Ask Sisters, Sisters

[Arla]

Per my OP template, thread is death enabled.
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It was strange and still settling in for Arla that the woman she had met on the cannibal world was her sister. And that that sister was also a Thorne. That she was a Thorne. Arla Thorne of the Forgotten Valley. It was still a little bit too weird to take in.

But Arla knew that she wanted to get to know her sister better, and some of the brief conversations the two had had indicated that Arla might even be able to grow their relationship in a way that would also grow her business.

The Galactica had traded hands, and was now the domain of Arla and Apex. A true neutral ground that allowed no external weapons and was protected by a small army of droids, Apex contractors, and more. Violence was strictly prohibited, and it catered to those with plenty of money to spare.

Arla had invited her sister to stay there within the hotel and make use of whatever amenities she wanted. The day after Jayna had arrived, she asked her sister to meet her in a small but luxurious bar where they could speak in privacy.

She wore a pair of fine but comfortable robes and although weapons were not generally permitted, Arla was an exception to that rule as the de facto proprietor, and she carried a lightsaber tucked discreetly into her belt, only the top of the handle visible amidst the outfit.

She sipped a glass of wine as she looked through her EZphone at some of the messages she had received with regards to recent Apex contracts completed. Legal and illegal business alike had been booming as their notoriety had begun to grow.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

It had taken Jayna quite a while to process everything that had occurred. The death of Auntie Ren was a blow they all felt profoundly - and their connection to the Former Empress was something that Jayna had only just managed to wrap her head around. Despite the implications, the Heiress internalized the worst of her doubts and inner conflicts, opting to slowly work through them on her own terms. It wasn’t within Jayna’s nature for her emotions to gain the better of her, so they simpy didn’t.

Instead, Jayna fixed her attention towards the things that truly mattered. Towards the sister that she had gained from the entire ordeal. Despite the lifetime spent apart and vastly different upbringings.. Arla was a Thorne. They were family. And that alone was enough for Jayna to want to get to know the Nightsister better.

Though she hadn’t been to The Galactica before, it wasn’t wildly different from the myriad of exclusive Space Stations that existed across the Galaxy - catering to anyone with enough credits to their name. She was dressed in a designer blue dress - coupled with gold belt that cinched at her waist. Her dark hair was tied into a loose bun, accentuating the diamond earrings that dripped from her fluted ears. It would quickly become apparent to Arla just how luxurious of a life her sister had enjoyed, based purely on how the woman dressed for a casual conversation.

For once, Jayna moved without her usual detachment of Blackwell Droids. Weapons weren’t permitted on the Space Station after all - and the Heiress largely trusted the safety that her sister could provide.

It didn’t take her very long to arrive at the private bar where Arla was already waiting, greeting her sister with a simple nod at first. “Arla,” She said, slipping into the seat just opposite of her sibling. The Heiress didn’t hesitate to flag down a nearby droid for something to drink, before turning her attention back to the Nightsister. "Hey."

 

[Arla]

Arla was glad to see that Jayna had taken her invitation, but the whole thing was still weird to her. She supposed she should just treat her no different than she would treat Anya or some of the other Nightsisters from her Clan.

I am glad you came, she said. Was this going to be awkward and weird? Probably.

I do not typically engage in small talk, she stated after a moment, not entirely sure how to go about this, and reaching up to scratch her head. This was a large amount of effort, but effort she felt it was worth putting in.

She took a sip of her drink, and glanced around. She knew their booth had high tech jammers to prevent eavesdropping from other devices and there was no one nearby, so she opted for candor.

You know who my parents were. I was raised a Nightsister but entered the Sith when I turned eighteen. I saw no reason to stay with them following their expulsion from the Empire and set my sights on creating Apex, an independent contracting company, she said. It was the truncated version of her life and sounded more like a CV than an actual explanation of who she was, but at least it was a start. Even so, that history told a great deal about Arla's view of the galaxy.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

Jayna allowed a faint smile to tug at the corners of her mouth - breaking her otherwise neutral countenance. Despite the awkwardness of the entire situation, the Heiress felt a natural kinship towards the woman across from her. There was a lifetime they had been kept from each other, and Jayna was drawn towards the idea of making up for that lost time. No matter how odd it all seemed in the beginning. “That is certainly fitting for the family,” She said with a hint of amusement, allowing her silvery gaze to linger on Arla.

The general demeanor and nature of their family wasn’t exactly a secret. If she didn’t realize it already, Arla would quickly come to realize where she inherited some of her more muted expressions and mannerisms, and how those same traits appeared in her siblings.

Jayna kept a calm expression was Arla began to explain her upbringing and history - absorbing every detail about her sister. Her connection to the Sith was something that gave the Heiress a momentary pause, though it only manifested in the way that she ceased drawing a finger across the edge of her wine glass. Her manicured nail tapped against the glass steadily for a moment, clear that Jayna was within her own thoughts, before she offered Arla a nod.

“I would like to get to know you better, Arla, and continue to for years to come.” She finally said after a long moment.

“You know who my parents are. And.. Quite frankly, the details of my life have been published and glamorized since I was four years old.” It was no secret that the twins were followed by cameras and reporters wherever they went. They were the children of perhaps the most important man in the Galaxy. Such came with the territory - and there was quite a bit that Arla probably knew without Jayna repeating it. Details were something Jayna was more than willing to divulge if asked.

“It does not bother me who you were,” She said, words that would likely surprise the Nightsister. Unlike her siblings, Jayna had an entirely unique perspective as the only non-Force Sensitive in their family. “I only care about who you are today, and will continue to be.” The simple reality was that her twin was a Jedi - and that would always make the Sith enemies to her family. Emryc had described Darth Raze as a threat, and she had no reason to believe he was anything but.

So long as Arla had separated herself from their likes, Jayna didn’t dwell on facts of her sisters past that didn’t matter. “What do you plan to do now?” She asked after a moment. “Now that Apex has grown to what it is.”

She blinked after a moment. “And.. Any questions you have for me.”

 

[Arla]

Arla was surprised to see the other woman smile. While they hadn't met for long, she was fairly certain that neither of them had smiled once during that trip.

It seemed that they were more alike in their blood than she could have ever imagined, and now that she was seeing them more, more pieces made sense. Arla carried many similarities to her mother, but she now saw just how much the Thorne contributed to her entire being.

I do not pay much attention to the tabloids. Or follow politics, she admitted.

My skills in diplomacy and negotiations are not excellent. It has often made managing Apex more difficult, she said, the two thoughts connected in her mind. Part of why she had created Apex was to free herself of too much more need for politics. Others did the politicking and she did the killing.

She considered the statement that Jayna made about her past and her future. She likely didn't know that Arla had even recently helped Raze attack Ithor, which could have killed Ezra. She wondered where Raze was now and if she had made the right decision in not returning to him. But she found herself happy with where she was and more satisfied with her life now than she had been in quite some time.

Apex has just begun to grow, but it is far from where I would like, she said. She hoped to one day have a military that could rival galactic governments and contract directly with planets to provide security to them, but that was a long way away.

Do you share your brother's... or our brother's... Jedi leanings? Idealism, she asked. Two former Sith, a Jedi, and Jayna... where did she fall in that equation, Arla didn't know.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

]Jayna nodded ever-so-slightly, pausing from their conversation in order to sip from the glass of wine acquired earlier. The Heiress had nothing meaningful to add when Arla declared that politics and negotiation wasn’t her forte. There was no follow up question about herself to answer, and so Jayna merely offered Arla her full attention while listening.

Perhaps the quarter-Sephi would be the only one to follow in their father’s footsteps. Jayna had long considered what it meant to be a Thorne, and the legacy that she held an obligation to uphold on some level. It was her passion in life, and yet the thought of meeting the standard of the ISC President was daunting to consider.

“Where would you like it to go?” The Heiress asked directly. She saw no real reason to dance around the issue - especially when her own interest in Apex had peaked recently, for a variety of reasons. What Arla intended to do with the company was an important factor for Jayna to consider.

With the gentle rotation of her wrist, Jayna swirled the glass of wine clutched between her slender fingers. Waves of crimson liquid lapped against the interior walls of the glass, coming up a halt only when the Heiress sipped once more. It was only then that she opted to answer Arla’s question about their twin - shrugging her shoulders slightly.

“I believe the altruistic philosophies of the Jedi to be limiting - and ultimately, self-harmful. I have nothing against the Jedi Order but I see no reason to artificially constrict myself to ideals that will only hinder my career and line of work.” She said matter-of-factly. Her twin was a Jedi - and so was the man she’d grown to fancy these past few weeks. But Jayna was an aspiring politician and inherited the ruthless instinct necessary for that line of work. There was a momentary pause, broken as Jayna tilted her head towards Arla.

“Why do you ask?”

 

[Arla]

Arla weighed her words carefully, but the Thorne family had its share of dirty secrets, and if there was someone she should be trusting, it was probably those who were connected to her by blood over a stranger.

I want to see Apex able to rival galactic powers someday, she said. It was not anywhere in the near future, and perhaps she would simply find herself content with where it arrived someday, but she wasn't satisfied yet. For the time being, though, it served its purpose as a means of allowing her to hunt freely, and that was its primary purpose, after all.

Jayna's lack of direct idealism was a welcome hint that Arla's thought might actually work out.

Still, she hesitated for a moment, her ear twitching slightly, involuntarily.

Not all of Apex's work is... what someone would want public. In fact, many of our contracts can never make it to public light, she said. She knew Jayna was smart enough to put the pieces together, and Arla wouldn't force any more incriminating information on her than simply hints and innuendo for the moment, though. Not until she knew where Jayna stood on such things.

As I said, I am not a skilled negotiator, and Nakoa - my right hand - can manage but he dislikes it as well. We are both better in the field. I am looking for another executive to handle the business side of Apex as it grows, she said.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

Jayna couldn’t help but arch a brow - genuine interest suddenly spreading across her icy features. There were hundreds of mercenary companies that existed throughout the Galaxy, and plenty of wealthy individuals who grew wealthy managing them. But to rival Galactic powers? That was something different. There was potential behind such an endeavor and the effect it could have on the pre existing power structure, with the collapse of the Republic and Alliance.

“You’ve taken steps to ensure they don’t, then.” Jayna was capable of reading between the lines. The chances were that Apex kept most of their operations under the table - where assassination and criminal jobs could be carried out for a fortune. The Heiress was neither surprised nor perturbed - so long as Arla had done her due diligence protect herself and the wider organization.

She took another sip from her glass of wine - lingering on each and every word that Arla said. It didn’t take long for Jayna to piece together where her sister was leading the conversation. Placing the glass back down in front of her, the Heiress knitted both hands together - staring back at the Nightsister.

“A role which you’d like me to fill,” She finished the thought before it was actually verbalized, fairly certain of what was about to be asked.

Jayna was silent for a moment - considering the pros and cons of such an endeavor. There was underlying risk to her own public image, if the true nature of Apex was ever brought into the limelight. Of course, the potential profit made, and the ability to call upon the mercenary company for jobs of her own, certainly came with its own string of benefits.

“I need to know that this will not come back to haunt our family,” She said simply, tilting her head towards Arla. “Our father is a Galactic leader - and my own political aspirations will not stop with Apex.” Her manicured nails drummed against the table. “Association with a criminal enterprise - connected to assassination or high-profile, targeted attacks? Is political disaster.” Jayna said flatly. None of what she said was with any hint of malice or judgment. It was a statement of facts that needed to be ironed out ahead of time. “I need to know the details of what Apex is doing - where it is doing it - so that I can ensure our tracks are sufficiently covered.”

“Beyond that,” The Heiress waved a hand slightly. “Insurance that Apex is prepared to assist with my own endeavors. When the time is appropriate.” This was a business conversation, after all, and Jayna would treat it as nothing less.

 

[Arla]

Arla inclined her head a her sister put together where Arla was going to affirm the assertion. The next statement, though, caught her somewhat off guard. Not because she thought Jayna wanted to be connected with crimes, but because of the wording she used.

You of all people should know that the galaxy does not work on guarantees, she said. Arla certainly didn't want Apex's illicit activities coming to light, but even she understood that there were no guarantees of anything. It was part of the reason she had created something that if it were lost, she would not grieve over.

And you think the ISC has never assassinated anyone? she asked as Jayna said that they might be assassinating people or be connected to high profile attacks. It was no different in her mind. Governments did what they had to to stay in power and if Apex was doing it on their behalf, what was the difference?

If you would prefer to not be connected, you could always perform your duty anonymously, she added. It might be odd for people to hire them to attack the ISC if the President's daughter was an executive. Not that she needed that. She'd have been perfectly happy to work primarily for the ISC.

The only thing that is sacred is our family. Any other contract is fair game, she said. It was an oversimplification, but ultimately not entirely wrong. Arla had foregone some contracts already simply because Apex lacked the assets, but that wouldn't last forever.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

“No,” She said simply, keeping her gaze leveled upon Arla. “But preparation for potential outcomes - and contingencies in the event of their occurrence - is possible.” Jayna had no moral reservations to what Arla was doing, but a lifetime being raised by Emryc Thorne taught the Heiress how to be careful. How to protect herself and the family legacy from a myriad of scandal. She didn’t want guarantees that the misdeeds of Apex wouldn’t ever come to light, so much as Jayna wanted to ensure they were taking the proper precautions against such a scenario.

“Not openly.” She said quite simply to Arla’s question. There was no difference, as far as she was concerned. Governments kept their dirty deeds and ruthless tactics confidential for the sake of appearances. They would do the same.

Jayna took in a breath, drumming her fingernails against the surface of the cantina table. She pondered the risks that were presented by working for Apex, weighed against its clear benefits. She said nothing in response to the simple code of conduct that the organization would abide by, and that statement alone put to rest another concern that itched at the back of her mind.

“Anonymity won’t be necessary,” She finally said. On the surface, Apex was nothing but a private security company - and Jayna had nothing to lose working closely with it.

After a moment, she nodded. “Where do you envision Apex expanding in the short term?” It was all but confirmation that Jayna would be willing to work with her sister on this. Understanding what Arla’s goals with Apex were would help the Heiress formulate her own method of approach, and what types of endeavors to pursue in the future.

 

[Arla]

Agreed, she said, and it was precisely why she wanted to bring her sister on board. Arla was much better at killing than politicking, and while she could disavow any of their contractors as "working independently and without approval of Apex," there was no guarantees anyone would believe that.

The illicit contracts are paid in cash and they can be put through the Galactica's casinos to launder them. I need to develop a better system for distributing the contracts to people, though, she said. Initially, they simply went out without concern about it because it was a narrow group of people that she trusted. Now, though, the organizations had grown, and the trust had broken. They needed a third party for putting the contracts out.

We have been taking things one step at a time. More contractors flock to the organization every day, but we need a unified training center, she said. Nakoa and I had discussed a lead he had regarding an old Praetorian training and equipment facility, she said. Such a facility would provide invaluable resources for training highly lethal operators.

At some point, I would like to find someone to open an air wing as well, but at present I have no one for that, she said.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

Jayna tapped her fingers against the table - filling the silence between them with the rhythmic click of her manicured nails. It was a dilemma that would need to be ironed out quickly, before Apex grew in influence and ultimately gained increased scrutiny from the public. Arla wanted to operate in the Core and legitimately, and it would inevitably mean more prying eyes.

“We will establish a third-party company - founded and operated by someone who trust, but otherwise has no connections to Apex.” She began, staring back at Arla. “Illicit contracts will be funneled through the third party, fulfilled by Apex Contractors under the table.”

“Any profit made from the contracts will be received by the third party company, withdrawn as hard credits, transported and funneled back through Galactica’s casinos where it will become untraceable.” She continued. “Any papertrail will end with the third party company in the event of an audit, and keep Apex miles from disaster.” Jayna briefly paused, considering her next words. “Whoever you install to be the face of this company will be positioned to take the fall.”

“Hm,” She hummed, offering Arla a nod of approval. Despite her own combat training, instruction of trained killers and their armaments wasn’t exactly her wheelhouse. While she couldn’t speak to the competence of Nakoa, Jayna trusted Arla’s judgment in pursuing whatever facility they’d located.

“As you said,” Jayna plucked her wine glass from the table once more. “More contractors flock to Apex every day.” She took a small sip, tilting her head a bit. “But I may be able to assist in bringing someone to the table. Assuming we are prepared to maintain an air wing.” It would take equipment and the capacity to maintain it. Facilities to house such equipment and - in the long term - a multitude of bases to station air forces and facilitate quick response anywhere they operated.

It was a long way out - but it was what they needed to start thinking about ahead of time.

 

[Arla]

Arla already was thrilled about her decision to bring her sister on board. Not only was it an opportunity to connect more with her long lost sibling, but Jayna already demonstrated an ease of knowledge to these sorts of systems that Arla didn't possess.

The only person I know knows about my history as a Sith, she said when Jayna mentioned someone to take the fall. While it wasn't exactly a secret among Apex that Arla'd been a Sith - indeed many of the assets that started Apex were gathered when she was Sith - it wasn't something she went about advertising now.

But there are more than a few in Apex who know about that. The original members were all parts of my powerbase. Because of that, he still may work. He was a majordomo to a Hutt and later my loyal governor on Centares until the Empire removed both the Sith and by extension him from power, she said. He knew how to keep his mouth shut typically. After all, he would have incriminating knowledge about the illicit activity either way. It would likely come down to assassinating him if it ever turned into that.

If the third party is set up to operate out of somewhere like Omega where there are no real laws, it may provide him all the insulation he needs, she said.

She waited to hear her sister's thoughts, if any, before continuing.

We don't have the facilities currently, but I can see to it that if you know someone, we'll get whatever he or she needs, she said, tilting her head to the side slightly and now curious about who it might be.

Tell me about them, she said.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

Jayna observed Arla in silence, pondering everything that was said. It was still strange to hear her own sister - a member of her immediate family - talk about being a former member of the Sith Order. But so too did that feeling persist for the majority of the people the Heiress was closest to. Even still, Jayna couldn’t bring herself to manifest the same revolution and discomfort that Ezra felt.

“Does he have hard evidence?” She asked simply, icy gaze fixed onto her sibling. Association with the Sith tarnished the credibility of anyone - and this former Governor had been a public face for years. Unless he had something to definitively link Arla to the former Sith Empire, unverified allegations were unlikely to carry much clout. Least of all when they came from a competitor Mercenary company, which was what Jayna intended precisely.

Regardless of the answer, Jayna shrugged her shoulders a bit. “I have no doubt that making him disappear in the event of exposure or betrayal will not be difficult. Assuming everyone does this job correctly, your former contact has nothing but profit to gain from this arrangement.”

“Omega certainly works.” She nodded.

The Heiress drummed her fingers at the question - pondering how much detail to divulge before actually gaining confirmation from the individual she had in mind. “Freelance contractor, and incredibly combat skilled pilot. I believe Papa has worked with him in the past. Assuming they find the terms agreeable, I imagine they’d make a fine addition to Apex and could serve as the first of a dedicated air division.”

“I will schedule a meeting directly after this.”

 

[Arla]

Perhaps I will find someone else, she said. Her sister may be right. While there were people in Apex who knew the truth, the fewer the better.

We'll use Omega then, she said. She'd briefly met once with a woman from Crimson Dawn, and she had no intention of running afoul of them. She was sure that it would just be one of many, many illegal operations run out of the station.

He sounds perfect, she said. They could use an air portion, and it was already paying off to have brought her sister into this operation.

You'll also want to meet Nakoa sooner rather than later, she added. She hoped the two would get along, but she was sure it would work out.

What do you think of the Galactica? she asked after another moment. She was sure her sister had been to more places like this before than Arla had, but she thought it seemed to fill a useful niche for Apex.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

“Good,” Jayna nodded. She had no qualms with using Omega as the site of the third party channel - sharing the belief that it suited their purposes well. Regulation and oversight was almost nonexistent on the Space Station, and it meant operations like the one they’d he managing would almost certainly fly under the radar.

She said nothing when Arla said that her candidate sounded perfect. The coming days would determine whether that was accurate or not - as Jayna went about reviewing and interviewing the man himself. The Heiress nevertheless lifted her wine glass, toasting the praise and proceeding to throw back the remainder of her drink.

“I trust he is reliable.” She said after a moment - clearly referring to Nakoa. It was simply who Jayna was to be somewhat distrusting of people outside of her inner circle. The Wrean wasn’t family - but if Arla trusted him to run Apex alongside her, then Jayna had little else to add.

“It is wonderful,” Jayna said genuinely - leaning back into her seat. It wasn’t her first time surrounded by luxury such as the space station, but it was nothing to play down either. The Heiress offered Arla a small smirk. “Though I haven’t had the opportunity to see much of it since arrival. Perhaps we can take a tour together.” It was the closest thing Arla was going to get to Jayna asking to hang out with her sister, defaulting to the typical necessity to read between the lines

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla didn't blame Jayna for not trusting Nakoa given that Arla only trusted him due to years of history and working together.

He is. One of the only people I would say that about, she said. The simple fact was that people outside of her family and the Nightsisters that she trusted was beyond incredibly short. She'd discovered that friendship sometimes had a tendency to stab you in the back.

Arla nodded as Jayna suggested a tour, and it seemed they were of one mind. I'm glad you like it. You'll probably be spending quite a bit of time here, so we'll get you a nice suite, she said. As it turned out, Apex had some fringe benefits as well. Arla had adapted to space station life more quickly than she had anticipated, but that was probably in part because she lived often on a ship anyway and in part because Galactica was not just any space station.

She pushed out of her seat and headed for the exit.

I mostly stay in the dome area, but there are other areas like the red light district that attract... other people. The Arms also serve as refueling and docking zones for people passing by, she said.

She exited the bar they had been drinking at and they were immediately out into the walking areas of the promenade. An artificial river ran past to their right and Arla began walking along it. Plants and trees were planted along the side of the path, and the place almost felt like being outside. But that was part of the point.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

Unsurprisingly, Jayna wasn’t.. Exactly the best conversationalist. The Heiress had inherited a great deal of the mannerisms and nonverbal habits of their father, and it left her with little small talk to make as they walked through the domed area.

Nevertheless, it was clear that Jayna could appreciate the natural beauty that was incorporated into the space station - her fingers running across lush fauna as they walked. Growing up on Thyferra left her with a love for the outdoors, and it made her time on Galactica all the more tolerable.

She nodded along when Arla mentioned the other districts - each with function and purpose. After a moment or two, she finally glanced over to the woman with a slightly raised brow. “What do you like to do?” She finally asked.

“When you aren’t running things here.”