Life in the Trenches

[Gallus Tagge]

Proud were the people of Tepasi. Many years ago, it had been good men and women of Tepasi who had joined hands with their neighbors – with the farmers of Chandrila, the metal-workers of Duro, the scholars of Alderaan – and founded the Galactic Republic. In those times, the House of Tagge had stood steadfast and loyal to the Core, as it did now. At least...

“Forecasts for our operations on Lantillia show a seven-percent increase on profits since the last quarter. Lantillian ShipWrights continue to prove themselves as a worthwhile investment.”

Gallus Tagge listened, though he did not hear. The minutiae of TaggeCo's earnings were of little interest to its CEO, so long as the corporation was not in the red. In fact, the corporation had such momentum that required little to no input from Gallus at all, who was more than content to allow each child company the freedom to thrive as it did. Everyone knew there were other things tasking the young Baron's mind now, matters closer to home.

Glancing sharply up at the figure stood before him, Gallus cut into the thus far one-way conversation. “Minister Tagge... have we had any word from her?”

The middle-aged man who had been delivering the latest report on TaggeCo paused, his lips frozen in the shape of a word that might have been. A moment later, he pressed them together and squared his shoulders. “No further word, Baron. Last we heard, her ship was en route to the capital... though that was some time ago.”

Gallus nodded, noting without difficulty the tension in the man's body. One corner of his mouth twisting upward for an instant, he glanced out of his office window into the light of the evening sun. Shuttles and swoops, all products of TaggeCo's planetary monopoly, passed by as smoothly and soundlessly as the flow of water. The city of Unlos Tagge – named for a distant ancestor – was gleaming, resplendent with prosperity.

Pressing a fist to his lips, Gallus spoke softly. “She's already arrived.”

“..sir?”

His eyes flicking up once again, Tagge shook his head. “Get me a shuttle. If she won't come to me, then I will go to her.”

[Sanya Tagge]

“Look now, madame. Company approaches.”

Moving along the corridor that joined the front door of Sanya Tagge's apartment to the lounge, Gallus Tagge stepped unhindered into the room, the guards not thinking to deny him entrance. He wore a crisp business-suit, with a white shirt button to the collar. He smiled at his sister and the collection of now meek-faced servants gathered around her. Another emerged from the suite's bed-chambers, with arms full of clothing. It seemed she was not so much unpacking her mistresses belongings upon arrival, as packing them for departure.

Sanya smoothed her features into a prim smile, with the deftness of a gentle hand smoothly rumpled silk. “Gallus.”

Her brother smiled, broad and warm. “Hail, sister. I had thought to see you in the offices of our happy company earlier today. Why the delay?” Gallus glanced about the room, his stance casual as he slid his hands into his pockets.

The Minister gestured away her servants, who retreated with bows to more discreet locations. Sanya herself remained standing, one arm folding over her chest whilst the other hand gave a casual, dismissive wave. “What's an hour or two between siblings? I had some small matters I wanted to tend to before our meeting, so that thoughts of business wouldn't tarnish the pleasure of your company.”

[Gallus Tagge]

“I'm sure it works on them,” he said, nodding towards the servants who moved around Sanya's bedchambers as quietly and meekly as mice. “But surely you don't expect me to believe everything that comes out of your mouth.”

In spite of the lop-sided smile that tugged up one corner of his lips, Gallus' words clearly struck a discordant note in his sister. Her expression twisted, as she fought off a frown. In the end, she compromised for something that looked vaguely confused. Gallus gestured around himself with an all-encompassing wave.

“The boxes, the bags... you're clearing the place out. I thought you liked it here?”

[Sanya Tagge]

Sanya shrugged, in a neither here nor there way, and turned off towards the suite's wall-length windows. She laid her hands against the windowsill and looked out into the low sun, frowning faintly. “We don't all have the luxury of always getting to keep the things we like.”

Behind her, Gallus's shoulders sagged as he suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. “Oh, come. If it's a matter of money...” - but before he could finish the sentence his sister whirled around and lanced him on a glare.

“Don't be ridiculous. I don't need, or want, your charity. If you must know, I'm having everything shipped to Vjun.”

[Gallus Tagge]

A protest formed on his lips, but Gallus quickly hushed himself. The last time (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18081) the matter of Vjun's suitability as a home had broached, even Miranda had sided with his sister. “I was hoping you'd think about staying on Coruscant,” he ventured.

She spun away irritably and stalked towards a side-cabinet where a jug of water sat. She poured herself a glass, her hand trembling slightly under the weight of the pitcher. “I can't relax there, Gallus. It's a constant performance.”

“For who?”

Sanya gestured with the now full tumbler of water, almost enthusiastically enough to slosh its contents onto the carpet. “For everyone,” she retorted, the pitch of her voice becoming higher.

But Gallus simply frowned. “You always said you wanted to move up in the galaxy, and look at you now... there aren't many people higher than you.”

[Sanya Tagge]

“And how fortunate I am to have one of them as my brother.”

There was a bitter undertone to her words, matched by a vicious little twist of her lips, that stung. Gallus blinked in the face of her animosity, and whether she suddenly felt remose or because she had realised that she had spoken too freely, Sanya looked away.

“Everyone expects so much of us, Gallus. I thought I could give them what they wanted, but..”

Pressing a palm to her cheek, she inhaled a calming breath.

“It wasn't enough.”