl already showed his hand to Raven?

"I... no, that surprises me actually. I thought she was on his side?"

[Sylvain Torsin]

He shook his head, "Not anymore... but she isn't what I would consider a reliable ally."

[Kristal Serasai]

"Your mother is attempting to kill Baras?" she asked, a little surprised.

[Sylvain Torsin]

He nodded, "She wishes to kill Baras to free herself from his chains. Potentially take his place in a position of power I suppose. She has tired of living in the shadows, unable to don the trappings of Sith power... She wishes to take what she believes belongs to her. And wishes for me to stand beside her in her attempt to kill Baras."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

There were a lot of words and thoughts going through her head, but only a very simple one made it out first.

"Fuck..."

Now she did pinch the bridge of her nose for a moment. "Right, no... as much as I want to see Baras be roadkill, if it happens here... it won't be good."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain turns to her to hear Shaisha's thoughts on her comment, "Mmm?"

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"You care about those inane peace talks? Well, I bet it would give the Republic a field day to work with if this mess comes up, especially if she is going to be as dramatic with her intentions as you say. We're going to be more caught up in this fallout than opposing them."

That and my people's asses would be on the line for not stopping it...

[Kristal Serasai]

"If Baras dies I may lose the chance to vindicate my father," she added simply. Underscoring the portion that was of far more personal importance in the matter of Baras' death at the hands of Raven.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"The question is, 'is leaving Baras in power worse'?" Sylvain asked.

"There is a significant part of me that thinks that answer is yes... I am privy to much of what he is orchestrating... but to trust this woman... I cannot tell if she is simply an extremist or entirely insane. Her hatred for Baras knows no bounds."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"I don't doubt it, Syl... he still needs to die." Damn you father for not doing it sooner when you had the chance. "But here, by Magpie... it's going to throw a lot into disarray if someone as prominent as Darth Baras gets assassinated. And good loyal people will get the heat for it too."

[Kristal Serasai]

"I don't know," Kristal said after a long moments thought. There were too many unknowns, or too many possibilities she couldn't possibly account for in order to make a sound judgement in her mind.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"And sparing Baras would require me to help him kill the second of my parents...." He shook his head, "There's much to consider."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

Shaisha flinched a little, then looked away.

They both had a lot more stake in this than she did... she wanted to protect those in Section IX from the fallout of this. Damnit, she had let herself be attached to a feeling of responsibility for them.

It made her wonder if her sire knew about Raven, or had sensed her power with the Force... and if they both had ended up as pawns in this game.

"Your mother, Kris..." she asked after some silence, "she is here for Raven too, no?"

[Kristal Serasai]

"Not so directly," she answered, looking more singularly toward Shaisha for the moment. "Though she has come here as a result of the encounter. I am sure that if she had known Raven Torsin was here on Nar Shaddaa she would have told me.. us."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

The pureblood nodded. Arlena Serasai was an impressive woman, and one she assumed could probably be more dangerous than Kristal herself... if she knew Raven Torsin was on the same planet, chances were high she'd decided to duke it out.

She had wanted to tell them about what she had learned during their time apart, and had even hinted at it to Sylvain that she would share it... I can't burden them with this, Shaisha resigned to herself, and internalized what she was wanting to speak of. Her best friends needed her now; it would have to wait.

"If there's anything I can do to help you or your mother, know that you need only ask, Kris... it's the least I can do..." for me causing so much of this mess.

[Kristal Serasai]

"If it arises Shaisha, I will be sure too," she said with a firm nod on that matter.

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain looked over Shaisha carefully. There was something eating at his sister... and it didn't seem like it was just the Scourge issue. "You alright Shai...? You seem to have something on your mind."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

She gave Syl a forced smile. "It can wait... your mother is a more pressing concern now, and I'm here to support you through this, Syl," Shaisha looked between the two of them. "Both of you, for that matter."

[Sylvain Torsin]

"What kind of friends would we be if we took all the attention away from the birthday girl?" Sylvain said with a smile.

"What is it?"

[Shaisha Vreysk]

Her lips pursed slightly as she considered her reply, and for a moment it looked like she was going to brush it off.

"... Remember when I told you at Korriban of how I had scrapes and bruises I had no recollection of, and that I had no memory of what happened after the party the night before?" she looked at Sylvain as she brought up something that had happened almost a year ago.

"It's... well, it certainly wasn't because I drank too much or anything, which I already knew. Turned out that someone had taken control of me and used my body to go into the deep wastes of Korriban that night, looking for something. It was the old man Spindral that told me the truth when I went out to investigate, following the hazy memories I managed to dreg up from the incident through meditation."