Hiding in Plain Sight

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Drogh"]


After a visit to one of Commenor's two moons, Kay had a desire to feel less confined. Travel had it's moments where it left her feeling claustrophobic, a result of her captivity. But with the help of her Doctor, as well as a Sith Lord that was more or less becoming a confidant of hers, she was learning to get over it. Afterall, she was a survivor more than anything else.

Kay strolled through one of the empty valley's outside of Chasin City. No guards were with her, but a drone circled around high overhead to keep watch. With no one around, she let herself be open to the Force, feeling it flow through and around her. She slipped into the trees of the forest that began near the foot of the Eldrich mountains. Here she could practice in secret while out in the fresh air.

She made her way down a path until she came to a small tree with a trunk just a couple of feet in diameter. It's height reached about 25 feet. Not too bad. Turning her focus inward, Kay concentrated on the Force, going into a slight meditative state. With an arm outstreched towards the tree, she sent her focus down below the soil and started to work at uprooting the tree, visualizing the roots as she forced them to give way and constrict, causing the soil around and beneath it to move and shake.

The drone continued to fly high above, it's cameras focused on the rustling leaves as the tree was being disturbed from it's lifelong slumber.

 

[Drogh]

Drogh hated Commenor. It was very different from Coruscant, while Coruscant was a dying Capital, Commenor was a planet that was becoming a capital. Drogh hated the city Caspin, while Coruscant was one big city, all squashed together like one big urban blob, while Commenor was far to open for his liking, Drogh enjoyed hiding in the darkness and there was little darkness to hide in. Yet he was meeting a women, a famous women, some one that could change the course of history and some say, she will. Drogh knew very little of Lady Kay, she was some President? Queen? Drogh didn't know, nor he did care, she was some women with power, which despite what many believe, probably extends further then her own planet. He found him self in the woods, tracking for her. The trees were long and wide, as the sun pierced though the gaps, giving a almost angelic atmosphere, the gentle blow against the trees, giving a almost ghostly whisper. Yet the smell of his cloak, smelling of toxins and oil, which reminded him of home, the smell was more strong as in Commoner pollution wasn't as widespread as one would think for such a trade power. Drogh carried on walking though, and the voices began talking again.

"She has a bounty, kill her." One voice said, the words dripping with bitterness and rage, the constant screaming of madness, Drogh was not the bounty hunter type, but this a rather obscure location, who would know? "No, we'll be dead before we even leave the forest if we try, she's important, we are not." The conflicting voices in his head began to ramble on. Trying desperately to ignore the voice, Drogh would carry on walking though the trees, until some thing struck him, some thing was here, it was eerie and vague but some thing wasn't right, peering his eyes forward he could almost see a vague figure, he moved more carefully, darting from tree to tree, slowly getting closer.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Almost like water, the soil moved. The tree's roots squirmed and coiled as though it were some tentacled sea creature. Ever so gently, she gave the tree a slight push and lifted it up off the ground. It was easier to do, now that the roots were untangled. But instead of lifting it high into the air, she only lifted it a foot or two. That was enough for her. She didn't need to overdo it and show off. Her gifts were something that she kept hidden and flaunting them, even in this secluded area, would be quite silly. Anyone could see such obvious actions as a tree suddenly flying through the air. Explaining a logical reason for it wpuld be impossible.

After a moment, she lowered the tree back down, gently as she eased the roots back into the soil. It needed to be stable before she fully released her hold on it, so she manipulated the strongest roots to wrap around the roots of it's neighbouring trees. Once anchored, she let it go and sat down, sweat dripping from her brow and her breathing slightly laboured.

Her ears then noticed something odd. The songs of some of the creatures living in the forest had grown quiet. Kay squinted a little as she scanned the trees, looking for movement. Then she caught it, a large shape moving through the trees. She got to her feet. "Show yourself. I know you're there."

[member="Drogh"]

 

[Drogh]

Drogh suddenly stopped in his tracks, a voice was heard, was it her? Of course it was, what else could it be? Drogh was caught between confronting her and attempting to carry on hiding, yet it was most likely futile, besides what was the point in hiding, Drogh had business with her. Slowly Drogh crept out of the shadows, under his thick and heavy cloak, it still smelling of chemicals foreign to this planet, he carried a DL-18 blaster, he didn't want to use it but he would if need be. As Drogh crept forward, he began to get a clear sight of her. Her hair was some what brown but to Drogh it seemed more black. Her skin was slightly pale he noticed, it was fair and bright in the sunlight. Her eyes were odd to say the least, for a human, it had a dead look to it, grey, yet it had glances of colour in it that came out as green. Drogh stood facing her, he was still and stoic, waiting for what she would do or say next.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

There was no point in hiding her Force Sensitivity. Not after what she had done. She watched [member="Drogh"] as he approached, the wind carrying the smells of pollution from his clothes. He was not Commenori, that much was clear. And he wore a mask, so he had plenty to hide.

"Who are you? And why were you skulking around in the trees? Did you happen to lose your way from the spaceport." She gave him an excuse, perhaps a way out to avoid confrontation. Some people loved hostility to exert their dominance. But Kay favoured strategy.

 

[Drogh]

Drogh was still and silent. A slight twitch came over him in a instant, Drogh glared down at the women, a sense of insanity overtook him, his voice twisted with anger said. "You have a bounty on your head." Drogh didn't say much after that, his heart was beating, he didn't know why she had such a bounty, perhaps she was dangerous, perhaps she was just that powerful, but despite too voices conflicting in each other, one had to win, and the that one was not looking to chat. Drogh would reach down for his DL-18 that he hid so well under his cloak, before erupting a shot from it towards the women.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

A bounty. That was why [member="Drogh"] was here. It had been a long time since she had a bounty, and longer still that it was in place before it was cashed in.

Her eyes narrowed slightly at his anger, yet his heart was racing. Clear signs that he was poised to act. So she needed to do so as well.

Kay focused on the Force, drawing it up into a shield in front of her. It was completed in the nick of time as the blaster bolt flew towards her, bouncing off to an adjacent tree. So that was the game, was it? She widened her stance, maintaining her shield while she spoke to the hunter. "Do I? Are you sure that it isn't an old one that was already cashed in? Would hate for you to go through all of this for nothing....And what makes you think that you'd be able to get off world, anyways? Especially with the planet's Queen as your cargo?"

 

[Drogh]

Drogh looked down at this blaster, as if some thing was wrong with it. Drogh then stared back at the women, how she, although with some show of effort, deflected a blaster bolt with her bare hands. Drogh was dealing with something beyond him, his trusty blaster wasn't going to save him. Then those voices came back in, one with a bloodcurdling yell "Kill her, kill her, overwhelm her, some one wants her dead, some one wants her dead." The voice repeated it's self over and over again, then came a sharp whisper like wind. "Run, run, she is above you, to powerful, she'll kill you." Drogh stood there, almost like stone unable to move, in fact he was speechless, as two voices rumbled and agured over what to do, as Drogh simply stood still, unwilling and unable to respond to what she just said.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay furrowed her brows as [member="Drogh"] did nothing but just stand there. Was he tongue tied? Awestruck? What? It was difficult to say.

She didn't relax her stance at all. There was still the offhand chance that this was all just a trick, a ploy for him to get her guard down so that he could fire again. If her Master was here, he'd of wanted her to destroy him. And she very well could do that. Yet...everyone had their part to play. She just needed to discover his.

"Well?...Are you going to be silly enough to pursue a dumb bounty, or are you going to be smart and lay down your weapons?"

 

[Drogh]

Finally, a voice kicked in. A slight twitch of the head and Drogh put his blaster in his cloak. Drogh glared ahead, he was tempted to run, but afraid that she could catch up, and even if she didn't, he would rounded up by the police and mostly shot or sent to rot in a jail, Drogh finally took the hint, she was giving him chances, she was far more powerful then him and what ever stupid reason, she was letting Drogh get away with it. Drogh didn't even know why or how he got her cornered alone or why he was even after her in the first place, his mind was all foggy and misty, hard to think clearly anymore, hard to control ones thoughts and actions, but Drogh wasn't an idiot, despite what the other voices told him. Did she want something from Drogh? Was she expecting him and some how Drogh was expecting her? Was this all lay out in front of him and just couldn't see it until now? Drogh was naturally good at seeing though people, being watchful you gain characteristics of people, certain patterns, that could be recognized in almost all sentients, as he lived in such a "melting pot." Did everyone know she was force sensitive? Drogh didn't think so, why was she hiding here, all alone? While Drogh had a mask, she had one too, yet it was more subtle, however like many, words can give small hints away.

Drogh felt forced to speak his mind, "You could kill me now if you wanted too, or send some one after me, but you're giving me chances, why?" Drogh paused for a moment, piercing his eyes at her. He spoke again "You was expecting this, wasn't you, you're not weak in the force, the tree, the blaster, I'm not stupid, you could of smelt me miles away, what do you want from me?".

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Instead of dropping his blaster, [member="Drogh"] had put it back in his cloak. Interesting. At least it was out of his hands for now.

Again he was silent, obviously pondering his next move. He was probably young. It was hard to tell due to his mask, but his indecision led her to believe this.

Finally he spoke. His questions were answered by a raised eyebrow at first. It seemed that he believed this encounter to not be an accident, but something that was foreseen. Well alright then. She could work with that. "I don't have a habit of just outright killing people. Everyone has their purpose and yours is not to die today. But after what you've seen you'll have a choice. Either you can blab it out to everyone that I'm Force Sensitive, or....you can work for me."

 

[Drogh]

Drogh looked at her almost shocked, did she even know his name? Drogh was a nobody, he could vanish into the distance and never been seen again, and to be completely honest, if he got off planet, it's unlikely Lady Kay would find him without going out of her way to do so. Drogh can hide, she can not. Drogh is no King, a simple shadow in the great tide of darkness, just another person in the trillions. And here she was, asking this person, that she knew nothing about, well Drogh was starting to question that, however if anything was certain she didn't know his name. Drogh got up closer to Lady Kay, his breathing was hollow and slow, his eyes were lifeless and dull, his mask crude and metallic.

Drogh asked. "Why should I work for you?"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay stepped forward to meet him, her eyes studying [member="Drogh"] closely. "Because it could probably save your life." Her eyes narrowed as she focused on him, looking to his chest. She brought one of her hands up, focusing on the Force, letting her anger over the past actions of some fuel her energy. As her fingers slowly closed into a fist, she attempted to squeeze his heart just enough to make him feel it, for as she had said earlier, he was not fated to die today.

Most might attempt to assert their power through lightning or a duel. But not Kay. Not today.

 

[Drogh]

Drogh stared at her with cold dead eyes, yet a shock of fear and pain hit him like a boulder, his eyes stared strongly with a piercing stare of shock and hate. Drogh moved back slightly, wondering where or not tor reach for his blaster, she was open but, some thing didn't feel right. He put his hand where his heart was, feeling it beat, it was a rapid beat as he panicked in a stoic fear. His fear was feeding on his hate, his hate feeding on his fear, two emotions bouncing of each other, Drogh was struggling to control him self, lash out violently, perhaps catch her off guard, perhaps get a blow or two, or reverse your self, stay calm and wait. Drogh was indeed struggling, constantly. He was shaking, his head moving in a spastic way, twitching like it was being shocked with lighting. Yet Drogh stared forward focusing on those green eyes with his ones, could she feel his hate? Drogh bet she loved it, a sick women, a dangerous women, Drogh was regretting all of this very quickly. Drogh remained silent still, he dared not speak, not now, he just gave her a stare.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay released her hold on [member="Drogh"] 's heart. She saw the struggle that he went through, knew what it had felt like as she had gone through it herself. And yet he did little to react. Instead he just remained a silent statue. A tiny nod signalled her approval as she lowered her hand. "A wise decision. Now tell me, what is your name?" She had to know who she was dealing with, afterall.

 

[Drogh]

Drogh had his fists clench, so much so his unkempt nails were digging into the palms of his hands, he wanted to dig his thumbs into her eyes and watch her bleed, he wanted to choke her till the air in her lungs faded, or take out a tooth one by one just so he could hear her scream, yet could she do far worse to Drogh? Should Drogh tell the truth? Lie about his name? Would she know he was lying? Drogh was never his 'real' name, what kind of name is 'Drogh', Drogh had no surname and could easily change his identity if he needed too, so Drogh finally said with cold words, spiteful words that had a heavy burden of hate over them. "Drogh." Drogh then gave her a cold stare, his eyes intense with the emotion of hate and fear, dark energy building up begging to be released, once again those voices were arguing with each other, inconsistent action would cost Drogh, all he could hope one of the voices wouldn't make him do some thing foolish.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

He was still angry. That much was clear. Kay could see it in the subtleness of his movements, feel it electrifying the air. He spoke just a single word, and she could hardly tell if he was lying or not. Didn't really matter.

" [member="Drogh"] is it? You have a lot to learn about your anger. It will draw people right to you like a beacon. Or are you trying to make yourself a target?" He needed to let it go, but right now it was clouding his judgement.

 

[Drogh]

Drogh stared at her with a eerie gaze, narrowing his eyes, she had not know the lie but some how managed to sense his emotions, Drogh had a sudden gush of fear come over him, to find out that his anger drew people to him? Drogh found it impossible to control his emotions, fear and hate is what he lived on, it was his food, his way of life. How could he control his anger? His pain, his fear all of these things were Drogh, his hate and fear made him who he was, without them he was nothing and she was asking him to "control" it? Yet, what choice did he have? He didn't want the eyes of the world praying on him, to finally control his thoughts would be a nice change, perhaps he would no longer have to live suck a painful life. "How?"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

"Don't let it have control over you. Use it as a tool, instead of the other way around. What is it that you've done in your life? Been a hunter? An assassin maybe? Or neither?"

She had plenty of more questions for [member="Drogh"] and was well aware that she didn't answer his own. Kay thought it was best to figure out who he really was first.

 

[Drogh]

She wasn't being clear, he asked for an answer, and she almost parried it, giving a vague answer and in turn asking a question. Drogh didn't partially care for work, he needed credits to survive and starvation is not a nice way to die, but Drogh could go anywhere for that, he had no doubt she was wealthy, wealthy then most, but he had no desire for her coin if it cost his identity, she was playing a game of words, parrying, defending and attacking verbally, not in crude insults but in subtle questions and vague answers, all to weed out all the weakness of Drogh no doubt, Drogh was no stranger to this. He spoke in few words, some times going for weeks not saying anything to anyone, some times he forgot what his own voice sounded like, and he would treat this no differently. "Neither." Drogh saw no reason to lie here.

[member="Lady Kay"]