What's Past is Prologue

[Razielle Alastor]

While Beatrix had spoken with Baska, Razielle had watched in rapt attention from her place on the couch. With one hand on Salem's knee, her fingers rested just on the inside of his thigh. Their daughter had always been destined to be special, but the extent of what she could become was limitless now that Salem was actively teaching her. It was fascinating to behold, as Beatrix blossomed into her powers like one of her beautiful exotic flowers.

Now that she knew the truth about who her father really was, Beatrix seemed to share her mother's affinity for making Salem proud. When she approached, the little queen's barely contained smile was all for her father.

Making room for the only person that she would ever allow to come between them, Razielle helped settle their daughter in the small spot, dropping a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the flowery scent of her hair, and the scent that was just uniquely Beatrix. Most Cherished One, was what Lira usually called her. And it was true, in all of the Sixty-three systems of the Hapes Cluster, she was the most important, most protected, most beloved child of them all.

[Baska Tankreyd]

Baska watched the interaction between Beatrix and her parents. It was strange to the blonde that given her own history, she was finding some unexpected solace in this family's presence. She didn't ponder on it at further lengths though, for the resurfaced memory was enough to grab her attention, besides enjoying the present company.

"It is a pleasant one, Ereneda," she replied in earnest.

She looked at Razielle and Salem then, deciding to share what it was, for she saw no reason to play the mysterious card. She always chose wisely what to reveal and what not to, but given how much Razielle and her unraveled from each other's soul, it was just something else to add.

"The first person who ever spoke Hapan to me was my mother, when I was very little, before she disappeared. I had forgotten that until I met Lady Beatrix."

[Salem Ave]

Salem gave Beatrix a small smile as the young Chume settled into the space between her parents. As the Lord Protector looked back across at Baska, Beatrix’s hand found his, her small fingers curling around his larger claws.

"It’s rare for non-Hapans to speak the language. Your mother must have spent some time in the Cluster."

[Beatrix]

It was kind of like a treat, staying up late, talking with the adults. Sat between her parents, Beatrix pulled her father's hand closer to her, playing with his claws absently while she listened to what they were saying. Discussing Baska's mother, and why perhaps, she spoke Hapan?

She frowned when Baska said her mother had disappeared. Looking up from her father's claws, she glanced sidelong at her own mother, not able to imagine life without her presence in it. She remembered what her father had told her, about his parents sending him to live with the Jedi. Her fingers tightened around Salem's claws, turning her face back to his, meeting his eyes.

"Dukana Tankreyd of Sivoria sent me many of my favorite flowers growing in my garden from her gardens.", she mentioned conversationally to her father.

Peeking back across at Baska, Beatrix looked optimistic. "It might be that she knows your mother, ta'din?"

[Razielle Alastor]

Razielle had been righting one of the flowers in her daughter's hair, working the now bent stem back into a golden clip. Once done, she sifted her fingers through Bea's wind-blown curls, pausing..at what she was saying. The words fell innocently from the little monarch's lips, oblivious to the potential importance of what she had said. Simply making the obvious correlation to a familiar name that she happened to make a personal connection to. Surely that had to be something more than coincidence.

She lifted her eyes to Salem first, over the top of their daughter's head, nodding. It was true. Razielle had gotten her own hands dirty in the creation of that garden. To accomplish it had required help. Some from Sivoria. Occasionally new specimens continued to be sent for the Chume's pleasure. After passing a thorough inspection, directed by the Chume'doro, of course. Beatrix looked forward to the surprise of their arrival.

"How clever you are, my darling. We will find out at once."

Her gaze drifted, curious, toward Baska to see how she had taken the artless revelation.

[Baska Tankreyd]

What followed baffled Baska to brand new levels. The deep affliction that her mother's disappearance had been three decades ago had left the first of many scars in her soul. She barely had time to acknowledge Salem's words that Beatrix spoke of a Dukana Tankreyd. The shock on her face was only mirrored by the tremor that rippled from her through the Force.

She was struck silent, a most remarkable feat to accomplish, in which the young queen might find pride, even though it seemed not to be the purpose. The connection was made naturally by the brunette monarch.

Even if this was true, which was an uncanny option, she didn't understand how there could be a Tankreyd of any line in the Cluster. She was certain that her mother had taken her father's name upon nuptials, as her cousin Alienor Tankreyd was proof of. Baska knew her parents had loved each other deeply, with a fierceness that had been crushed the day her mother had left. The statuesque blonde only had scant memories of the unraveling events; but she was certain their bond hadn't been one meant to be broken. Whatever the reason, it must have been of the utmost importance.

Would her mother had for some reason renamed a house she belonged to? Baska knew not whether such things were even normal in the Cluster.

Realizing she had been at a loss of words for a while, she looked at her hosts.

"What is the first name of this Dukana Tankreyd, Ereneda?"

Coincidences weren't what common mortal took them to be. Beatrix's answer would likely prove it. While Baska didn't want to set her hopes up, she was nevertheless aware that the Force had been a consistence albeit surprising pulling drive to bring her to the Consortium.

[Salem Ave]

There was a twitch between Salem’s brows for a moment, a wrinkle that he was quick to smooth away into a smile when his daughter looked up at him, all innocence. There was no doubting where she had inherited that guileless expression from. Knowledge of her people, of her planets and the women who governed over them in her name, was an important part of the young Chume's education, a part that her tutors had clearly worked dilligently on.

“Do you remember the Dukana’s name, Beatrix?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

[Beatrix]

There was a hint of mischief playing about the mouth of the little queen. She knew something, and they did not. This was not a position she often found herself in, and it was just a little tempting to see what she could do with it. In the end the carefully restrained question from Baska, accompanied by the look from her father, prompted her response. It was obviously important.

Beatrix answered as though she were reciting her knowledge to one of her tutors. "Ducha Vahika W'lady governs the Sivoria System. The second most prominent House of Sivoria is that of Dukana.. Inkeri Tankreyd."

Her own gem-like eyes swung pointedly back to the blonde woman, to see for herself if the name provoked a reaction from Baska.

[Razielle Alastor]

Razielle did not need to encourage Beatrix into cooperation. She was pampered, strong and willful, but she was also intelligent and empathetic to her surroundings. She spoke in her own time, and when she did, Razielle too glanced in Baska's direction to gauge her response to the name. Although, she sensed there was no need. Something about the whole thing felt tangible in the space around them. As though the answers were floating right there, stirred up by the will of the Chume, waiting to be claimed.

[Baska Tankreyd]

On an instinctive level, Baska took in the interactions between parents and daughter; but the maelstrom collided into a single point of focus the moment the young queen spoke the name of Dukana Tankreyd. Scattered memories from her childhood, dreams and nightmares of years gone by, visions that had required piecing together, wreaked havoc in her mind for the briefest of moments before everything stood still as she stared at the monarch.

Her shock rippled through the Force, its dark currents of realization differing from the battle between Razielle and her earlier that day, but nonetheless potent. Shock and relief blended with the utmost vigor as the unexpected hit her straight into the soul.

"Inkeri Tankreyd is my mother."

Besides the unlikeliness of another Inkeri Tankreyd roaming the galaxy, especially in the Consortium, the Sith Master knew without the shadow of a doubt, that by whatever fated path, she was half-Hapan, and her mother had carried the remnants of her Tanaab past.

[Beatrix]

The moment she said the name something... Not something. The Force. Keeping the the analogy of it's presence around her as being like water, the name made sort of asplash. Like when she found a heavy stone on the beach and threw it into the sea. It hit with one big drop, but the impact made it's own waves for a while. That was what the name Inkeri had done. A plop, and then the ripples in the Force. It felt different from other times she had felt the Force around her. Maybe a little too strong. Maybe a little too raw. Whatever it was, Beatrix scooted closer to her father, her little face almost tucked into his side.

The feeling changed.

It was not sad. It was not the tension that came from leaving someone waiting for an answer. It was still raw, but now it was raw with something exciting. Something that almost made Beatrix want to get up and grab Baska's hand - so they could find the next shuttle to Sivoria, run after the Dukana, tell her the news.. Baska said that Dukana Tankreyd was her mother, and when she did, her whole self changed a little.

Beatrix remained snuggled against her father all the same.