A whirring sound precedes the arrival of the turbolift, and an array of lights come alive one by one before the door sweeps aside and a green-robed, flame-haired, and very pregnant woman steps onto the unfamiliar Security Deck of the New Republic's flagship. A guard notices her arrival, and although her presence seems certainly unusual, he smiles in recognition when she lifts her hand and glides across the deck, executing a small bow in greeting. "I'm here to see the Deputy Director," Jessalyn says in a discrete voice. "Is she available now?"

      The guard presses a button opening a line to the quarters area and alerts the Deputy Director that she has a visitor.

      Moments later Kiare emerges from the Aft hatchway datapad in hand. Life on the Star Destroyer has been calm and quiet, filled with 'paperwork'. She smiles and offers a bow to the woman, "Good day," her dark eyes take in the woman before introducing herself, "Deputy Director Kiare Quinn."

      "A pleasure," the red-haired woman says with a wide, pretty smile. "I understand you're the one who's going to speak to our unexpected guest?" She extends a pale hand toward the Deputy Director from beneath the long, sweeping sleeve of her cloak. "My name is Jessalyn Valios, I'm a Jedi Knight. I guess you get to blame me for bringing this Imperial on board, though I admit I don't know what would best be done for her."

      Taking the hand the slim blond gives it a firm shake, "A pleasure, may I call you Jessalyn?" Kiare smiles again, "I think our guest will find that the accomodations are not completely uncomfortable. It is my understanding they are far more apealing than their Imperial counterparts." A gesture toward comfortable chairs around a sheltered table, "Have a seat, please. I'd not keep you standing." She addresses one of the junior agents requesting something to drink, "You care for anything, Ma'am?" She's aware that debriefings can be quite long.

      Gripping the other woman's hand as she shakes it, Jessalyn seems to relax somewhat and follows Kiare toward the table. "Thank you. Yes, please call me Jessalyn," she says as she pulls out a chair and slips off her cloak, folding it over the back of the seat before she settles somewhat awkwardly into it. "Water would be fine, I appreciate it." The Jedi laces her fingers across her belly and takes a shallow breath before she begins to speak again.

      "I know this is a bizarre situation... I don't know if you have heard all of what happened. Basically the Imperial Star Destroyer came into the system, spaced about a dozen children refugees from Selene, and the Admiral demanded that I bring my friend Mailyn Raines aboard his ship or two Galleons full of more children would be destroyed."

      Sending the junior agent off to fill the refreshment request Kiare settles into one of the chairs, "Most situations having to do with the Empire are bizarre." There is a momentary flash in those dark eyes at the mention of children. "A strange request, but then one can never really understand what those who choose that path are really thinking." The young junior agent returns and she shoos him off to more lectures from his 'mentor' agent.

      Jessalyn nods in grim agreement, silent for a moment as she takes a sip of water and stares down into the liquid. "But I do know, I'm afraid. They feel Mailyn Raines may... may have the power and the will to follow... their path. I've tried to save her, but I couldn't sacrifice all those children. She wouldn't have allowed it." Swallowing a lump in her throat, she leans slightly forward and continues. "While I was on board, this officer who is now in our custody seemed to be stricken by what had happened, by the deaths of those children. She fired her blaster at the Admiral, but it deflected off of his armor. His other officers immediately opened fire on her, and she would have been executed on the spot. I only had a split second to make a decision. I hope it was the right one, but... nonetheless, I saved the officer and brought her back here."

      Considering the words carefully Kiare nods, "A heart that showed cracks. It is one thing to kill those you battle against, but another entirely to kill the innocent future of all. We shall see what the woman can offer us by way of information, how much use it will be can not always be told. Some of the most innocent information can often be the most revealing and the most useful." She drinks some of the juice she was brought and opens the datapad, "Is there anything she has told you that should be added to her file?"

      "The usual," Jessalyn murmurs, turning the glass of water around slowly as she ponders her next words. "She was under the impression that Alderaan had been destroyed because of some weapons they were supposedly constructing. The usual Imperial brainwashing. Perhaps she can be... clarified." The young, weary Jedi shrugs her shoulders, takes another brooding sip, and glances away. "Be gentle with her. Not all who are under the Empire's spell are evil themselves."

      A soft smile touches her features, "This is why they send me. For those who are truely evil they would have sent another. When the gentler side of the Republic may be needed they send me." She takes a drink, "Not that I can't be as hard as needed, but it isn't my true nature. Our dear Director Sylas has come to understand that I get the results in unexpected ways."

      A bit of surprise shows in Jessalyn's green eyes as she glances back at the small blond woman, dissolving into a sincere smile. "It's good to know that those of us who are gentler are still needed," she says, reaching across the table to pat the Deputy Director's arm. "It sounds like you serve a similar function in your role as I do within the Jedi Order. So it was this Imperial officer's good fortune, I suppose, that I stumbled onto her ship at the same time as her moment of clarity."

      Kiare grins, "I have convinced the Director with results that one of his agents can travel the slice spending time on planets of the Republic and the Empire as well as those of the CSA and CDU. Perhaps in the future those with similar talents and gentler soul will be less overlooked. You, perhaps more than I, show that a tender heart need not be required to have strength and power. To bring assistance to our goal of routing the Empire from their footholds." She smiles brightly, "With luck we will show this officer that we are not the tyrants we have been portrayed as, that the Republic is not the evil that must be crushed. Give her the truth and let her heart choose her path, she may prove that your decision was more right than any other could have been."

      Surprisingly, the Jedi's eyes are slightly watery as she catches and holds the other woman's gaze for a long moment, relinquishing it only as she levers herself slowly out of her chair and paces around to stand behind it. "Sometimes it's more dangerous when you have a tender heart -and- a strength and power that you must somehow use justly. That's my task as a Jedi... and yet at the same time a wife who knows her husband is very far away... in danger and in pain, and I can do nothing about it. I can only do what he would want me to do, and continue our work, no matter how hard it is to... to... press on...." The words trail off very softly as she picks up the cloak from the back of the chair and smooths the coarse folds over her arm, eyes unblinking and fixed upon the dark green fabric.

      Kiare's hand goes out seeking to offer comfort, "I am very sorry for your pain, for the pain of your husband. There are those who would offer their strength, a shoulder for your pain. Each of us carries a load that we are not always equal to." She knows not what else to offer as her heart goes out to the pregnant Jedi.

      Jessa squeezes the offered hand and she glances at Kiare with a sheepish smile as she blinks back the unwanted tears. "Thank you," she murmurs. "I apologize for unloading my own burdens on you. Sometimes they spill over unexpectedly." Letting go, she slowly turns, but continues to smile over her shoulder at the blond woman. "I will be departing shortly. If you have any other questions for me, I will be glad to help." With a graceful sweeping motion she sets the heavy cloak over her shoulders and bows humbly. "May the Force be with you."

      Kiare rises and smiles to Jessalyn, "Your burden is one I do not mind. If it eased your load a little I would listen willingly." She nods, "Be well, be safe. If you have need of someone to listen, well.. I am sure you will be able to find me."