Boundless Horizons

[Andraste]

Andraste had been quiet their whole journey back to Mon Cala. She knew there were a lot of things weighing on Cregan’s mind, and she wasn’t the type to pry or force things. The encounter with his father was one that would leave anyone rattled. She was still reeling from it, and she felt her blood boiling when she had dealt with him. Andraste was worried she overstepped some boundaries when she decided to choke her father in law, but she was always one to act on impulse.

After they touched down on Mon Cala, she rose from her seat and walked over to Cregan, finally breaking the silence, “I’m sorry for what happened,” She sighed, meeting his gaze for a moment before leaning down to kiss him. Through all of their prepping and organizing, they barely had any moments to simply relax. For a few minutes, she simply said nothing, running her fingers gently through his hair, “I hope you know that I love and cherish you. You’ll never feel alienated from this family,” She managed a faint smile for him before withdrawing back.

Andraste grasped his hand and guided it over her belly, “This growing family,” She knew her child would also grow to love Cregan. She smiled again and finally made to leave the ship, looping her arm through his. Andraste never got tired of setting her sights on Mon Cala, the planet’s vast oceans always a gorgeous sight to behold.

The walk towards the shipyards was short and quick. She was surprised to see the Mon Cala King there. Andraste made her way over to him, “King Rell, what an-“

“Just….breathtaking,” He half gasped. She followed his gaze towards the ship that was now fully constructed. It was massive, and it stood proud over anything else around it. Andraste felt her jaw growing slack, her yellow eyes widening. For a moment she couldn’t say anything, seeing it absolutely complete for the first time, “You’ve truly done it,” She barely heard the Mon Cala king gasp out.

She didn’t hear the other ships beginning to descend, or the Pamratheans stepping out to see what they would be crewing for the first time. Andraste could simply reach out to weakly grasp Cregan’s hand, “That’s ours….” She said, “Let’s go home in it.”

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Cregan wasn't in the best of moods right now and hadn't been since they left his home planet. Visiting his father like that probably should have been a happy reunion and instead his father had been insufferable and outright hostile until he was choked by Andraste... which had actually gotten the man go behave a little bit now that he thought about it. Which was to be expected he supposed- no one wants to be choked.

Andraste moving broke him out of his funk, his brooding if be was being honest with himself, and he managed to smile up at her. And despite everything he could still, genuinely, smile the same smile he always used with her because... Well because it was her. He leaned up to kiss her back, reaching up to cup her cheek as he assured her,

"There's nothing to be sorry about - you were wonderful my Diamond." He assured her before placing a hand on her stomach as well, "But thank you. No matter what else happens I know one thing in my heart and that is that I am Cregan Drast, your husband and your family. And I'm dedicated wholly to this family - forever."

Taking her offered arm, Cregan found that he was still able to smile because it was still his wife by his side... And that was worth smiling about in his mind. Stepping out onto Mon Cala, Cregan was almost tempted to note how rude the king was being but then he turned and saw the ship as well.

Okay that was distracting enough he would freely admit.

He couldn't help but laugh a little bit breathlessly as he took in the sight of the powerful ship from here. It was almost like he could feel the raw power and potential in it even from here! Taking his wife's hand, he squeezed it before leaning in to whisper directly into her ear,

"No - That's yours. Your Will made metal and power... that's what that is. It is yours my love and no one could dare claim otherwise." He told her honestly before smirking a little bit, "But oh yes... Yes let's go buzz the tower a bit eh? Let's show the galaxy what we have made and see how they shake just that little bit more right?"

He was rather excited for it now and the crew they had brought along was already streaming onto the new ship to crew it... soon it would just be theirs and they could take off with it. This was going to be so much fun!

@Sreeya

 

[Andraste]

Andraste could only stare at the ship, almost overwhelmed with emotion. She couldn’t tell if it was the pregnancy or seeing the fruits of her labor at this point. She took Cregan’s hand and could only smile, “I remember when I was a nobody among the Jedi. Perhaps I’m still a nobody in the end, but this….this is truly a spectacular mark of my endeavors”

She walked towards the ship, the King of Mon Cala still left speechless behind her. Andraste had never been inside a ship this size, and she certainly had never set eyes on a ship like this before. She turned back and could only grin at the crewmen standing around staring at what they would be helping pilot. Andraste made her way inside the ship, taking in every little detail and marveling at the perfect craftsmanship.

Andraste turned back to Cregan and smiled, “What should we call her?”

 

[Darth Evandrus]

To say the ship was impressive to say the least...

Well that was an understatement so extreme it would probably not be a good idea to ever actually mention it in polite company. It was beautiful in it's own way, though Cregan would find it hard to find any Republic or Jedi member who thought of it as such. He held his wife's hand and mirrored her in looking up at the ship, looking at all of it's armour and it's equipment and it's weaponry.

All of it's majesty.

"Alais... you were never a nobody. You were, and will always be, something truly special." he assured his wife, glancing at her as he spoke, managing to tear his eyes away from the ship in front of him, "This? This right here? This is a landmark in your life, a true accomplishment. But it is just one of many my dear - and there will be so many more, I'm sure..."

Cregan waved to the King of Mon Cala as they left him behind, walking closer to the ship itself. It was so large that taking steps towards it felt like they were making no progress to reaching it at all. It was... towering.

Following his wife aboard the ship, Cregan found himself looking to and fro, wanting to take in every scrap of detail that he could now that the ship was finally completed and he was finally aboard it. It was absolutely seamless - faultless as near as he could tell. And considering the specs of the ship? He knew it was peerless.

Looking at his wife, Cregan took her by the hand and led her to the centre console of the bridge, where the commanding officer would stand. He placed her hands on the console and stood in front of her, looking her in the eyes,

"This ship... is The Will of the Empress." he declared, unwavering in his intensity, "And it will change the face of the Galaxy; forever."

@Sreeya

 

[Andraste]

Andraste allowed him to lead her and place her hands on the console. She couldn’t take her eyes off it, and she felt smaller than ever being inside the behemoth of a ship. There was a sense of wonder, a sense of pride and everything in between. She had to reflect on all her choices in the past and everything that led her to this point. Andraste didn’t release Cregan’s hand, keeping his placed on the console as well, “I couldn’t have gotten here without those that loved and supported me the whole way."

The name he suggested caused a chill to go down her spine. She glanced up at Cregan, her golden orbs meeting his sapphire ones, “I love you for sticking with me through every up and down thus far. I wouldn’t have gotten far without you,” Andraste reached out and cupped the side of his face, “No matter where this war takes us, I want you to always know that. I want you to know I’m still that girl that you caught embarrassing herself in that ice cream shop,” She couldn’t help but smile, “I’m still that girl you…tossed in that cave,” She was laughing softly now, “You help keep her alive through it all, and you allow me to stay sane. Now come here.”

Andraste tugged him into a kiss, and she didn’t care that that the crewmen were filing in now and could potentially see. She pulled him close, kissing him with ferocity and hunger in her gestures, her fingers curling into his hair.

 

[Darth Evandrus]

She was modest for a woman who had shaken the Jedi Order to it's core less than a decade ago and had proceeded to make such changes to the Galaxy that people honestly looked to her as a mythical, god-like, figure. She legitimately had people worshipping her as a deity and yet she could still stand there and say that she couldn't have gotten here without help? Oh there were so many reasons why he loved the woman and one of them was that - underneath all of it, she was still Alais Drast and she was still just the woman who wanted to be loved.

"Might have taken you a little longer..." he allowed with a sly smirk and a wink but it wasn't flippant, it was just... a light joke to make her smile, to keep her smiling.

He loved it when she looked at him like that and just... just smiled.

He squeezed her hands gently in his own as they both rested atop the console of the spaceship, of The Will of the Empress. Smiling softly, he tilted his head to the side, resting his cheek in the palm of her small little hand,

"I've never lost sight of that." he admitted to her honestly, "To me you will always be that young woman who blew me away... and had me quoting terrible old holovids. And you're always growing, always becoming a new woman I love just as fiercely."

Cregan wrapped his arms around his wife as they kissed, holding her close to him. The ship, the crew... they fell away until all that mattered was the feeling of her body against his own and her taste upon his lips.

/End Thread
@Sreeya