An Un-Common Friendship

[Kay-Larr]

Kay looked down to the ground as [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] reminded her of what had happened to her. She was still plagued by nightmares at times. Veiere had told her that that would happen for some time. Maybe it'll never end. Right now it was really hard to say.

Still it seemed to have been the kind of event that ignighted a flame inside of him. Some of what he said reminded her of Veiere, as he had said much of the same thing. Yet his vision was still clouded by only seeing black and white. Sure there were bad Sith out there, but some were good as well. Kay had some of them on her staff and they would never perform such horrible acts. But she valued their perspective. One can't be a neutral state by only focussing on the one side, afterall.

She looked ahead then, walking over to one of the benches and taking a seat. "Some Jedi had lost their way, seeking to search and destroy no matter the cost. They choose to fight fire with fire and believe that to be justified. It's tainted them, ruined their repuation viewed by others in the Galaxy. I see it and hear it from the outside. This is Veiere's third or fourth attempt to try to unite the Jedi, but stubborness brought on by egos always wins out. It's terribly frustrating for him." Kay wondered how long he'd last; how long before he puts himself in exile again, leaving her to do everything on her own. It was hard for her to say, but she had to make plans for it in case it did.

"I hope that you all are successful this time." Kay could never join them. She had too many responsibilities that were outside the duties of any Jedi Order. She just didn't belong anywhere but at the home that she had built. That was just the way of things.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh had lost a lot of good friends and of course, his family, to the Sith and the dark siders in general. They had made so many people he cared about suffer as well, [member="Lady Kay"] especially. She had lost her memory, it had been taken from her, and she had been made a puppet thanks to them. That was not something Josh could forgive, even if they hadn't taken his brother away. No, there would be no mercy... They had taken too much. Deep down, he knew they all needed to die. They were monsters, that needed to be stopped. He'd tried hoping that there could be a way for them to see the light and stop hurting people, but... That hope had long been extinguished from him.

He would sit beside her as she would begin to speak, nodding his head. "I've tried many times to unite them myself, but it never works... Too many egos" He spoke softly. "It's a shame... How can the darksiders work together better than we do? The darksider who do naught but betray one another. It makes no damn sense."

Letting out a breath and shaking his head, he did hope for the best.

"As do I, Kay... As do I."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay chewed the inside of her cheek, wishing that she had all the answers for [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] . But of course, she didn't. It wasn't as though she was ever a part of some Sith organization, or had ever been entrusted with knowing anything. She didn't even know why she was kidnapped and brought back to begin with. Whatever the reason, that was long abandoned. Good riddance too.

"I don't know why it is that the Darksiders fair better either. Perhaps it's their motivation or whatever is promised to them. Take the ones that work for me for example. I give them more than enough to live on, plus I give them tasks and missions that suit their aggressive and darker tendencies. Because of that they aren't causing chaos or wars or even trouble. I respect them for who they are and not what they are. Even those that can't use the Force at all can be just as brutal and deadly as the Sith." Much like the Imperials. The CSA was allied with both Imperial governments, yet she knew full well that they weren't innocent of evil and corruption. But as the old adage goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. There was much good that she could do in her position.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He would be lying if he said that the idea that Kay was still working with darksiders, even Sith, after what they had done to her didn't bother him at least a little bit. She had her memory, years of her life taken away from her and yet she still had them work under her. She knew that all they did was turn on each other. Unfortunately... That was part of -who- they were. But that was her decision, she was Queen of this planet, after all. It would be a mess she would have to sort herself if she wasn't careful. But he doubted she wasn't intelligent enough to see that.

"It's kind of funny that the people who do nothing but turn on each other for their own selfish reasons can work together while we cannot" He would admit, shaking his head in disdain at the topic. "Although I suppose to be fair... It's always the same groups who refuse to play ball. There is always an excuse. And if one of these Jedi sects fall because of it... It will be on their hands."

He let out a sigh as he found himself sitting back on a surface nearby, shaking his head at all this.

"I'm starting to think perhaps I should have remained on my homestead."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

"Maybe they don't always turn on eachother. Maybe not all of them are as selfish as you might think. There is Light and kindness in some of them. They work for me because they want to, and they respect me. I don't shun them like others so easily would. They follow my orders and keep control over themselves. They watch over me and my people just as much as the Jedi and others do."

So many saw things in black and white like [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] did. She understood it in some way. Their experiences gave them those views. Kay just couldn't. Not after everything that she had seen and had been through.

"Nothing good ever comes easy. Try not to give up on hope."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I'm sure not all do, never said that of course. But... It's rare" He would admit, letting out a sigh. "And the ones who don't usually don't tend to be in the Sith for the long haul. I knew one once, dated one, actually" He would then admit, starting to laugh. "Before she turned out to be a Sith, I mean... I didn't know at the time. She ended up not staying in the Sith for long after that. In the end, she just wanted power. And when she found they wouldn't give her it, only just a pair of chains... She left."

He frowned then. "Sadly they killed her before I could propose some time later" He would admit. It was a painful memory he hadn't intended to bring up. He had intended to bring it up as a happy memory that related to the topic, but... Well, he couldn't leave the story without an ending. And that ending was a sad one. "Rumor was she was with child."

Deciding to change the subject, he took a deep breath to recompose himself. "Either way... I get it. I do. Not all Sith turn on each other. And they're not all exactly evil either. But... You know how most can be. When most will deceive you, it's difficult to trust the few who might not. One mistake is all they need you to make."

He didn't exactly see it in black and white, after all.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay frowned slightly as [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] recited the story of one of his loves. She knew some of what that was like. Her brief stint as a Sith was only to be made a puppet. Yet the Sith lost interest very quickly and so, with the help of her soon-to-be husband and some of her most loyal friends, she found her way back into the Light. She highly doubted that she'd run into that Sith Lord again, although her husband wants revenge for what he had done to her.

He had to be careful with that.

At Josh's mention of making mistakes, she just couldn't help but laugh. "I make mistakes all the time. But there's none swooping in here to take advantage. I think that where one is in the Galaxy has much to do with it. The worlds that I look after have little of value, even strategically. So it doesn't have a target planted on it. For that I'm very thankful."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Matters like that were not ones he normally talked about, but he'd grown close with Kay over the years and usually found himself confiding in her whether he meant to or not. It was a testament to their bond, he supposed. But the fact was, many Sith had caused many people to suffer. The both of them especially. It was a given they'd both be wary about the Sith, especially as they'd both either once or currently held careers that involved the Sith as enemies.

It's just that Josh - who had tried to make allies out of some Sith in the past - could no longer bring himself to most of the time after seeing so much of what they had caused. What happened to Nick had been the final straw.

He smiled lightly in turn to her remarks. "You never know. But it's always good to exercise a great deal of caution when it comes to them. And especially not to lose a step or fall in that step when they're around. Whether they work for you or not, you never know after all. Even the ones that may not be so inhumane... Well, it's just part of how they're trained. How they're treated. Part of what they think is the norm.

The question then becomes... Is the training to blame? Their beliefs? Or the individuals?"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded a little as she listened to [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] explain his point of view. But in her mind, she had to be wary of everyone, not just the Sith. Why, there was plenty of non-Force Users out there that were equally as dangerous. And there always will be. Maintaining her secret of having the abilities was paramount to her survival both in politics and in general.

And then it came down to his questions. He was searching for blame, but everyone was different, so it just couldn't be pointed out to just one thing that was the route cause. "I think that individually, it's on a case by case basis. Some haven't had training by anyone, while others have. Some have a strong belief system, while others don't. It's just...just so very difficult to say. "

It was also difficult to see what the future held. Her own was clouded. So much so that she had never thought that she would be a real mother. But here she was, expecting. Hopefully the child will turn out alright.

Kay shrugged her shoulders a little. "I just have to do the best that I can..."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I suppose case by case could be, but... There's a reason the dark side is the dark side, unfortunately" He admitted, letting out a sigh in turn. "That's it's nature. We have to be wary no matter who it may be. I had to learn that. Not just for our own safety... But for those around us. I have a wife, and a child now... And you..."

He noted toward her stomach.

"You're about to as well. You'll see why I'm a little paranoid when the baby is born" He would admit, shooting her a cheeky grin in turn as he brought the mood back up a little bit. "Anyone, of course, can be corrupt. Anyone can be evil. Anyone can hurt. Not just the Sith. Not just the darksiders. That's true. It's not all black and white, not at all. But then the question becomes... Why become a Sith at all, if not to take what you wish, no matter the consequence, no matter the how? That is where their ideals mainly come from. Lust for power, lust for... Well, everything.

Not to say all Sith are bad, of course. I've met one or two who were less... Bad. But it's certainly not common."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded slowly, her eyes not entirely focused on [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] while he spoke. There was truth to his words, truth to his point of view, just as there was truth to her own. There problem lay in them both being right and both being wrong.

"And what of those that aren't Force sensitive at all? There are many that aren't, yet their lust for power and greed can be at the same level as any Sith. They'd even kill with the same lack of conviction. Should they be hunted down and killed too? What's their excuse for being horrible people if the Darkside isn't what guides them?" It was something that she had pondered every once in a while. Surely other Force Users thought the same thing. Access to the Force might seperate them, but were they really all that different?

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"You're absolutely right" He would respond, taking a breath. "And they can be equally as dangerous, depending on what they do with what they have. The reason the Sith are hunted is because they have a far easier time with being dangerous, thus it's more common. And a gaggle of Sith in numbers... Well... I think you get the idea"

He let out a sigh as he would peer out toward the garden. "I wish we didn't have to hunt, and kill, but if we don't hunt and kill... Then we will be the hunted and the killed. If we do not act... They will act, and we will lose more than if we had acted, generally with the same result from if we'd acted, but with more casualties added to the count. That goes for non-force sensitives too..." He spoke softly as he took a breath. "A group of them took my son away while Shmi had him, while they were getting off a ship. In that moment, it mattered not if they were force-sensitive or not. They'd taken my son. So I dealt with them as I'd have dealt with a Sith who'd kidnapped my son. In that vein you are correct.

The dark side isn't the only thing that corrupts people, of course. You're correct on that as well. But we both know how easy it is for the dark side to do so. And how enticing it can be even to the strongest of wills."

He frowned, then, after a pause. "I'll tell you a secret, something I've never told a soul" He spoke softly. "I'm a warrior. You know this, that's what everyone knows me as. This big deal Jedi Master who's made his keep from putting a saber to those who would threaten this galaxy. I carved my legacy as a Jedi on the bodies of our enemies. And I spend every single day teaching new Jedi how to fight as I do.

And yet... I hate it.

If I had my way, I would never shed blood again. No matter what walk of life they came from, I wish I didn't have to harm. I wish I didn't have to hurt, to hunt, to kill. I want to go home, back to my family. My wife, and my son. And never have to put a blade through someone's chest again.

But that's a dream. And one I will never realize because sure... I could physically leave the Jedi and go home and live off the fruits of my labor. I could, Kay, I could. But then there are missions I could have gone on, people I could have saved. They will die because I was not there. There are people who will kill them because I didn't get there first.

In that vein... If they die because I was not there and could have been, is that any better than killing them myself?"

He let out a sigh, and looked back toward her.

"I wish this galaxy was all black and white. I wish it was easy to be able to just... Pick the good guys and the bad guys. Save the good guys and... Do whatever with the bad. Something non-lethal I'd hope, but I know that's not possible because if non-lethal... Well, if they aren't turned to good, then what will they do? They'll void the whole point of your efforts when they kill more, make more suffer. Whether they're Force-sensitives that are using their powers to kill, or slavers taking people's freedom away and treating them like things, and objects and property...

And then don't forget that it's not always easy to tell who's the good and who's the bad. Are the Sith you work with somehow good, haven't let it or some other vice corrupt them? Or are they waiting to take from you, for their own reasons as so many Sith do? You don't know that. And I know personally that there are Jedi who can also become corrupt... You don't know, it's rarely so easy to tell. And when it is... It's generally too late.

This galaxy is cruel to us. We kill to protect ourselves and those we hold dear but also do not want to kill, but if we do not kill, then they kill instead and we lose everything. And so do others... Others who can't defend themselves, thus it's the duty of people like me to do it for them. If I do not, I'm as much a murderer as the murderers themselves."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay frowned, slightly lowering her head as [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] basically lectured her on needing to kill indiscriminantly. The whole 'kill them before they kill you' attitude was wrong. It was no different than the attitude of the Sith, with their view on things. It was what helped the Republic to fall and now others too as the Galaxy is thrust into a neverending cycle of war.

And it was stupid.

"It's that kind of attitude that fuels the flames of war and keeps it from going out. Such a thing doesn't have to be. You're working on assumptions and killing people out of suspect of what you think that they might do in the future. Would you want someone to do that to your son? To kill him at the first sign of a temper tantrum when he's a teenager? Or when he causes trouble for himself and gets into a fight like teenagers do? Or what if someone had a dream about him and mistook it for some vision? Killing him wouldn't be saving the Galaxy, it would be murder."

She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "That kind of attitude is what destroyed Atrisia. I was there when the Sith first took over, and it wasn't through war, but through debate. I visited many times thereafter and councilled the Sith King into not oppressing his people. He took my advice and they were happy. They prospered. That is until the Alliance attacked them. And for what? For being ruled by a Sith Lord? So many innocent people died during that war, having commited no crimes against the Alliance. My husband had to go and fight against the people that he called his brothers and sisters in order to save the people of Atrisia from unwarranted slaughter." Kay almost lost her husband that day, all in the hands of the Alliance and Silver Jedi that proclaimed themselves to be righteous and protectors of the innocent.

Kay gestured to their surroundings. "We don't carry those philosophies of pre-emptive destruction and murder here. We base it on understanding and negotiation. And look at how we prosper! War doesn't come here. There is no need for it. And that philosophy is spreading as more worlds seek to be protected. People are tired of war, tired of fighting. This is a safe haven for them. And I hope to keep it that way."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He didn't mean to lecture her, only speak his mind. He didn't expect the lecture, nor for her to raise her voice, but perhaps he should have. He listened, listened without speaking a word as she spoke out. And the thing was? She was right. Pre-emptive murder was wrong. He agreed. No matter who they were, it was wrong to kill based on an assumption. Hell, Josh didn't tend to kill based on assumptions himself... Why did he speak as though he did? Perhaps it was the thought of his brother being killed, and what had happened to his son... And even what had happened to Kay, that had fueled those thoughts in that moment.

He was kicking himself heavily for that, and he lowered his head as she spoke. It was in that moment that he allowed himself to open his mind to her through the Force. He let her see what was running through his head, he let her see what he was thinking, what he was feeling... He didn't know if he could explain it all in words. And he trusted her that she wouldn't misuse the trust he'd just given in letting her in. He hoped this would help.

But he knew, he knew she was right.

"You're right" He spoke softly. "I don't... I don't know why I even thought that for a moment. Killing based on assumption, it's wrong."

He let out a sigh and shook his head. "Perhaps I too, am tired of the fighting, tired of war. Maybe I'm just tired of being afraid that wherever I turn, someone I trust could turn out to be someone that shouldn't have had that trust, and it puts at risk my wife, my son... I guess for a second, I let my emotions get to me. I let that protectiveness get to me."

He frowned, then. "Fatherhood's changed me. I used to never even remotely think of things like this. Now all I can think of is protecting Jason. But... You're right. That sort of logic will just kill people who don't deserve to be."

His life had changed so much the last few years. Before it was just as simple as focusing on himself and the Jedi's mission and being an honorable warrior and all that... But now, he had a family. A family he needed to protect.

He closed his mind after a time. Not because he no longer trusted her, but because she'd had enough time to see and others could pry if he kept his guard down too long. Though her story of actually getting a Sith King to stand down through diplomacy... That had caught his interest, and it was the last thing she'd have likely seen from his projections mentally before he closed up shop.

"I'm curious... Tell me a bit more about this whole thing with that Sith King? I've rarely met a Sith who'd deal with diplomacy, much less actually act on it.

Perhaps our differences in how we've seen them come from our differences in station. You've seen them more in a political environment, I've seen them more when they're... Well... Yeah. Though even when I was Grandmaster, I still rarely met one. So perhaps that isn't true either. Difference in experiences?"

He did hope this idea of diplomacy with the Sith was more possible than just the one she'd met... There had to be more, right? There had to be another way.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay blinked as [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] let her into his mind. It wasn't as though she was trying at all. Most of the time it was a thing that she had avoided, given her past and how her own memories were stolen for a while, until [member="Veiere Arenais"] helped her to get them back. Yet here they were, images and feelings being brought into her mind. She understood somewhat, the feeling of being protective. She felt that over her husband, over her adopted children and soon to be born children too. She felt it over her friends, her planet, and all the other planets under their banner. They were all her responsibility to look after.

Josh started speaking again and she knew that in some way, she was getting through to him, helping him to understand. Sometimes it just takes an outside observation to get one to clue in. That was why Kay hired a variety of people. She loved to have different points of view to help keep her open minded.

The connection was closed, she felt it pull away, leaving her with a somewhat emptier feeling which she knew would dissipate in a short while.

He asked her about the Sith Lord and for a moment it was hard to tell where to start and how much detail to go into. But instead of overthinking it all, Kay just started talking. "His name is Lord [member="Mythos"] , I'm sure that you've heard of him. I lost the debate between him over Atrisia. The people chose the Sith over the Republic, believing that it would serve them better. I suppose that he felt a little sorry for me, so he invited me back to Atrisia a while later, perhaps to gloat or to show off, as is his way. He's a very proud man, you see. When I was there, I saw what was being done and the people weren't adjusting well to the changes. So I gave him my advice, helped him to win the people over by making them feel important, rather than subserviant. And it worked. My next visits showed the positive changes that my counselling gave. All was going well until they were attacked. I haven't been there since...But I have sent them aid, and housed many refugees, helped others to do so as well for a time.

There are other Sith Lords that I have negotiated with to the same kinds of positive results. It takes time, but it helps to save lives in a manner that can be far better than the destruction of worlds."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

It was a surprise that he'd let her into his mind at all, really. Since his initial incident with the Republic's Jedi Order years back, Josh rarely if not never let people into his mind. His trust in people, Jedi and Sith and neutrals alike, trust in them all was broken, likely permanently. The first physical motion that could seem harmful would cause him to shirk back, and his mind was closed off at almost all times if he could help it. He had allowed the Jedi Order in, he had allowed people in, welcomed them with open arms and they entered with knives. Now his house was under heavy guard so as not to let it happen again - to never allow himself to be vulnerable again. While Kay might not understand just what she'd been given for those very brief moments, those brief moments were very, very important. They spoke of trust beyond what he'd give just about anyone else.

He listened as she would detail opening diplomatics with this Darth Mythos... And his interest was piqued. A Sith Lord that listened to reason, was open to diplomacy other than what would grant them nothing but selfish dominion. Actually being open to suggestions and willing to loosen up and treat folks better, even if just for a practical reason. It was interesting... Very interesting. It reminded him a long time ago of what he was once like. A near-complete pacifist, even to the Sith... Trying his best even to work with them if goals aligned. All of that changed when he lost his brother, and became a husband and father of course. He couldn't afford to give that sort of trust out anymore, he had far more to lose than himself now. But it was an interesting idea.

He nodded slowly, then. "Perhaps I just haven't been exposed to everything that the Sith bring, as much as I thought" He would admit softly. "Even Masters still have much to learn, it appears."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smiled a little as [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] began to understand some of her reasonings. At least he was open to it anyways. Though of course she wasn't completely naive. She knew full well that there were Sith Lords out there that were cruel monsters in every definition of the term. No amount of negotiation or talk would get them to change or to stop hurting those that they wanted to hurt. She had learned that during her abduction.

"We learn every day. So don't feel defeated by it. The moment that we cease to learn is when we lose. But I'm glad that you understand my position in some way."

Kay got to her feet and stretched out a bit. She needed to walk more so that she could get the blood flowing again. Sitting for a while was fine, but not so much so when one was with child. "My priorities are here. Everyone living in my territory are under my care. I have to keep doing what's best for them. And that includes keeping war away from here for as long as possible."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The Jedi Master would smile lightly. "I'm not hurt by learning, though I'll admit the blow to my pride for overlooking such a thing that I feel like I should have known already is astronomical" He would admit, grinning cheekily. "I'll get over it" He joked then. He needed to be more aware of his surroundings, it seemed. He needed to know just what was outside of him, while still being able to protect those that he cared about, and what he believed in.

He would follow as he would rise to his feet and stretch out, knowing that Kay sitting too long would be unhealthy for the baby. He knew it from Shmi's habits, he'd remained home through much of her pregnancy. He would silently motion that they should probably take a walk with a flick of his head. "Guess the perspective's going to be a little different when you're on neither side of the conflict. A perspective I could probably learn a thing or two from" He would admit, relaxing with his arms behind his head as he began to walk. "It's difficult to see from the perspective of the other side. Especially when all I've seen or heard of until now are atrocities."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smirked. It was easy to be blinded by ideals, by certain points of view. She knew that well enough. Yet it was because that she had people from so many different walks of life around her, that she was able to keep her eyes and mind open to other perspectives.

She started to walk as [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] bid her to do, giving him the chance to not fall in behind."I've heard of atrocities done from both sides. It's why the lines between good and evil are so blurred. People try to justify their actions through whatever means makes them feel better. That doesn't make it right though." She chewed the inside of her cheek a little and then laughed. "If only people listened to me. Things would probably be a lot better."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I've heard of atrocities on both sides as well. Some on the "good" side have even been committed against me" He would remark, letting out a sigh as the two would take a walk. He would stick close to Kay in case she may feel ill or risk falling over. It was very similar to the way he had acted around Shmi when she was pregnant. He was obviously very much aware of the precious life that lay inside, and knew how fragile they were as well. As such, he ended up being far more protective as a result. Like he had been with Shmi, he wouldn't let her fall over, or for any harm to come to her or her child. Viere wasn't there at the moment, so someone had to, he felt.

"It's difficult to trust either side. Though with how many atrocities I've seen one side perform, it's difficult to not hold bias" He would admit, letting out a sigh then. "I'll definitely need to try in future. But it's best neither of us let our guard down either."

[member="Lady Kay"]