[D0] Ancient History

[Niall Organa]

The quarters were fine enough, Niall thought, as he sat at the small desk provided. Certainly better than many a military transport he'd traveled in, even as an officer. He was still dressed for the day, but he'd undone his collar, leaving his blue jacket open to his sternum, a fine white shirt beneath.

Frowning, rubbing his eyes, Niall sat back from the desk, stretching his long legs. His eyes fell on a holophoto, set on the edge of the desk. One that he brought everywhere with him, these days. Niall sighed, closing his eyes, going still as he let distant memories wash over him.

[Alysele Cortess]

Aly stood before a cabin door, reviewing the datapad before hear. The information displayed was up to date. Academy transcript, service record, recent events.... it was full and contained all the information. Well, not all. It didn't list that boyish smile of his when he was trying to look innocent, or how rich his laughter was whenever he heard a bawdy joke.

She looked at the picture, her hand gently touching it. Last time she saw him was quite a while ago. She was still a padawan, and he was just going to start in the military Then everything changed.

She let out a sigh, before tearing her eyes away from the datapad. That was then, and this is now. Her left hand pushed the communicator to the side, beeping to let him know she is there

"Captain Organa, this is Jedi Knight Alysele Cortess. I'm here for a routine security checkup."

[Niall Organa]

Frowning, Niall pushed back in the chair, startled out of his reminiscence. "Coming." He said, raising his voice. He rose to his feet, crossing to the door.

It was only when he reached the door that his mind caught up to the rest of what was said, and he was thrown back into memories once more. He froze, just for a moment. Then his hand mashed the door control.

When the door slid open, he stood in front of it, a stunned expression on his face. For all that his uniform jacket was loosely open, he looked quite sharp in it, the strong blues of the uniform matching the grey of his eyes. "Aly? Is that really you?" He said. His eyes were wide, almost unbelieving, as he took in the sight of her.

[Alysele Cortess]

Whatever professional and stoic facade was put up quickly crumbled, as Alysele's expression soon melted into peace. True peace. Damn.... she almost forgot how this felt. To not stress, or fear, or feel alone.

His company always seemed to help. "Ni... yeah, it's me." she waved at him with the datapad in hand, then frowned. "Can I come in?"

[Niall Organa]

With the introduction she'd given at the door, he'd wondered if she'd changed more than he thought was possible. But then she used his old nickname, and everything was okay again.

Niall grinned openly, his face lighting up. "Yes! Of course! Please." He stepped aside, making room for her. "It's been ages. What, ten years?" He shook his head, laughing softly. "Seems like yesterday." His smile grew a bit wistful.

[Alysele Cortess]

She stepped into his room, her heels clicking on the metal floor. She made her way to the far wall, and turned around deftly, looking at him, a warm smile on his face. "Sorry if I was too formal, just.... don't want any rumors flying around." She looked away awkwardly for a brief moment, before resetting her gaze on him again. "Yeah.... feels like a lifetime ago. Thanks for the messages though! They helped a lot."

"I'm sorry about.... I heard what happened. My condolences."

[Niall Organa]

The heels drew Niall's attention first, his eyes trailing upwards from there. Wow. She's... grown. He managed to draw his eyes up just as she turned around, his cheeks only reddening the slightest bit. "Rumors?" He repeated blankly.

"Oh. Thank you." Niall sighed, his smile draining away. After a moment, a hint of it returned. "I was just looking at a picture of her, actually. Would you care to see it? This would have been a few years after you left. She would have been about ten years old." He moved to the desk, picking up the holophoto. He gestured her over, turning the device to show her very serious looking young girl in a fine dress. Unmistakably Ranye, who was unmistakably Niall's sister, with the same dark hair and grey eyes.

[Alysele Cortess]

She waved in the air, her eyes focusing on him and his blue eyes and chiseled features.

"Yes please." She looked at the picture, a small smile spreading. "I am sorry I missed the funeral. I had duties at the time." She managed to suppress a sigh. There is no emotion, there is peace. Easy to say, hard to live...

Turning back to her friend, absently put the datapad down on his desk. "How are you holding up?"

[Niall Organa]

A bit more of his earlier smile returned.

"Oh." Niall sighed, folding his arms across his chest. He leaned back against the edge of the desk. "Well... it was definitely hard at first. I wasn't back on duty yet; I was still recovering from my injury. And I was home then, so there wasn't much to do, but see the places we used to..." He trailed off, blinking and swallowing, as emotion briefly overcame him.

Clearing his throat, he gave Aly a smile. "It's been easier since I've been back on duty. There always seems to be more to do, doesn't there?"

[Alysele Cortess]

Aly listened and nodded, her smile a warm, friendly one, her back to the wall, literally. "I can understand that... I was at home for a short while. It was all balls, galas, dinners.... not bad, but busy, with little done actually." She shook her head. "Everything moves so slowly some times... "Duty can be good... sometimes."

She let out a sigh. Though some duties are better than others. "It must have been hard.... the war takes many casualties."

[Niall Organa]

"That must have been something, after life in the Jedi order." Niall said smiling. "Do Jedi dance?" His eyebrows went up. "I haven't met one who did, but then perhaps I just haven't been going to the right dances."

Niall hesitated a moment. "I suppose it was hard. For a long time, there would be nothing. Just heat and sand. I've found that I don't really care for sand." His expression went distant. "And then everything would explode into violence so quickly, and the person you had been talking to a minute ago is lying there with his chest blown apart..." He trailed off.

He gave Aly a wry smile. "I think I'd rather hear about you. How is life in the Jedi? Does it suit you?" He'd known a few Jedi, and they'd often seemed rather muted. Aly had always been full of life in their childhood.

[Alysele Cortess]

"Hm... do droids sleep?" She smirked at her friend. "We dance... well.... I usually don't. Not my forte. Give me a good fight any time of the day, but no improv dancing please."

Her eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, she felt like a 4 year old girl again. It was all too brief unfortunately. "Mhm... I hope I don't need to go to any place sandy. Could do without." Her face fell as he trailed off.... "Yeah." was the muted response.

His smile was not met with a similar response. "It's... okay. I am happy for what I've learned." She patted the lightsaber at her side. "But... it doesn't feel.. perfect? I don't feel like I'm doing enough. I could do more back at home. Improve the life of others, in a better way."

[Niall Organa]

"No?" Niall laughed easily. "You used to be good at it, as I recall." Well, good in the way that only children dance, wildly enthusiastic but otherwise terrible.

His gaze followed her gesture down to her lightsaber before going back to her blue eyes. "Interesting." He said. "I joined the Republic military because it felt as though I wasn't doing enough good back home." He chuckled dryly. "Can I ask, what does the order have you doing, that you feel isn't enough? I gather you're on security detail for this?"

[Alysele Cortess]

"That was then.... I learned rigor. Perhaps a bit too much. "She smiled at him. "What I learned was mainly lightsaber combat, and a style that focuses on precision and perfection. Improv dancing wasn't really on the class list."

She removed the lightsaber with her left, extending the blade. "It's not a weapon you can take lightly." She withdrew the blade, not letting it linger. "Well... I fought Sith. And killed them. Someone else identified them, scouted their location, I was ferried in, I fought, I won."

She frowned. "Of course, the one time I would have been helpful on Alderaan, I wasn't there." She was visibly unhappy. "Have you heard about the sith killer?"

[Niall Organa]

The blue glow of Aly's lightsaber, brighter than the lights of the room, made Niall's face look pale, reflecting in his blue-grey eyes. "I see." He said, giving her a respectful nod. It was strange, the ways she'd changed, as well as the ways she'd stayed the same.

The glow disappeared with the blade of the lightsaber. "I did, yes. I was quite nearly there, in fact, but for a follow-up visit with a doctor." Niall straightened, frowning. "I take it you've seen the tapes, then? What was your take on it?" He shook his head. "To come onto my family's estate, and kill a guest, threaten others... most uncivilized." He sounded especially Alderaanian while saying that, his cultured accent growing stronger.

[Alysele Cortess]

"Her saber... was strange. Her style was unrefined. She was blunt." Her face formed into a sneer. "It's..." her hand formed into a fist, and she hit the wall. "If I would've been there... I'd have stopped her."

She reached towards her datapad. "I'm going to be looking over the tapes some more... and whatever I can find. With a saber like that, it should be easy to find her." An aristocratic mask formed from her visage. "It's... yeah. Not civilized. You know, I would've hoped someone with style would be attacking Alderaan, if they want to kill someone."

She looked him over with worry again. "I hope the doctor said something good. Also. do you know anything about the victim? Might be useful to know."

[Niall Organa]

Niall chuckled at the joke. "Only the most refined for killers of nobility, eh?" His smile faded, reminded of his own loss. "Alas, it doesn't seem to work that way. But no, I don't know much about her target. He was a Rist, I believe. That's all I know." His frown deepened. "Although, I heard of another Rist going missing recently as well. Connected, perhaps? It could be some sort of vendetta, although I don't know what House Rist could have done to anger the Sith."

"Oh, yes, I'm fine. One-hundred percent functional again." One hand came up to make an 'x' in the center of his chest. "You can barely even see the scar anymore. Kolto does wonders."

[Alysele Cortess]

"If I have some time, I want to follow up on that. If you know anything, let me know please? Anything is useful."

Her fist was slowly let go. "That is good to hear. And... mentally? Are you planning on another round later? Or going back home?" Her voice was hopeful as she gave him that last option.

[Niall Organa]

Niall's response was instant, a firm nod. "Of course, Aly. Anything. I'll look into it."

His gaze grew sharper as he recognized the hopefuly tone in her voice. But after a moment, he shook his head, smiling. "Even if I wanted to, my tour isn't up yet. And frankly, I'm ready for round two. I think." For a moment, there was a dark look in his eyes; sometimes the moments right before or after he was injured came back to him at strange times. His lips twisted. "I've been working on ducking when people shoot at me. I think I've become rather good at it."

His eyes softened on her. "What about you? Are you expecting to be spending some time back home?" He asked, his voice deep, quiet.

[Alysele Cortess]

"Oh? How long is your tour?" She was visibly frowning. Niall on the front lines... the idea wasn't getting any better no matter how much she tried to accommodate it.

"What if someone is shooting at you from 3 different directions? Can you even shoot Ni? Last I recall, whenever you tried to skip stones, you hit a bird instead. By accident."

She shrugged her shoulders, the movement elegant but... something was amiss. It was too... practiced. "Not sure. I spent some time at home, and even that was a chore to get approved. Don't think so."

[Niall Organa]

"Three years." He answered evenly. "The Republic spent a lot of resources training me, after all. A debt I am obligated to repay."

He threw his head back, laughing, real enjoyment on his aristocratically handsome features. "I'd forgotten about that! One of those big white lake swans, wasn't it. I felt terrible, right up until it came charging at us, looking for revenge." He shook his head. "But, yes. I'm no marksman, but I can shoot."

His eyes grew concerned once more, watching the all too smooth rise and fall of her shoulders. He smiled at her. It looked as though she might be able to stay a while. "Please, sit down, where are my manners?" He waved a hand as he moved to a nearby cabinet. "Can I get you anything?" His smile became a grin. "I brought a few bottles of wine from home."

[Alysele Cortess]

"Perhaps... but you can just pay it out. You have the money." There was a small bit of accusation in her voice. He had opportunities she didn't, and he should consider them.

She did stop before verbalizing that though. She's too young to be a strict matron. Instead, she sat down on his bed. "I... don't know. Not now, at least. I have some time, everyone seems to be in order, and I don't have a set schedule to do. Just need to check in on everyone before we land."

She laughed as well, though that was closer to a giggle. "Yeah... I couldn't sleep soundly for a week after that. I got a porcelain swan from my aunt... you can figure out how that worked out."

[Niall Organa]

He shook his head. "It's not a matter of money. I made a promise." He sighed. "If after this, there's peace, then maybe. But otherwise, the need is too great."

He nooded acceptance of her refusal. Niall hesitated a moment then, finally settling himself in the desk chair, although he pulled it closer to the bed. He sat, leaning forward, fingers interlocked, resting between his knees.

Her giggle made him smile. More. "Oh, that's fine." He said. "I hope they didn't make you keep it in your bedroom. I shoved all my feather pillows into the closet." His smile grew wistful as he looked at her. "That was a long time ago, wasn't it?"

[Alysele Cortess]

He shook his head. "It's not a matter of money. I made a promise." He sighed. "If after this, there's peace, then maybe. But otherwise, the need is too great."

He nooded acceptance of her refusal. Niall hesitated a moment then, finally settling himself in the desk chair, although he pulled it closer to the bed. He sat, leaning forward, fingers interlocked, resting between his knees.

Her giggle made him smile. More. "Oh, that's fine." He said. "I hope they didn't make you keep it in your bedroom. I shoved all my feather pillows into the closet." His smile grew wistful as he looked at her. "That was a long time ago, wasn't it?"

Aly nodded, understanding. Sort of. "Well, hopefully after the talks, the need will lessen. She smiled as he moved closer. It was good to be with him. Again. "They did. You know them. Auntie was important, had to show proper respect. Still, I got over it. We did get up to a lot, back in the day, didn't we?"

[Niall Organa]

"We certainly did." Niall said, his tone warm. He is silent a moment, looking at her. "It's really good to see you again, Aly."

After a moment, his eyebrows went up. "I don't suppose you've heard from Arsele at all, have you? I know the two of you were friends. I spent a lot of time with her after the Jedi took you away." He bit his tongue; he hadn't meant for it to sound quite like that.