The Dark Academy on Korriban

There had been something Kristal was putting off for quite some time. However, given everything that has transpired this was something that she needed to do eventually. For herself, to be able to move forward without any fear of regret. Nothing else held her back anymore. When she started here she thought there were no attachments that had held her back from doing what she needed to do. It was the death of her father by the word of one of her only two friends that showed her two-fold just how wrong she was.

Connecting the communicator to the schools systems in her room she sought to make a much more private call. To someone she wasn't sure she would reach. Arms behind her back, shoulders broad, and feet evenly paced apart. A strong stance from which to speak the name,

"Arlena Serasai."

Her mother appears, she looks to be on Ziost, probably clearing out the family apartment there. She pauses and looks at her daughter and says, “Kris, shouldn’t you be studying?”

"I made sure to have ample time to see to the necessary studies," she began, offering validation for her stance. "Given recent events I felt it wise to contact you."

A good, strong Serasai approach. All accomplishing the one thing she set out to do without revealing herself. Her mother was still alive, and though she kept to her guns. Kept herself contained, cool, and in control. Kristal was overjoyed to know this tragedy hadn't removed her mother as well. Kristal took after her father like that.

“I am relieved to see you, given how things have been. Spent weeks being questioned by the Sith and Imperial Intelligence. I don’t recommend it,” she says calmly.

“Have they bothered you at all?”

The recommendation, or perhaps stated lack of one nearly brought a little smirk. "As am I."

"Nothing unwarranted." There was a slight break in her little girls cool expression. "You, are you alright mother?"

“I am fine,” she says with steel.

“Life changes quickly, we adjust, reallocate resources, and move forward. For now I have done what I can to curtail any retribution which has costed more credits than I would have liked. I was just cleaning up this apartment to sell.”

She adds, “There is nothing here now.”

Great Serasai women.

There was a somberness to that last note she added. Something that inspired something from within Kristal.

"Three weeks ago. I sat with Sylvain Torsin, he's still here and despite it all..." Well that wasn't important to the story. "I sat there, looking up at the stars like I used to do as a child. Never really told you that, certainly never told Father. Though when you were both away I looked to the stars and I could still feel you there. I knew you were alright."

"Three weeks ago, I didn't feel anything. I couldn't tell, I didn't know... till now. I didn't know if you were alive, I couldn't be sure."

There was no wavering to Kristal, steel like her mother.

"I just needed you to know that."

She listened carefully and said, “I spoke with his mother it was brief, well I spoke to her twice. After her husband died and then after your father… neither conversation was enjoyable.”

“There is one silver living to this debacle, no invitations to foolish salons and parties. Our social value has plummeted.”

"And here I thought you enjoyed those," she said with a bit of a light teasing smile. For a second there she drifted, debating with herself whether or not she should tell her the truth she knew of her father. No in person if she ever can.

"More time to use pushing forward then."

“There is no going back. Retreat is what our enemies want, I see no reason to give them the satisfaction. I will not cower,” she says casually.

“We do what we always do, we fight on.”

There was a moment of appreciation there. "Now I know what it must sound like speaking with me."

"We have far more enemies than before, some even from within, but a Serasai never gives in."

Not that her mother needed any words to give her the reason to fight, but there was one thing Kristal certainly wanted. At least one of her parents would survive to see her become Sith. Giving her perhaps the only way of saying 'Stay Safe' acceptable for a Serasai.

"Mother, be sure to be there when I become Sith."

She offers a quick smile and says, “Of course.”

“I have to go, we will speak again.”

"I would expect nothing less," Kristal began signing off but then stopped.

"Mom.." Kristal didn't say something sappy like, I love you, but it was what came across in that look she gave just before the connection would be cut.

With this settled she would be able to move forward. Knowing her mother was together, or at least together for her was enough. Nothing would hold her back from seeing done what needed done.