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[Matatek Sel Vissica]

COMPNOR Studios: Coco District, Coruscant








This was asinine.

And it was all Baastian Cain's fault.

An entire week taken off assignment to be coddled and posed and shown off in the most ridiculous ways. Forced to eat tooth whitening biscuits. Preened and washed and manicured and pedicured. Repeatedly. Not even Queen Matatek had to endure such ridiculousness! Not even her harem! Foolishness! And now she had to wear a...

"...a skirt, Lady Vissica."

The Selonian held up the questionable black garment with a webbed paw, looking down at the human female who was her official COMPNOR handler for Public Affairs. Lieutenant Heward. Her headfur was a neat bob of blonde and her cheeks were nearly the color of Palara Iscandar. She seemed irritatingly cheerful in everything she did, up to and including compelling Vissica into wearing useless articles of clothing. The Selonian Knight carefully manipulated the skirt with both paws, and slid the minuscule cloth over her thick neck, where it draped unevenly over one shoulder. Lieutenant Heward simply shook her head.

"No ma'am, it goes...you know..."

Heward made a motion around her waist, which only elicited a derisive snort from the taller woman.

"Why?"

Still with an indefatigable smile, Heward continued onward.

"Because that's where skirts are worn."

"Why?"

"Because it's a nice thing to do."

"Why?"

At last, the human sighed a little. She reached up on tip toes to leverage the skirt off Vissica's shoulders, and brought it back down to where it ought to be.

"Because you want to impress people."

Scoffing, the Selonian crossed her arms as her whiskers stood taut.

"Nonsense. I am already impressive without a skirt."

[Baastian Cain]

"That is definitely true."

Baastian Cain, his hair freshly coiffed and face practically glistening with foundation, leaned into the door and fought back a smile that was bouncing treacherously from one corner of his mouth to the other. He wore a modified version of his duty uniform, tailored more tightly than usual with a few extra lines to accentuate his broad shoulders and swelling chest. He felt like a walking action figure.

"Sir Cain!" Lieutenant Heward erupted, throwing herself in front of the Selonian as if intercepting a hail of enemy blaster bolts. "This is a lady's dressing room!"

"And Lady Vissica's already more dressed up than I've ever seen her before," Baastian replied. "And looking splendid, by the way. I was just wondering if you got the new itinerary. They just handed it to me fifteen minutes ago."

He held up a flimsy with the COMPNOR logo emblazoned at the top.

[Matatek Sel Vissica]

Vissica cast a drowning growl at Baastian as she took the copy of the itinerary from him.

"There is always more..."

The fur at her muzzle stiffened, and the Selonian perused the itinerary the way an idiot might attempt to parse astrophysics. Her black eyes seemed to glaze, and she tossed the flimsi away.

"Children. I am not a nursemaid, Baastian Cain. I do not...coddle."

Even the stage show from two days ago seemed less ridiculous. With that, she had to learn what the Utapauan man called choreography, which was similar to training in a prancing sort of way.

[Baastian Cain]

Baastian spread his black-gloved hands, a bid for patience. "You shouldn't have to. It's just a classroom appearance. I can do most of the talking. For you, it's more about the... the... spectacle."

"Oh, yes!" Heward suddenly bubbled. "You know, children just love furry..."

Baastian coughed loudly, startling the lieutenant into silence. Her eyes darted from human to Selonian, and she made a crucial course correction. "...people."

[Matatek Sel Vissica]

Vissica's severe gaze drifted from Heward to Baastian and back again. The Selonian's jaw opened and closed momentarily, as if chewing on unsaid words. Again her eyes drifted to the offensive bit of covering offered by the Lieutenant. In a feat of unprecedented magnanimousness, Vissica slipped the skirt on...awkwardly.

"I feel like a lamp."

The Selonian's thick tail jerked upwards, undoing the semblance of decorum the skirt provided, until Lieutenant Heward braved the line of fire to assist Lady Vissica in correcting her wardrobe malfunction, easing the skirt down so the tail draped above this time. With the ridiculousness abated, Vissica again fixed Baastian with a glare.

"These children, they attend warrior's school? I would like to see their combat potential."

[Alexia Sturkov]

"They are children. Their combat potential is severely mitigated by barely being capable of walking."

Passing through the doorway, and slipping around the bulky frame of Baastain Cain, came Imperial Knight Alexia Sturkov. Unlike the other two she was wearing her traditional uniform; the blue robes and black armor plates. Her lightsabre hanging openly from her belt. Also, unlike the other two, she was forbidden from taking place in the COMPNOR event. She was neither a fine specimen of the Imperial Knights like Vissica or the poster boy for the entire branch like Baastain. If it was not for the need to refuel, resupply, and repair the Victrix she would still be out on the border patrolling for rebels, pirates, and Alliance spies.

Instead she was stuck on Coruscant with far too much time on her hands. If Atrapes had his way she would stay locked in a room in the Temple under watch. She had, through events she would claim innocence, lost her handler before leaving the Temple and traveling to the Coco district to check in on her favorite, and least favorite, compatriots. A mischievous smile played on her face, tugging at the darkside scars at the corners of her mouth.

"You look fine Vissica. Unlike Captain Tightass. Who looks like he has a rod up his butt. Does it hurt to never relax?" She laughed, a chuckle that was quite merry for Alexia's otherwise dark appearance. She was very much enjoying herself.

[Baastian Cain]

"Hey, that's the wardrobe," Baastian protested with mock indignation, though from the stiff way he turned toward Alexia, tightass was apropos. "I swear I'm going to split this thing down the middle if I have to do more than a brisk walk."

He sidled further into the dressing room to give Alexia access to the doorway, ignoring the chirp of protest from the good lieutenant. "And, no, Vissica, it's not a warrior's school. It's a primary school. Children ages six to eleven cycles, the future leaders of the Empire, and all that. It's Wilhuff Tarkin Memorial, good school."

"Serving children from some of the wealthiest and most influential families on Imperial Centre," Heward added. "They fly in from all over the planet. A chance to make a powerful impression on impressionable young minds!"

Baastian's smile became plastic and fixed. "Yeah. That."

[Matatek Sel Vissica]

"Primary school."

The Selonian sounded the term out for herself, clarity not dawning on her features.

"What is the purpose? Education should always be for a specific vocation."

So much of alien ways were lost to Vissica. Indeed, her own training to deal with outsiders had been cursory and limited compared to other den sisters who were far more comfortable in speaking to humans and the like. She'd had a scant year to learn what others spent a decade or more mastering. With effort, she could speak fluent Basic and knew how to accord herself in certain interactions. The rest was left to learning by doing. The concept of children who didn't begin learning a specific set of skills from the onset seemed so very inefficient.

Lieutenant Heward offered clarification that Baastian seemed not to invite, and the Selonian leveled a more understanding glance in her direction.

"Ah, money."

Cynicism wasn't an enemy of Vissica. It was truth with teeth. She snorted in affirmation.

"That would explain the...skirt."

[Alexia Sturkov]

"I'm certain that if we removed your clothes you would still stand more erect than a coat hangar." Alexia replied, her blue eyes glancing back at Baastian, traveling up and down his body for a moment with a smirk on her face and a sly wink before turning back around. As much as he absolutely hated Baastian as a person, she could not argue that he is definitely a perfect specimen of human physiology. What a pity he is otherwise an intolerable tool.

"Most societies teach their children a generalized education and allow them to specialize later in life. Education differs depending on location. For example, where I grew up we were all encouraged to be farmers and merchants. A school like Tarkin's takes the offspring of the Empire's elite and no doubt teaches them how to be rich and powerful." She scoffed as she finished. The rich remain rich, and the powerful stay powerful. The intelligence just gets watered down with every generation and you end up with mad kings and ruthless emperors. Only the Empire would boast a school for teaching assholes how to be assholes.

Alexia found a patch of bare wall to lean against, arms crossed over her breastplate. The entire scene was amusing. Baastian's discomfort with his uniform, Vissica's equal discomfort with her's, her confusion over the whole event, and the Lieutenant caught in the middle playing nanny and trying to keep everything from falling apart. It put a smile on Alexia's twisted lips.

[Baastian Cain]

"Oh, Force. Please don't say erect. That would be very uncomfortable right now."

Lieutenant Heward looked scandalized, but Baastian ignored her and called the discarded itinerary back into his black-gloved hand. "We're not just talking the idle rich, here. Tarkin Memorial takes almost half its students on gifted scholarships - future doctors, scientists, politicians, generals. They even take alien students these days. This is a chance to show those children what they can aspire to in the modern Empire. You're a role model, Vissica."

[Matatek Sel Vissica]

Baastian's explanations did little to tamp down Vissica's skepticism, and she listened with a suitably dour expression. Future professions yet a crop of young students who were not assigned to them. This annoyed the Selonian much more than Baastian's indirect humanocentrist comment that followed. Her annoyance, however, had little bearing on her capacity to do what was assigned to her. Vissica's whiskers bobbed and she rumbled on her careful words.

"Then let us hope they do not fail."

"That's the spirit!" Lieutenant Heward added in irritatingly chipper timbre. "I'm sure you'll put the best foot forward possible, ma'am."

That elicited a curious expression from the Selonian, who looked down at her two feet in confusion.

"It's a...um...figure of speech." Heward politely added, holding out a hygienic biscuit to the Selonian who plucked it from her hands with annoyance, and began the graceless process of cracking and smacking it down with teeth barely suited to the task.

[Alexia Sturkov]

"Only for some of us." Alexia replied, ignoring the horrified look on the lieutenant's face and pressing on into further uncomfortable territory. The side eyed look she gave Baastian, and the curl of his mouth, was as suggestive as she could muster with her clothes on.

"Bare in mind Vissica that human children are not very bright compared to adults. They will say and do foolish things. Try not to kill them. They are 'The Empire Future.'" She stood up straight, at attention, for that last part. Using her best imitation of Baastian's voice before falling back to the wall and crossing her arms again. "They will try to pet you."

She said try because they would never get close enough the large mammal ripped their little arms off or beheaded them with her mighty greatsabre. Kids are impulsive, and it's not every day they get to meet a giant doggy.

[Matatek Sel Vissica]

"I am experienced with pups, Alexia Sturkov."

Vissica replied authoritatively with a snort, thumping the ground with her tail in emphasis. Although experienced only insofar as a warrior caste would be. She acknowledged the precocious chirping fuzz-balls existed and she protected them. Other den sisters were better trained in the finer arts, such as dealing with whining, crying, fussy, hungry, and occasionally incontinent terrors.

Something gave the Selonian pause, and her whiskers sprang tentatively.

"What is petting?"

[Baastian Cain]

Oh, hell. Baastian would have sent Alexia a look of desperation, but he knew it would only be adding fuel to the fire.

"It's... well, a form of social touching," he said. "Usually involves stroking an animal's fur. So, yes, they might try to pet you. That doesn't mean you have to let them."

Lieutenant Heward carded her fingers nervously. "Well, if they wanted to, it would add a certain, um... multisensory value..."

"And if Knight Vissica allows them to," Baastian replied. "I believe I've had this little conversation about personal boundaries with your superiors before."

"Oh... well, of course!" The lieutenant smiled brightly, as if there wasn't a disagreement and, indeed, never had been. "We'd never want you to do something that made you uncomfortable in the name of fulfilling your duty to the Empire."

Baastian rubbed at the bridge of his nose and, not for the first time, entertained thoughts of sending Heward flying through the doors and straight out of the Citadel complex.

[Matatek Sel Vissica]

Vissica nodded in serious contemplation of Baastian's explanation.

"I see. This petting sounds similar to corta sek. My warrior sisters do a similar thing. It is good for morale."

For emphasis, the Selonian reached out for Alexia and pulled her close, smoothing out her headfur with careful passes of her webbed paws over it. Encountering a stubborn bit, Vissica leaned down and raked her tongue over it until it complied.

[Alexia Sturkov]

One moment she was watching Baastian's face, which was an everlasting source of amusement to her, and the next moment she was planted face first in a chest of fur; the movement in between was almost entirely lost on her as the much stronger Selonian yanked her across the room. A startled yelp only served to fill her mouth with the aforementioned fur. Losing her hands in the fur, she tried to pull herself out but was immediately pushed back in as a webbed hand racked through her hair. It was not unpleasant, she realized, and allowed her Knight Sister to continue. She did manage to turn her head, and look back over her shoulder at Baastian, with a look of bliss on her face.

And then something dry pulled at her hair, and she realized just what it was. "My my, that's quite a tongue you have. A good tongue is a terrible thing to waste. You'll have to let me corta sek you in return some time. A good licking should always be reciprocated."

[Baastian Cain]

The hue of Heward's face overtook the artificial blush on her cheeks until she resembled nothing more than an inebriated Zeltron with heat stroke. "Lady Sturkov, Lady Vissica, please..."

"I think that's my cue to exit," Baastian said, fighting down a rather inappropriate grin. "Vissica, I'll see you in school. Alexia, try not to undo all the good lieutenant's hard work, will you?"

---

Wilhuf Tarkin Memorial Elementary occupied much of the 151st, 152nd, and 153rd floors of the Petrarch-Tagge Stratoscraper, housing a total of some five thousand students and another thousand faculty and staff, with residential, recreational, and even vocational facilities on site. It sat recessed from the roof of the 150th level, leaving a large, horseshoe-shaped parade ground open to the weather-controlled skies of Coruscant. As the CorSec transport, resplendent in the gold and crimson livery of the Imperial Knights, banked for its final approach, Baastian peered out the large viewport beside him to see several hundred children in uniforms arrayed with military precision to receive their auspicious guests. A few headmasters scurried up and down the formations to chastise a few students who were slouching or talking or otherwise acting like ordinary children. He couldn't help but smile.

"What was your childhood like, Vissica?" Baastian asked. The Selonian was seated across from him on the transport and was about to get her first view of the school as the transport banked again.

[Matatek Sel Vissica]

Vissica's dark eyes caught sight of the parade ground as the ship banked. She'd expected a chaotic scrum of unruly human cubs, but was pleased to see the students were arrayed in an orderly manner that satisfied her sensibilities. The Selonian's small ears twitched with Baastian's question, and she tore her attention away to look back to her comrade.

"My first three cycles were spent among all the den pups. We learned Mandaba and played under our Pup Maidens' supervision. At my fourth cycle, I and my sept sisters began our warrior training. We were taught to wrestle, to march, and to use basic weapons like short glaives. We were also tasked to hunt for prey, which our War Maidens' said would sharpen our instincts for battle."

To Vissica, this all seemed boilerplate and proper. The moment she was capable, she was thrust into learning her life's work.

[Baastian Cain]

"Sounds like a full slate."

Baastian braced himself on the overhead rail until the transport righted itself and settled in for its final approach to the the dock on the edge of the parade grounds. The scream of the TIE interceptors that comprised their escort faded into the distance as the fighters began circling the upper levels of the stratoscraper - another spectacle to capture the imaginations of the assembled children.

"Most humanoid species don't have genetic templates to guide their development," he explained. "These children are still in the process of discovering their own strengths and weaknesses. Part of the reason they're here is so that their teachers can assess their abilities and help steer them toward a vocation where they are best suited to serve the Empire. It's very freeing to know your purpose in life."

The transport taxied on its repulsorlifts and, with a mild jolt, came to rest beside the dock. The portside hatch scrolled open to the strains of a stirring Imperial anthem, and the attendant honor guard of stormtroopers began filing out.

Lieutenant Heward rushed to the aft compartment where the two Knights sat waiting, all smiles and rouge. "All right, Your Graces, it's time!" she sing-songed. "Let me see that beautiful smile, Lady Vissica!"

[Matatek Sel Vissica]

"I see."

Vissica rumbled thoughtfully, scratching her chin fur in contemplation of Baastian's explanation. Her own observations of the gross inefficiency of humanoids was likely not helpful here, so she kept it to herself.

"Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate the students, then."

Before that could be properly assessed by her human comrade, the transport landed, disgorging the honor guard as the effervescent Lieutenant Heward pressed on her saccharine entreaties to the knights - Vissica in particular. Smile. The Selonian growled neutrally at the suggestion. Vissica was familiar with the human expression. It wasn't a typical Selonian gesture of amicable intent, but this was a mission full of the unusual. Her flews curled upward slightly, revealing her locked sharp teeth in her best approximation. To Vissica, it seemed she had the expression exact. Lieutenant Heward's own smile seemed to falter, however, as she took stock of the Selonian and what appeared to be a toothy snarl in the making.

[Baastian Cain]

Baastian clapped a hand on Vissica's brawny arm as he passed her. "The aloof look suits you better," he said. "Come on. Let's not keep our public waiting."

The Stormtroopers had lined up in two rows on either side of the dock, and Lieutenant Heward was quick to shuffle the two Knights into their positions, Baastian in the center and Vissica at his right shoulder, while she herself stood on his left. "Right, all together, and think happy thoughts!"

They descended amidst a jet of steam from the repulsors, squinting in the sun as they stepped out across the parade ground. To their left a children's choir sang along to the recording of Gloria Imperium belting over the loudspeakers, while all the rest of the students stood more or less at attention, spellbound by the spectacle of glinting armor and lightsabers and trying to crane for a better view without being noticed.

A tall man with poorly dyed blonde hair and an aristocratic mustache came toward them on long strides and bowed. "Sir Baastian Cain, and Sir Matatek Vissica! Allow me to welcome you to Tarkin. It is an honor, really an absolute thrill to have you both here. Lord Aldrick Cawthorne, headmaster." Cawthorne offered Baastian what he thought was a firm handshake, then turned to offer his hand to Vissica, only to reconsider in transit.

Lieutenant Heward stepped forward to spare him. "Lord Cawthorne, thank you for your hospitality. Lieutenant Bridgett Heward of COMPNOR. Sir Cain and Lady Vissica have been so looking forward to meeting the children."

Cawthorne turned and reconsidered Vissica with fresh horror. "Oh. I do beg pardon, milady. We don't get many of, aha, your kind here, I'm afraid."

[Matatek Sel Vissica]

The only visible tell of Lady Vissica's displeasure manifested itself in her small ears folding slightly flush against her broad head. Fortunately for Lord Cawthorne, Selonian temper took a back seat to Selonian discipline today. The need to maintain appearances had been well and truly hammered in by Lieutenant Heward and her irritatingly relentless cheer. She would have made an efficient torturer, given the opportunity. Even the chalky, astringent aftertaste on Vissica's tongue - residue from so many hygienic biscuits - served to reinforce the point.

At least Comrade Baastian had liberated her from the pointless pantomiming of human smiles.

"My pardon is given, Lord Cawthorne." The Selonian's wet nose crinkled slightly as her whiskers rose and fell. "I look forward to evaluating your students."