Mirta and Vestara simply visited with one another until the very moment the Slave IV reached the checkpoint at the edge of Mandalore's atmosphere, neither one really acted as though the situation was dire, they did their best to remain calm and composed. Mirta held confidence that Vestara would be successful and her confinement was merely temporary, Vestara was more cynical and imagined that whatever could go wrong likely would. But still they talked of future plans and places Mirta thought Vestara should visit on Mandalore should the moment present itself, simply another friendly conversation that ended with a simple farewell. A 'farewell' that said they recognized they were parting but declared it to be only momentary despite the uncertainty of coming events. At the checkpoint Veran and Vestara left the ship breifly entering a small station were Veran presented authorities with credentials that proved he was a citizen of Mandalore, born and raised, as well as what appeared to be falsified credentials for Vestara. While she pondered the necessity of such things, she chose not to question it simply accepting that it was likely easier for them to try and write her off as a native than someones 'plus one'. Once the pair had been approved they very promptly boarded a small public transportation shuttle to deliver them down to the planet itself.

Vestara knew little of Mandalore merely what she heard by reputation, which wasn't always nice given the peoples violent history. But when they cleared the clouds she as she gazed out the window of their shuttle she saw Mirta was correct, it was a rather nice looking world. What she could see was primarily covered in greenery be it expansive grasslands or thick jungles it now made perfect sense as to why the planet looked almost lime green from space. Between the continents were rather expansive blue seas giving the planet an almost serene appearance, a complete foil to the negative reputation its inhabitants held. But as they grew closer blemishes in the landscape appeared, dense opaque grey domes surrounded by white sanded deserts could be seen spread out, though few and far between, across the landscape she could see, but no other structures.
Curious as to the significance she lightly tapped on the window to get Veran's attention so that he may look at what she was pointing at, once he did he required no inquiry from her he knew what puzzled her. "Those are the cities. They are kept in bio-domes where the atmosphere can be controlled."
"Why?"
Veran quickly waved his finger around gesturing towards the pale flatland's surrounding the domes. "Generations of war left the planet almost completely uninhabitable. A great deal was reduced to white sanded flatland's, and in order to survive the few remaining settlements were holed up in domes so the people wouldn't be affected by the deteriorating ecosystem. But after so many years of the environment being left alone it began to heal, and the outside portions of the planet became habitable again, many people began leaving the cities to restore some of the forests and grasslands. As you can see they have made progress, or they were, I don't know how many farmers were left after the virus hit. Venku himself was a farmer before he had to leave."
"I have another question, if almost the entire populace lives in bio-domes then..."
"You want to know why anyone had to leave in the first place? Simple, the atmosphere isn't completely filtered out, plant-life still grows within the domes, and people are still born and raised. A spaceship or station can produce an artificial atmosphere to sustain it's occupants, but people who live their whole lives in artificial environments, under false gravity, generally do not grow up to be as healthy as those who are exposed to some degree of the elements on an actual planet. The domes still receive their oxygen from the planet itself, and were simply built to protect from harsh living conditions, as of late they are becoming more and more superfluous. So I suppose the short answer to your question is they don't actually do anything to stop the virus. They were never meant to."
"Missed opportunity, huh?"
"I suppose."
"The world almost seems so...empty."
"A world like Coruscant can have a population of several billion, the population here is still in the millions, can be counted on one hand while leaving you with a finger to flip someone off. Our people are few compared to others, another consequence of generations of war."

The shuttle they occupied eventually made it's way into one of the domes Vestara spotted where the two quickly gathered their belongings and left the port while the shuttle returned to the station from whence it came. Veran and Vestara hurriedly made their way to a small terminal where Veran began quickly typing something into the screen, Vestara couldn't help but notice a trace of anxiety about him.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting a cab. I had hoped the shuttle would have dropped us off closer."
"Closer to where, exactly?"
"Where you will be staying, it isn't in any of the cities, too many people watching ."
"Might I ask why there is a problem with us being far from-"
"Because anyone looking for anything out of the ordinary will notice an extended cab ride out into the countryside. If we were in the next city, which isn't for several miles, it wouldn't be an issue."
There was something Veran wasn't telling her, something about where she was going. Or perhaps it had to do with whom she would be staying with. But she decided not to pry and kept her curiosity to herself simply waiting for the cab in silence. As they waited she gazed about at the city around them, it had a rich and sophisticated appearance about it much like the cities of Coruscant, though significantly less crammed together. She also took notice that while the domes and structures were metallic grey in coloration, much of the vehicles, and various forms of technology being employed throughout the city were a bright amber coloration, while the domes externally looked rather dismal the bright amber gave the inside a rather sunny appearance, something that almost offset what she understood to be a rather somber atmosphere again proving Mirta's point, it was a pleasant looking place. As she looked out into the crowds she saw a mixture of individuals both wearing armor and not. Some people simply wore regular clothes, and uniforms, but again she saw the Mando wearing an assortment of colored armors, and she couldn't help but ponder the significance. She still had in her possession the suit Mirta had loaned her and wondered if knowing such things would matter.
"If I may, I have a question." Veran turned to her, but was rather impatiently flexing his hand repetitively, he was tense about something and while she figured he likely didn't want to be disturbed this might take his mind off of present matters. "Does the color of mandalorian armors have any special meaning?"
Veran's eyes widened and he tilted his head, possibly surprised she didn't already know this. "Actually they do, while it's true anyone can customize their armors with whatever designs they would like, there are 7 main colors that do hold significant meaning which you might need to know. Gray signifies the mourning of a lost loved one. Gold is the pursuit of vengeance. Green represents an adherence to duty. Blue is reliability, typically worn by those that have proven themselves. Orange is a desire for life, to live. Black is the pursuit of justice, and red is honoring ones parent."
She briefly thought over what he said and applied that to the few Mando she had come to know, the few she personally met. Mirta's armor was both gray and orange, she knew she mourned her mother, but it seemed deep down she also wished to live, perhaps more than Vestara understood. Ghes and Veran both wore primarily red armor, while Mirta had mentioned that Ghes only ever had his father growing up she knew nothing about Veran. Boba Fett wore an assortment of colors green, red, and a faded gold. Duty, which made sense as he was the Mand'alore, love for a parent, and vengeance. Then she thought of the armor Mirta loaned her, black. Mirta mentioned it was the suit she wore when she first met her grandfather and, acting on false information, had conspired to kill him. It seemed rather grim and depressing that she once considered murdering someone she now loved so much justice. Although maybe it was appropriate that she wore it, it didn't seem so far off that trying to right an egregious wrong and allow many to return home was it's own form of justice.

But before she got too deep in thought she felt Veran lightly tap on her shoulder before pointing towards a brightly amber colored taxi cab, when Veran peered inside he saw that the cab was being manually driven by a female twi'lek driver he let out a small sigh of relief. After the two entered and brought their belongings inside the driver turned and addressed them with a somewhat unnecessarily large smile. "So, where are you two headed?"
"It's a ways away, can you take us as far as Kyrimorut?"
The driver whistled hearing that name, clearly taken back. "That IS a way out. Yeah I can take you but it will cost you."
"The place we need to go is just south of there, I can direct you."
A small screen displaying a map opened up on the small wall that separated them from the driver."Point it out on there and we'll see if you have enough." Veran tapped the screen several times until he had the location he wanted, at which point a rather large number presented itself on the screen and the driver looked back at him. "Ya'll got that much?"
Veran sat still for a moment grumbling to himself in angst, which Vestara found immensely amusing, before finally addressing the drivers question. "Yes...I have that much."
"Perfect! Then let's go!"

For the entirety of their ride Veran simply sat grumbling to himself, the driver went about her business while humming to herself, and Vestara chose to examine the surrounding world as it passed by them. After they exited the city and past the ashen pale flatland's they drove through rather elegant countryside, parts still looked marred or warped from past battles such as segments of earth split and tilted upwards, and sections of the grasslands that dipped inwards that undoubtedly were once craters. But despite this the planets openness gave it a pleasant feeling, Vestara now considered the worst case to be less and less dreadful. The planet was much less crowded than her home-world of Kesh, the idea of spending anytime in a place so open was actually becoming appealing to her. Space felt like an ocean, infinite and lacking substance and easy for one to drown in, what she needed was some place with substance, but not too much. She hadn't spent much time on any open worlds such as this and had spent much less time in the recent years free of Ships constant tribulataing voice, even with the restrictions of her current situation she found a freedom within it all and that freedom was almost invigorating.
The cab ride took the two past another bio-dome further upwards on the continent past another smaller settlement that wasn't contained within a dome as well as a rather dense forest and down a man made countryside road that finally led to an elevated plateau overlooking the nearby town, but far enough away that it wouldn't be immediately visible to the occupants. Atop the plateau was a single story mansion covering slightly over a quarter of an acre. The building was partially surrounded by several gardens as well as a few groves of blossom trees around the estate.
Vestara stared rather dumbfounded at the thought that this was were she would be staying having been under the impression she was supposed to be laying low, and this did not seem to be doing so. Veran on the other hand was focused on gathering their belongings from the cab and paying the driver, but as she went to drive back the the city she picked them up from Veran very faintly waved his hand in front of her.
"It would be best if you erased any record of this trip from your travel log."
The drivers face went slightly blank. "It would be best if I erased any record of this trip from my travel log."Veran gave a large grin and waved her off as she drove away.
"So is that why you wanted a manually driven cab? So you could have them erase the log."
"Pretty much. Can't do that with the automatic cabs. Not very easily that is."
"Well then, if you were going to influence her anyway, why did you wait until after you paid her, you could have saved some money?!"
"Because, if I had her drive all the way out here and not paid her, that would have been rude, and asinine."
Vestara rolled her eyes before directing his attention back to the manor in front of them. "Do please explain to me how this qualifies as inconspicuous."
"I figured you would be curious about that, trust me no one ever comes out here unless they are invited. You will be safe here."
"And you know this how exactly? Just whose home is this?"
"Technically, mine." Vestara reared her head back is shock at his answer. "It's the family estate, I was actually born in this manor. So when I say you will be safe, I know what I'm talking about."
Hearing this only piqued her curiosity as she remembered Veran's previous statement, that she would be staying with someone Venku thought could help her.
When they first entered the manor Vestara immediately took notice to several portraits and photos hanging on the walls or sitting on several small entry way tables that lined the walls themselves.
One of the first to catch her eye was a photo of three people (man, woman, and teenage girl), each of whom seemed almost out of place together. The man seemed to be a Mando with short greying brown hair and wearing standard Mando gear, colored a sandy shade of gold. The woman stood out the most with wild and colorful hair, black transitioning to blue with red stripes throughout it, and the way she dressed she almost looked like royalty, adorned in elegant ornate robes that even from the photo looked like some sort of fine silk. Then there was the girl, she had green eyes, long bright red hair that framed her face, and looked to be around Vestara's age in the photo. What stood out the most was the way she dressed as she wore what looked like the typical style robes of a Jedi. Despite how out of place the three looked together, given that neither resembled the others, Vestara couldn't help but feel as though she were looking at a picture of a child and her parents.
There were quite a few other photos and portraits along the wall as well, the Mando and he regal looking woman appeared in some, but for the most part it seemed the most reoccurring of the three was the young girl. The red haired girl appeared in most of the pictures she could see at different ages in her life, in one she appeared now fully grown standing next to a tall Mando wearing blue armor that looked a lot like Veran, while in others she appeared with children, several of whom resembled her. For a moment Vestara found herself adrift with envy for someone she did not even know, had not even met simply because of these pictures. Vestara stopped and thought about whether or not her family ever kept such photos. She was certain she had at least some pleasant memories from her childhood, but had anyone stopped to record any of those moments, or had the Sith burned that sentimentality out from her parents?
Before Vestara was able to examine every photo she found herself interrupted by the soft tapping of footsteps on the hard tile floor. When Vestara looked to see whom it was she saw an elderly woman standing across the room from her staring at her with great anxiety and suspicion. The woman had almost completely pale gray hair with only a few rusty colored strands lingering that she had tied into a large braid in the back leaving only a few strands to rest at the sides of her face, and very familiar bright green eyes. Vestara also took notice of her choice of apparel which resembled Jedi robes though much more formal looking. Little doubt sat in Vestara's mind this woman was the young girl from the photos she just examined. Though her expression suggested that Vestara's presence was unwelcome.
"Who are you, and what are you doing in my house?!" Her voice was incensed and accusatory. Vestara did not have time to answer her question before Veran suddenly stepped forward holding his hands out to try and assuage her.
"It's okay! Its alright, she's with me. I brought her here." Seeing Veran almost immediately calmed the woman down as she let out a heavy sigh of relief and dropped her shoulders down just slightly as she seemed to release the tension in her body.
"Veran. Why the fierfek didn't you tell me you were coming?! I could have gotten your room ready. And who is she?" Pointing over Verans shoulder to Vestara.
"Her name is Sevarra Raine and-"
"Don't lie to my face, in my own house."
Veran stood perplexed for a moment before realizing to what she was reffering. "...Okay, her name is Vestara Khai." Vestara immediately stared at him dumbfounded and perplexed. "She is here at the behest of Venku."
The elderly woman stared back at Vestara over Veran's shoulder curiously. "Venku mentioned there was someone he wanted me to meet, but you or he could have at least commed and told me you were bringing them by."
"She's here for another reason as well."
Her gazed shot back to face Veran as she rose her eyebrow. "And that would be?"
"She's here on Mandalore on official business for Boba Fett." The woman grimaced at the mention of that name. "She's here to help find the cure. And Venku thought it would be better if she stayed here. Noone ever bothers you, and it would get Venku's request out of the way."
"And no one saw fit to comm me and ask how I felt opening my home to a complete stranger?! I don't mind visitors so long as they announce themselves, and the very same goes for anyone I am expected to give lodging to!"
"I apologize, but we felt it was imperative she get here as soon as possible, given the state of affairs here on Mandalore."
For a moment her eyes darted back and forth from Veran to Vestara as she suspiciously eyed them both, before leaning in close to Veran. "And she can be trusted? She isn't a threat?"
"She's just here to help Fett, his granddaughter and all the other clone descendants come home. She actually happens to be a good friend of Mirta's."
"That was neither a yes or a no to either question."
"She isn't a threat. To you, or me. She's just here to help a friend and then she will be on her way, I promise."
For a moment longer the elderly woman stared at Vestara inquisitively, long enough that Vestara herself was becoming uncomfortable. Finally she walked past Veran and over to where Vestara stood continuing her gaze. Vestara started to extend her hand out to the woman figuring that a polite greeting would be appropriate to diffuse the tension when suddenly the woman raised both of her hands and clapped them at each side of Vestara's face and pulled Vestara's slightly closer to her own as if she were examining her. Vestara was more than a little uncomfortable with this as her head was turned in several directions as the woman continued to stare down at her with great curiosity as if examining some sort of bauble, and Vestara was more than tired of it. Eventually she caught sight of the scar curling up from Vestara's lip, upon noticing it her expression softened as she began to run her thumb very delicately across the scar. To say Vestara was now upset would be an understatement, Vestara hated her scar, of all her physical traits it was her least favorite and most despised. On that note Vestara was always uncomfortable with people staring at it, and she hated when people tried to touch it, save for one occasion from Ben. But this wasn't Ben, the physical contact was unwelcome, and Vestara found herself dangerously close to screaming at this woman, whomever she was.
"You've got a bit of darkness in you." Hearing this made Vestara immediately forget what she was thinking. "But you've also got a little bit of light in there to. It's small but it's there. Like a lamp post on a starry night." Before Vestara could make any response the woman released her face but continued to stare at her. "Are you Sith?"
"N..not anymore."
Her eyes narrowed as if she wasn't completely convinced and the two simply stood idle for a moment before the elderly woman turned to leave the room, though talking over her shoulder to Veran as she left. "I suppose she can stay, I could always use another pair of hands to help with the dishes." This particular remark made Vestara's eye twitch as she watched her leave the room.
"Is she always so grabby, or am I just special?!"
"I must apologize if she made you uncomfortable, or if any of that came off as rude. Her social graces have declined in her later years."
"My father had declining social graces and he beat me. She's just weird."
"I suppose she is unusual, yes."
"That's putting it mildly. May I ask who the kriff that is?"
"That Vestara is my mother. Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy."