I Wasn't Looking For Trouble....

[Kay-Larr]

Kay glanced to [member="Veiere Arenais"] as he just stood there, staring at the floor with his arms across his chest. She blamed herself for it of course. And for a moment she wondered if she should have brought him in the first place. That thought was short lived however. Veiere wanted to protect her.

She shifted uncomfortably on her feet as [member="Samka Derith"] spoke up. The manner in which she spoke to the both of them was a bit unnerving. The way in which she nearly demanded to be shown the evidence made her realize that her word alone wasn't trusted here. Kay came to realize just how insignificant they were to the First Order.

"Yes Sam..." She walked over to her desk and brought out her datapad, turning it on and scrolling through it. Once the right file was found, she connected it to the holo-projector and had the meeting with [member="Connor Harrison"] play out. Everything from the start of their conversation, to the stolen kisses, the blackmail and the fight for the datachip that ensued afterwards. Information about Kay's missing adopted daughter Rae-Anna was also revealed. Instead of focusing on Sam's reactions, her eyes were solely on Veiere. While the security feed was played, she placed a hand on his arm and caressed it with her thumb so that he knew that she was there.

 

[WolfMortum]

As [member="Samka Derith"] greeted him, his gaze was drawn to the girl in which he offered a brief nod, though he recognized the sarcasm in her tone and liked it none; the Knight of Ren had not yet been made aware of the situation and as angry as he was within himself, her projected hint of frustration wasn't enough to warrant an equal response. It was difficult to distance himself from his general distrust of her people while at the same time wanting to like the younger woman for their past affiliations, yet given their current predicaments, Veiere was in no right state of mind to be smiling through his teeth and playing host to the facade of politics and his temperament was being tested here now as [member="Lady Kay"] sought to play the projection, the recordings of what had happened lighting up the room around them to be viewed in size realistic to the time and incident as if they were there when it happened, watching it unfold all over again.

Back on Commenor, Kay had told him in some detail what had happened yet seeing it for himself like this brought a knot to this stomach. His eyes followed [member="Connor Harrison"] as the holo-projector showed them all of what was said and displayed in explicit detail their reactions and expressions, their struggle and their argument. She had given him details over Rae-Anna, her age of two decades and her last known location on Bakura of which was First Order space these days. Their marriage was soon brought up to which Veiere's pride was again gnawed at in Connor's remark about them marrying for convenience. The implications from this man that knew nay a thing about either of them or what they'd been through, his jaw tensed as his eyes watched the unveiling recording knowing not the impact that it was having on his presence within the force, his aura weighing heavy on the room around them, his mind captivated by the viewing and not once looking to the pair despite Kay's hand coming to touch upon his arm; the conversation between her and Connor continued to which kept Veiere poised in place as Connor then declared that he wanted Kay as his price for helping her to find her daughter. Such arrogance...

His gaze dropped away from the viewing though he continued to listen to it while his gaze took in her hand at his side, seeking to find Kay's presence as his rock to which he would center himself upon and try to negate the anger that was churning inside of him. The Jedi Code had taught him to stray far from such impulses and yet it had been a great many years since he had served under the Jedi Order, seen the impact that the Order of the Galactic Alliance had had against the world of Atrisia, the destruction and war that they had brought with them, his past offered him no sanctuary now where the audio was keeping him from finding the quiet of the Force. The struggle between her and Connor soon began, the man taking Kay by the neck, forcing Veiere's right hand to tighten and ball into a fist as his eyes were again drawn to the display. He silently wishing that Kay had drawn upon her lightsaber and pierced the mans chest or gullet with it. Her compassion and hesitance to resort to violence was admirable in most cases yet now in this moment, Veiere would have liked to have seen her strike the man down for his attack on her, his threatening their family. Commenor may be a smaller power compared to the First Order and the Silver Jedi Order that Connor had once been apart of but standing there, Veiere felt like bringing all of it crushing down on her aggressor.

The Holo-recording would eventually cease and for a time Veiere would be left standing with the two women silent and fuming. The First Order, more specifically the Knights of Ren had every right to handle this situation given that this attack had come from one of their own, despite being within the Embassy that Commenor held on their world. Had it not been one of their own then Veiere would have demanded that judgement be left to their hands; the infuriating fact was that this was not the case and they had to give the First Order the respect they were due. "What is the appropriate response we can expect from your people regarding this...-Attack" Veiere forced the words, turning slowly to look across the room to Samka Derith in wait of an answer.

 

[Samka Derith]

Sam's face was impassive at first as the footage played out in front of her but her face began to twitch the longer it went on. A flicker of her brow, a crinkle of her nose both betraying a growing feeling of disgust within. It finally showed without question as she watched the Acolyte assume their empire's backing for his every action, she snorted and a humourless smirk crossed the young woman's face.

"I see," Sam said quietly once the footage was over, her head shifting through a dozen thoughts. As she pondered, her eyes drifted to the couple with her. "I didn't doubt you, you should know, I merely required the specifics of what I was dealing with," her tone soft and sympathetic while her expression was one of understanding and regret. Did she actually feel sorry for the woman? At this point, Sam herself was unsure. Once upon a time she certainly would have but now that she'd sunk deeper into the Dark Side such emotions had begun to elude her. But her personal feelings were irrelevant, whether it was a front or not, [member="Lady Kay"] and [member="Veiere Arenais"] would see a face of sympathy. "I wish you had thought to come to me first, I'm so sorry."

Her head cocked to the side as the Jedi asked of her response, turning slowly towards her. You're angry, she thought and a more base desire to push and convert the Jedi threatened to surface. But she wasn't here to bring the Light into the Dark today, bonds must be repaired, not tested. "Truthfully, Harrison has been Missing in Action since the fighting on Skor. We're working on locating him but progress is slow, he may even be dead." Sam paused for a moment before continuing the conversation along a different path.

"My Order serves our Empire first and foremost. We are the watchers in the darkness, doing what we have to to keep our people safe. Every action we take, every decision we make is with the end goal of benefiting the First Order and, of course, its people. Personal attachments, wants and desires are suspended as every moment is spent becoming a more effective tool of our Supreme Leader." Sam's eyes dropped back to where the holo had played, "at least, that's the theory."

Her lips pursed together in disdain, "Such behaviour, to place one's own... lust at the forefront of one's decision making... to jeopardise our Empire's relations with a valued partner and friend like Commenor... It is nothing short of unforgivable. Firstly, your Majesty," Sam curtsied towards Kay, "I hope you will accept my personal apology on behalf of my Order and my Empire for this ghastly incident. Your business on Bakura has my blessing. Secondly," Samka's tone became more sinister and her expression darkened, a subtle change in the atmosphere accompanied her own changes, the cold fear of the Dark Side leaking from the young Ren as she spoke, "Allow me to deal with the repercussions myself, I understand you have been wronged here but so have I. Such selfishness is an utter betrayal of our ways and I will not stand for it. Do either of you have objections?"

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay could feel the anger growing in [member="Veiere Arenais"] as he watched the recording, yet still she caressed his arm. She didn't watch the recording, having already experienced it. There was no need to see what she had already replayed in her mind over and over again. He clenched his fist, averted his eyes to her hand, and still she didn't stop. He needed to calm down.

When it was over, she looked to [member="Samka Derith"] as Veiere asked what would be done in response. Kay listened as Sam spoke, saw the expressions on her face and believed them to be genuine. Perhaps if she had shown another man the recording, it might have gone differently. But to show the recording to a young woman like Sam, it had a more powerful impact.

And that was what would be needed to perhaps stave off Veiere's anger somewhat.

Kay nodded to Sam, accepting her apology. "Thank you. And as much as I would like to have Connor face justice on Commenor, his actions were done here. So that falls into your jurisdiction, Sam. I don't want this to become a wedge or a major issue between our two governments. It wasn't as though it was a plan that any of you put in place. So you have my permission to take care of this matter. And thank you for giving our search your blessing." Hopefully they would be closer to finding Rae Anna and bringing her home.

 

[WolfMortum]

The [member="Lady Kay"] seemed so easily swayed to leaving things in the hands of the First Order, Veiere's glance being drawn to her with a hint of surprise and disappointment for how easily she seemed to let go of the situation. Veiere on the other hand wanted assurances, though he had to curb his temper some in approaching how to speak to [member="Samka Derith"], she of whom would likely play on every heated word he might speak to her. "How fortunate for [member="Connor Harrison"] that someone else has already given him sanctuary" the word he used for the mans capture holding a good deal of skepticism over the situation, though he waved his right idly as if to dismiss the comment, speaking further "We would appreciate being informed when this matter has been dealt with Samka. Connor currently presents a threat to Kay's daughter's well-being. The sooner this is handled the more at ease we will be...". The young-looking Knight of Ren had fairly swiftly dismantled Veiere's momentum in wanting to seek out the man personally, there having been little hope that he too might participate with the approval of the First Order within their space, he took a moment to consider his words before speaking up on the desire, "This matter is personal to us both, I'm afraid. I had intended on bringing him to justice myself though given his direction was heading to Bakura last before this apparent capture, it's in your hands...-If however he steps outside of your sector and into ours, I trust you will understand should he force my hand. You would of course be notified...".

Reluctantly, Veiere was forced to accept that for the time being, any further ability they had to control the situation was out of their hands. The First Order had a reputation, or rather a rumor around their often extreme methods in dealing with situations affecting their immediate goals or ideals; at the least Veiere had some reassurance that the Knights of Ren would tend to Connor and his misdeeds. "We do appreciate your attention to the issue, unfortunately Connor has not been the only one to make an attempt against Kay and myself recently..." Veiere's thoughts had turned to a possible compromise given how easily Samka seemed to gain access to information more sensitive than most, their marriage for example. "I wonder if perhaps you could look into something for us both, considering Connor is out of my hands, might you be willing to look into a different name for me, that I might know how best to pursue the man...". [member="Brennan Cabrol"] had recently entered back into Veiere's life in a most startling turn of events. The former Padawan of Veiere's, thought to be dead, had seemingly arisen with some kind of grudge against Veiere himself. His actions had seen to the destruction of the Eldritch Estate in which Veiere had called home for so long, and an attempt on Kay's life entering into combat against her while he himself had been away dealing with the attack of the Sith against the Silver Jedi on Voss.

"His name is Brennan Cabrol, a former Jedi Padawan whom I myself mentored over back when we were stationed at the Jedi Enclave on Svivren just over a decade back. By now he must be...-In his twenties perhaps, obviously no longer with the Jedi Order from what Kay told me. Through her he sought to intimidate me, though nothing has been heard nor seen of him since and he's managed to erase his emmission trails completely. We're confident he's no longer in Commenori space" Veiere crossed his arms, stepping back to half sit upon the desk looking back across the room to Samka hoping that she might accept his request and look into the second of Kay's aggressors while she was at it. He didn't expect a great deal though if even just by a chance something might come up in their cross-hairs in the distant future then that would be something more than what they had as it stood.