A Common Farewell

[Kirie]

Courtyard Gardens,Systems Alliance Senate Building, Commenor​

​

Kirie woke as she did every morning. Dressed as she did every other day, and ate breakfast in her small apartment on the grounds of the Senate Building just as normal. Today, however, was not a normal day, it was her last day here. The peaceful world of Commenor had seemed like utopia to the naive girl who'd first stepped off a beaten-up shuttle a year ago, and in many ways it was, but death hung over Commenor like an invisible shroud. Behind the veil of happiness and pacifism, some new trouble was always brewing.

She'd begun to notice it after the Incursion incident, the way that no matter where the monarchy traveled, or the efforts they went to trying to avoid it, the darkness followed. Soon, with the introduction of The Voice in her mind, she began to see it. Everyone in the palace had shadows, not physical ones, but ethereal tendrils that followed them, twisting and turning. It was most clear in the Queen, no matter where she went, or what she was doing, fate always dragged some new threat to her doorstep. More often than not, it inevitably dragged Kirie up in it too.

Lady Kay had no means of avoiding this, of course. The darkness was attracted to her by some strange magnetism. It was almost sad, the Queen tried so hard to make Commenor into a paradise, and yet some of the most devastating attacks on the State had involved her directly. That was the reason she was here, the reason she had to get away.

The garden was a beautiful place, her office overlooked the grounds, and she often found herself sitting and staring out of the window when work was slow. Every day she would come out to the narrow courtyard, and sit on the benches with her lunch. Nobody else ever came, it was a forgotten corner of the Senate building, one that rarely saw foot traffic, and she liked it that way.

Today she'd invited a guest, the Queen of Commenor Lady Kay, a woman Kirie had faithfully served for over a year as her personal assistant. She liked to think they'd built up a bond in that time, Kay had helped save her life in the incursion incident. There was no doubt that they both cared greatly for each other, which is why it troubled Kirie so much that she had to go.

[member="Lady Kay"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay had been biding her time at her Estate, bith before and after her twins were born. Most of her work had been looked after by her staff, giving her ample time to spend with her family. But there was one message that her secretary Olivia had sent her way. [member="Kirie Ito"] wanted to see her. Such a request was something that she couldn't refuse. Kay had a soft spot for her, perhaps seeing something within her that reminded her of her long-lost adopted daughter [member="Rae-Anna Ku"] . She had failed both her adopted children, even though she was unconscious for weeks when they were taken away. But out of fear for their safety, she didn't look as hard enough for them as she should. At least [member="Bradshaw Ku"] had been found.

It had been a little while since she had been to the Senate Hall. The last was for a political meeting before her twins were born. And given that she was away, she hadn't seen Kirie as much as she'd of liked. So it was good of the girl to reach out to her.

The shuttle soon arrived to the building. Kay was escorted inside and brought to the courtyard, not giving anyone else any attention outside of just bowing her head in greeting to them. She signalled for her guards to wait inside and then stepped out towards where Kirie sat. Of course it wasn't as though she could call out to her. Kirie was deaf. So instead, Kay walked towards her line of sight and smiled as she signed to her. ~Hello Kirie. How're you doing? Is everything alright?~

 

[Kirie]

Sitting on her bench, Kirie was lost in thought. Where would she go when she departed the Systems Alliance? The Senate and its halls had been her home for over a year. It would be difficult returning to the wider galaxy. She recalled with no great fondness how difficult her life had been before she'd found Commenor. "Nothing pleases you, does it?" Said The Voice, chiming in an per usual with a snarky remark. It did have a point, though. Whatever awaited her outside of Commenor, she had to go and face it. She stuck out her arm, her hand brushing the leaves of a bush next to her. She would miss this garden, the way the sun shone through the trees, the way it always seemed to be cool and peaceful. It was her paradise, and was letting it all go.

A pair of legs in front of her broke her reverie. Her eyes flicked up, widening as she saw [member="Lady Kay"] standing in front of her. She got to her feet hurriedly, greeting the Queen with a respectful bow. Quickly, she signed to the woman. My apologies, my Lady. I was lost in thought. She waited for a moment, her face pulling into a grimace, and shaking her head slightly.

No. I'm afraid I'm not okay. There is something wrong with me, something deeply wrong. I have visions, hear voices. I am cursed by a presence that I cannot shake. I am haunted.

She looked the regent in the eyes, her eyes shimmering with tears, ready to spill over her face. The Incursion, these attacks. Its too much. Trouble follows this place like a cloud, I can see it. I need to get out of here. Now, the tears did come, a few drops trailing down either cheek. Kirie wiped them away with resignation.

I'm leaving Commenor, effective immediately. I have a shuttle flight in an hour.

The last words she said aloud, her voice grating and whispered. "I'm sorry."

[member="Lady Kay"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay gave [member="Kirie Ito"] a small smile as she apologized. Although that smile faded the more that Kirie signed. Visions? Voices? She was haunted? Was she having survivour's guilt?

The idea of trouble following them caused her to lower her head. Trouble always found her and she didn't know why. She ran from it for a time, hiding herself from everyone. Yet in the same manner that Kay couldn't escape politics, she couldn't escape trouble either.

As soon as Kirie signed that she was leaving, Kay just had to sit down, her brows furrowed as she thought of her running away. It just wasn't fair. She liked Kirie. The Incursion messed everything up for her. Coupled with the fact that she still longed for word from her parents, the very idea of Kirie leaving made her quite sad. She had failed her.

Kay gestured for her to sit next to her and then signed, ~Kirie, you don't have to go. Let me help you. We can find whatever is haunting you. Maybe you're just overworked, or too stressed. I can send you to safe places here. There are wars being fought elsewhere. It's dangerous out there. Please don't leave...~ Of course there was desperation in the way that she signed, in her eyes and in her body language. She just didn't want to lose her.

 

[Kirie]

Clenching her jaw, she shook her head forcefully, her gaze flitting to the floor and then back at the Queen. I cannot stay my Lady, it is too hard. There's so much here that reminds me of the incident on Kwenn. I think if I leave, it will help me forget the past, and face my demons. She paused, letting her hands rest limply by her side. Perhaps it would be better to explain her troubles in more detail, maybe then Kay would understand why Kirie had to leave. Why, despite it breaking her heart she had to escape Commenor.

The voice hissed in reply the moment the thought to tell the Queen entered her head. "Fool! Have I taught you nothing? The High Queen of Commenor is a powerful woman, and she has her own interests at heart. If you tell her about us she will surely lock us up. Its bad enough that you told her you were 'haunted.' No doubt she already knows you're barking mad."

This isn't about us, she thought in reply, the mental conversation playing out in total silence. This is about you. You want to remain hidden, away from prying eyes. Do you want to be left alone, or are you scared of what would happen if people found out you existed?

She clenched her first, then raising her hands, signing to the Queen. There is... Something you should know. Ever since my episode at the ball on Halm, there's been a voice in my head. When I'm alone it talks to me, its like another entity in my head.

"This is a bad idea." Said the voice, but it stayed quiet.

I don't know what its thinking, but it knows me, inside and out. Either it can read my mind, or it is a part of me in and of itself. I don't know what it is, or what it wants. All I know is that its been with me since the Incursion, and I need to find out what's wrong with me. The first step is to leave Commenor.

"Pathetic."

The tears were flowing thick and fast now, as she looked helplessly at the Queen, all she could do was hope she understood.

[member="Lady Kay"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay frowned slightly as [member="Kirie Ito"] took a moment. She just couldn't quite grasp why her assistant was so inclined to refuse her help. Maybe she had done something wrong. Maybe Kirie blamed her for what had happened. Tears began to brim her own eyes and she was glad that she didn't need to speak at all; only sign.

Her brows furrowed in concern as Kirie told her about the voice inside her head. So that was what she had meant about haunting. Poor Kirie was infected by a black substance that wasn't some virus, but a part of something that had the ability to communicate and control others. Perhaps not all of it was expelled from her body.

How much of her own secrets should she divulge? That was the argument that Kay had with herself. Usually such a thing had bad consequences. There was a good chance that Kirie could feel betrayed or scared. But maybe there was another life experience that she could draw upon.

Kay wiped Kirie's tears and then began to sign. ~I know some of what you are going through. It is frightening to have someone inside your head. When I was in my late teens, I was abducted by an Arkanian scientist. Both him and his assistant did experiments on me. I couldn't get away from them and had to be rescued. This scientist has Force abilities and there are times when he pops into my head too. It hasn't happened for over a decade, but I know that he's still alive. I ran from it too, searching for ways to stop it without getting anyone hurt.~ She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, recalling all the times that people she's cared for that have gotten hurt or killed because of her. Guilt was something that she had learned to carry every day.

~I can't stop you from leaving as I'm no tyrant. But please...take one of my guards with you for protection. You don't have to worry about paying him or anything, let me take care of that. And I'll still cover your salary so that you don't have to worry about where you'll stay or your next meal. I am here for anything you need...~ She wrapped her arms around her then, trying to comfort them both in her hug.

This was not the kind of meeting that she was expecting.

 

[Kirie]

She nodded slowly as the Queen recounted her experiences with the Arkanian scientist. Though the story was over a decade old, it was clear that it was a wound that ran deep in the woman. It was no small comfort to Kirie to know that Kay had been through her own trauma, the Queen carried herself with such confidence, and she always knew what she was doing. If she hadn't told Kirie, she'd never have guessed what the regent had been through.

For the millionth time, she second guessed herself. Was it really wise to leave Commenor? There were people here that were incredibly supportive, maybe they could help her. She dismissed the idea, as she'd done every time before. She'd looked, and the answers weren't here on Commenor, they were out in the Galaxy somewhere. Maybe in the distant reaches of the Unknown Regions, maybe nestled in a forgotten Core World library. All she knew was that it was time to go, to at least try and figure out what it all meant.

Kay surprised her again, she stopped arguing for Kirie to stay, perhaps having come to terms with her desire to leave, and instead offered to fund her travels, and give her protection. She blushed, it had been a long time since someone was so generous to her, though the Queen had always been generous, giving her a job and a place to stay despite her disability, she owed it all to the woman in front of her. When the Queen came to her, wrapping her in a tight embrace she felt a rush of gratitude for this person who'd helped her through the most difficult time of her life, a woman Kirie was now leaving behind.

She broke the hug, stepping back and barely holding back a fresh wave of tears. Your generosity is more than I could ever thank you for. I accept the offer of the salary, but only until I find work for myself, as for the bodyguard, I thank you for the offer but cannot accept. This journey I must make alone. Thank you for everything you have done.

With that, she turned away, standing as straight as she could, and walking out of the courtyard, once turning back to look at the Queen, still standing in the centre of the garden. In an almost dazed state, she navigated the twisting and forking hallways of the Senate Building, running a hand along the wall as she moved. In a matter of minutes she had reached the front steps. The trip back to her apartment on the grounds was short, and her bags sat in the hall, already packed. It wasn't much, all things considered. Clothes, documents, and a few bits and bobs from her time on Commenor, and finally here cane, resting in its place by the door. She picked it up and held it reverently in her hands, admiring the twisting complexity of the carvings in the orichalcum.

Gathering her things, and taking a final look around the now empty room, she went outside, locking the door behind her. Moments later, her taxi pulled up, and she climbed inside. It was a few minutes before they reached the spaceport, and Kirie spent the time staring glumly out at Chasin City. She hoped that fate would take her back to Commenor, that one day she could return stronger, braver, and more knowledgeable than when she'd left. The speeder slowed to a stop, and she got out, crossing into the spaceport. Security was thorough, so it took a bit of time to go through, but before long she was sitting alone at her gate, waiting for the starliner to pull up ready to receive its next haul of passengers.

The sign above her flashed. 'Now boarding,' it said. It was time for her to go. She boarded, presenting her ticket and took her seat. The moment she sat down, the tear started again, huge sobs that wracked her body. She put her head in her hands, and the starship rose smoothly off of the ground, accelerating towards her new life in the stars.

[member="Lady Kay"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was pleased that [member="Kirie Ito"] had accepted her offer of credits. Yet for some reason she had refused protection. Why was that? Why would she want to go it alone? It was too dangerous. There was too much that could happen to her.

Yet before she could protest further, Kirie had turned on her heel and walked away. Kay just stood there, both in shock and in a sudden sadness. Would this be the last that she'd ever see her assistant? It was possible. Should she have her followed? Or tagged in some manner? No. That would only cause a rift of mistrust between them. "Safe journeys, Kirie..." Her eyes never strayed from her assistant's form until the girl had gone inside the hall.

After a moment, she brought out her commlink and opened a channel to her secretary. ~Olivia? It's me. Kirie has...gone on a leave of absence for a while...Send word out to our friends and contacts beyond our system. Let them be aware of her and to help her if she needs it.~ Hopefully she wouldn't need it.

~Yes, my Lady~

Kay clenched her jaw. She wanted to cry and just become a blubbering mess. But she couldn't. She wasn't in the privacy of her own home. She wasn't even in her office. After regaining her composure, she left the courtyard to head for home. [member="Veiere Arenais"] would be waiting for her, and she would find comfort in his arms.

Hopefully Kirie would be back soon.