In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke [Techno Union Dominion of Ascension]

[Crix Meriet]

3/20
Objective Three : Gloat
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies or Enemies (it's hard to tell): [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Thais Kallisto"]

Crix smiled as he was escorted in by an ascension guard. As far as he was concerned he was the only one coming and he was only really here to gloat, he was beyond amused by the whole scenario and he had to hold in a smirk as he was led through the prison. He had an offer of help for the princess, a return to friendship but he doubted she would take it. The price to remove the thorn which had poisoned him against her was a costly one. They were holding the who here truly it must be a dream . This was too funny , he could imagine her face when she saw the place she was going to be livid. They soon left the squalour to enter a far cleanlier area of the prison. He was disappointed, no doubt he would find a perfectly content princess. Curse the world and it's persistent disappointments.

Then he was face to face with her so he forced a soft smile one which portrayed pity to mask his sheer glee. She never should have tried to hurt his Toby.

"Quite the wedding Majesty" He smirked "People will be talking about it for a long time ... those who survived anyway" everybody loved a scandal, most definitely a high society scandal and what was more scandalous than a wedding massacre. Then his smile dropped "You, guard fetch me a chair" He clicked at the man "having survived a butchery I'm rather devoid of energy" He said to no one in particular "and Her majesty will not mind" He added turning once more to the princess almost daring her to object.

"We are in trouble your grace ..." Well less 'we' and more 'you' but he left that unsaid. Indeed the Isis government was the least of her worries Crix had created rumblings across the galaxy. No one would save her now ... not without him. She might win the battle but she would be shattered by the war.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

5/20

For now, in this prison everything was going swimmingly. It was like I was on cloud nine. There weren't many things that could make this day better. I had gotten to kill people under just pretenses. Just by my accounts anyway. I had ruined Xander's big day as totally and completely as someone could short of killing the man, and now... Now I had his wife and unborn child. And make no mistake, I had them. These people from Isis that wanted to take her back to her home and try her for her crimes did so on my whim. And I was seriously considering just bashing her head in and sending the corpse to her would be husband. Maybe make a nice example of her and execute her personally this afternoon and send him the recording. Oh, the possibilities.

Behind me walked the big armored wookiee Gorran, his Force Sense as sharp as his nose. But he wasn't with me for that. He was with me because he was a seven foot tall beskar armored wookiee and nothing got in a seven foot tall beskar armored wookiee's way when it wanted something. And what Gorran wanted was to make sure I left with whatever and whomever I wanted today. Knocking on the door to her cell block, I heard the metallic ring of metal on metal. The guard excused himself from the room and entered the little holding area outside of her view.

"I'll need to check your weapons." He said glancing at the large assortment each of us carried.

"Yeah good luck with that." But nonetheless I started pulling off weapons, pistols, knives, and axes. "Go tell her the Foreman is here to conduct his preliminary interview. Oh, and tell her I'm an old friend of Xander's." I instructed the guard. Nothing would give me more satisfaction than building her hopes only to smash them down around her in an instant. Shame. If she had been marrying literally anyone else this talk would be much different.

[member="Crix Meriet"]
[member="Thais Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Objective Three
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies: [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Crix Meriet"] [member="Dorskit Wolf"]
Post: 10/20

Princess Kallisto was so relieved to see Crix Meriet's familiar face that she nearly started crying. Even though they hadn't been the best of friends as of late, he was smiling at her - a self-satisfied, cat-like grin. Was he happy to see her? Yes, yes, he was... he had to be, or at least that's the way she interpreted in her desperate attempt to remember that she had allies who would help her out of this mess.

"Crix, it was horrible. Just horrible. All of those dead monarchs. I'll never be able to live this down." Quite literally, she was worried that she would be summarily executed. Not only did she have a slew of charges for her misdeeds on Isis, but there was a possibility she could be charged with the deaths on Ascension too. The entire planet would be looking for someone to blame. Once she gave birth to Abigail there would be nothing to protect her from an angry lynch mob. Unless Mr. Meriet and these others visiting could help her.

"Of course we are in trouble. But you have a plan, right? Please tell me you have a plan. Who is this Vereen fellow? And where is my lawyer?"

Thais felt a sharp pain in her lower belly. She breathed deeply, and it passed. Hold it together, Thais. Or you wil be giving birth right in this very cell, she thought.

 

[Crix Meriet]

4/20
Objective Three : Gloat
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies or Enemies (it's hard to tell): [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Thais Kallisto"]


Crix smiled, looking at the princess with her relief and the smiles and the near tears. Such a pretty porcelain fool. Even now she did not seem to understand that she had hurt him and now he was going to hurt her and my would she suffer. In her desperation she seemed to have forgotten his words on Nar Kreeta he would have her loyalty or Isis would have her head it seemed she'd rather part with her head.

"I'm sure it was horrible your grace" He cooed, he knew it was horrible he'd watched it. It was horrid even before the bullets started "As for living it down my Lady we can deal with that later ... " He sighed, no doubt she would not be living very long. Crix had read the charge sheet a mix of true misdeeds and lies invented by Crix and others. As for the princess's daughter he had a few plans for her. His chair was delivered and crix collapsed back, he regretted not bringing Toby, if he had thought he could have made a bigger impact if Toby was here. Then of course Toby could also be useful in taking the kinks out of crix and making a point of giving Thais the cold shoulder.

He sighed at her questions fired at im at breakneck speed "Mr. Vereen is the Techno Union foreman" The he rolled his head his neck was sore, Crix blamed all the stress he'd suffered through "As for your lawyer I don't know about him"
Then a smile crept onto his face "I have a great many plans " He replied "Just like you did when you tried to sell Toby, when you had King Xander beat me to a pulp , when you dragged me bruised and battered to suffer through a string of meetings and finally when you failed to lift a finger in my defence when the fat lord pulled a gun on me" He tipped his head "So I'm afraid majesty that I need a little motivation to risk my life enacting his plans, Prove that you do still appreciate me"

 

[Armand Temi]

Objective Three
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies: [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Crix Meriet"] [member="Dorskit Wolf"]
Post: 11/20

When Crix sat down on a seat which had been brought out for him, Thais finally lowered herself onto the flimsy excuse for a bed. How she was every going to sleep on such a thin, hard mattress was anyone's guess? But maybe she would be out by then. Maybe...

Oh Mr. Meriet is speaking again. I better listen to this, thought Princess Kallisto. But as soon as she started paying attention, she wanted to block it all out again. Why was he bringing up all of those horrible incidents from the past?!? They had both been rather ill-behaved towards each other. She wanted to say that he started it all by choking her in the Hutt slavers's tent on Nar Kreeta, but glancing around her surroundings, she thought better of it.

"Of course I appreciate you, darling," the Princess said, rising and coming towards the bars. She reached her hand out between them. It was unusually bare as her fingers and wrists were normally adorned with jewelry. But the Guards had stripped her of any of her expensive baubles.

"Anything you want. Anything. A stake in the mines. Percentage of the profits. Your own mine on another planet. You just say the word and it's yours."

Thais thought she saw another figure beyond the doors. Perhaps that was the Techno Union Foreman?

"Now let's go home," she said, her voice cracking with a touch of strain. "You are going to take me home now, aren't you?"

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Objective: Toy with the Princess
Location: Prison on Ascension
Prey?: [member="Crix Meriet"] | [member="Thais Kallisto"]
6/20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCSs5QggRUk​

“No, this one I keep.” I said to the guard hefting the ostrine field axe I carried. I hadn’t had time to clean it yet and it was now covered in dried blood. My armor had mud and blood caked onto it from the afternoon’s excursion, some splatter on the visor of the helmet now carried in the crook of my arm. The field axe was deposited in a loop on my belt and I nodded at the door. Instinctively Gorran, the big wookiee opened it and held it for me.

“You can stand out here. I will be meeting with the princess privately.” I told the guard, dark grey eyes piercing through him. If he was a man of even moderate intelligence he understood the threatening glare. And if he couldn’t, perhaps the armored wookiee could make it clearer if he did insist on listening in.

Now for the good part, the seeing her hopes and dreams die around her, and then playing with her some. I wanted to feel her fear pulsate through the Force. There was another in the room, but he hardly mattered. Little more than a mouse to watch the dog tear into the little cat that tried to fight above her weight class.

“Well hello again Princess. Lovely wedding, amazing reception, I thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment.” I said with a wicked smile as I approached the man sitting in the chair. “Go find a corner.” I ordered, not bothering to look down at him at all. He could stay and watch, beneath my notice, but it was my turn to play with the Princess.

“I must admit. I had no idea who the groom was when I started shooting grenades at your guests, so I feel I must apologize. If I had of known you were marrying him things would have been different.” Sick and twisted glee swam in the Force around me. I was angry, but at least I was getting to take it out on someone right now. “I’ve always hated him. Maybe I am just being petty or envious of him, but I would have loved to snatch everything from him today, to make him watch you bleed out and die in front of him, unable to do anything. The thought of him suffering like that, like I have, at long last, seeing his perfect little life crashing and burning around him all at once. Well, I am still excited from just imagining it.” My composure was lost, I was standing in a fairly nice cell with a pregnant woman, speaking with my hands.

I glanced at the little man also in the room. What I said here wouldn’t matter if he told others, they were insignificant, and right now there was a fifty fifty chance I was the only person who would leave the room alive. There was only one other person who needed to see this, and she would get the recording from my helmet as a warning and a lesson. “But, that isn’t important right now.” I said, my tone getting darker, more serious despite my jovial features.

I grinned, moving to stand directly in front of her, leaning down over her a bit, staring into her eyes, piercing into her mind. “What’s important is what to do with you now.” Maybe I had snapped, but I was really enjoying myself.

 

[Crix Meriet]

5/20
Objective Three : Gloat
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies or Enemies (it's hard to tell): [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Thais Kallisto"]

Crix watched Thais sink into the thin mattress, she looked smaller without the grandeur. She was clearly unused to suffering, were she not so aggravating and were she nicer to his darling Toby he might have pitied her all alone behind the bars. He still hadn't decided whether to help ...

As for why he was dredging up the past, it's because thats all that mattered she had tormented him and since the king in the closet had arrived she had all but forsaken him. He didn't want to hate her that required effort but she just kept kicking him. Seemingly at every opportunity she found a way to hurt him. Granted he hurt her too but she started it when she threatened his Toby, she knew he loved the man and she tried to sell him right in front of crix's face. Like her however he remained silent and still.

She broke the silence by walking to the bars. Threading her hand through to him devoid of flashy jewels it was a gesture that matched the affection in her words, but crix was skeptical. Her prior actions conflicted with her present claim 'appreciate' the whore didn't know the meaning of the word. Ever graceful however crix stood with a fond smile and took her hand running his thumb over the knuckle. Might as well make some effort to play his scripted part afterall.

She promised him anything he wanted bringing a smile "Majesty I am not a poor man I have plenty of money, that's not what I want from you " Thais did after all already paid him a handsome wage "I need three things from you, first an apology to Toby for the incident on Nar Kreeta in person and without condescension and a promise that you will never seek to harm him again " So help her if Crix was not convinced of her sincerity when he brought Toby "Secound I want you to enact an act of succession naming me protector of the realm of Isis in your absence until a legitimate heir is produced and of age" There would not be an heir if crix got his way "Thirdly I want you to break it off with King Blackmoor a scandal is brewing and I doubt he will be suitable for your majesty when it is over" Crix planned to have the noble king ousted by his One sith pay masters.

She was practically begging to be allowed home. Crix just frowned "I'll do what I can Majesty, but it seems the foreman wants your indulgence first" Then he let go of her hand and stepped back as the Foreman barreled in. Crix was ordered out of the way and he wasn't about to disobey a man drenched in blood who had an equally bloodstained Axe. "As you wish" He grunted tipping his head at the guard silently ordering him to move the chair to a corner.

Then he watched. The man was imposing likely terrifying the porcelain princess a great deal as he advanced on her. Crix rather liked him, he hated Xander too. "I hate him too Mr. Vereen" Crix piped up "A brute and a fool" He rested his head on his hand. He caught the glance of the imposing man. scary eyes ... like Sage's was this man force sensitive. Crix continued to watch and listen silently, he would no doubt speak later but for now it was best to listen. This man seemed dangerous.

 

[Armand Temi]

Objective Three
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies: [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Crix Meriet"]
Post: 12/20

"Crix, I can certainly promise not to harm Toby, and I will apologize profusely when I see him next, but as for the other two requests? I don't know how I can accommodate..." Thais began, but she stopped abruptly when she noticed the door open again.

The Princess gazed upon the bloody, mud-covered form of Draco Vereen. Her eyes widened, and her skin grew pale and clammy. It was as though the grim reaper himself was coming for her. An axe swung from a belt loop, also caked with blood. Had he been at the wedding? The Techno Foreman himself? Fear and confusion flooded her mind, adrenaline spiked through her body. No wonder her fellow noblemen and women carried around those cyanide pills. She would almost swallow one now if she had it, but for Abigail. You need to stay strong for your daughter, she told herself. Remember who you are, Thais. Princess Thais Kallisto of Isis. She wished it sounded less hollow in her own head.

She bowed a Princess curtsy to the Mandalorian Foreman and said snidely, "I'm glad you enjoyed the wedding." Then she set her jaw firmly and titled her head up defiantly, a tight frown on her young face as she listened to Draco. Thais could understand why Crix Meriet disliked Xander Blackmoore, but it appeared as though the Techno Union Foreman did as well, and why remained a mystery to her. But like everything else that she encountered, she would try to use this to her advantage.

A pronounced tremble could be heard in her voice when she asked, "Are you here to kill me? It seems the one you both would like to kill is King Blackmoore, quite honestly."

Truth be told, Thais still loved Xander. She longed for him in fact. The Princess wasn't ready to throw her Sith Lord lover under the metaphorical speeder as it were. But she did need to protect Abigail, and she would no matter the cost. But hopefully, Thais would not be forced to implicate him as well.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Objective: Toy with the Princess
Location: Prison on Ascension
Prey?: [member="Crix Meriet"] | [member="Thais Kallisto"]
7/20

I smiled, good she had some fight left in her. “Well, I haven’t decided what to do with you. Your government wants to try you in open court. The Deputy Governor thinks he can get the death penalty with the evidence he has. I really just wanted to ruin your wedding day as payment for you placing a bounty on my head. Figured it would scare you into cancelling the one you have on any and all Mandalorians that hit Muunilist. And well, I don’t know what he wants.” I said gesturing to the man in the corner. "And I am all for suggestions on how to deal with you."

“It was merely luckily coincidence I got to ruin Xander’s wedding as well. Now I am holding his family’s fate in the palm of my hand. It really doesn’t get any better than this. Trust me when I tell you there are far worse things than death, princess.” I took a deep breath and clasped a hand around the lock. Part of me wanted to tear away this last barrier between us and snap her neck now. It would be a swift end to the bounty, and I could always send her pretty little head back to Xander. If she weren’t pregnant, that would be the plan. But she was, and it was beyond my depravity to harm an innocent child, even for revenge, justice, or jealousy.

I exhaled and calmed significantly on the exterior, but the hefty fearful aura still seeping into the Force. “But, a child… a child I cannot harm. So I will offer you a few choices for what happens to you and the infant in your belly.” I turned my head to regard the man in the room. He was average. Heat conducted through my hand into the lock, slowly making the metal glow red and then I yanked on the door causing it to come ajar and the bars to swing open.

There was a sound outside the room where the guard was, muffled noises as the guard tried to make his way into the room. The sound of a wookiee growling could be heard then a sickening crunch, and silence. I could feel the life leave the guard. One could only guess why he had tried to force his way around a fully grown armored wookiee.

Stepping through into her cell I advanced on her slowly, “And you see princess… only one of those options is your death.”

 

[Armand Temi]

Objective Three
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies: [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Crix Meriet"]
Post: 13/20

To say Thais was afraid was an understatement. She was nearly blind with terror. Her heart beat so loud, she felt like the entire prison center could hear it. But she stayed very still in the practiced way that nobility often did. And there it was. The real reason Draco was here - the bounty on Mandalorian soldiers! It all made sense now. The Princess had issued that bounty in a show of solidarity with Munn Mines after it was attacked by a rogue Mandalorian unit. Or so she thought, the details were escaping her at the moment, mostly because she was locked in a cold jail cell with no idea of when she would be free.

"I believe you when you say there is a fate worse than death. I have experienced that fate, unfortunately. At the age of twelve, both my parents were murdered in my own home. Trust me, I prayed for death in the days afterwards. I cursed the maker - why did they not take me too?" she asked, her voice cracking now, the tears beginning to fall. It was only a matter of time before she would fully break down, but Thais wasn't there quite yet.

"But I'm older now, though probably none the wiser. And like you, I cannot kill a child," she said, with a hint of smugness. With the back of her hand, she wiped away her tears, streaking her mascara across her cheek in the process. Her eyes darted to Crix as if to say "Please help me." But she felt more alone than ever.

But as the Foreman abruptly flung the door open, Thais started and began to back away slowly. "If you murdered me, there would be such a scandal," she said, stumbling slightly. Her footsteps kept going until she could feel the duracrete wall behind her with her fingertips. "And as Foreman of the Techno Union you can't just kill the sovereign ruler of a planet... you can't. It just wouldn't be allowed..."

The Princess trailed off. She had literally hit the wall behind her. There was nothing else to do but negotiate or die.

And dying was not an option. Not in this way.

 

[Crix Meriet]

6/20
Objective Three : Gloat
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies or Enemies (it's hard to tell): [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Thais Kallisto"]

Crix smiled gently and without fakery at the princess's first promise. Toby was more important than anything else for Crix and he knew that having to apologize to a slave would wound the whores pride. He squeezed her hand "Toby means a great deal to me and I will not see him hurt again" He soothed gently but bristled as Thais began to make excuses for the other conditions. None the less he was forced to yield his space to Draco so he never managed to respond.

Crix chuckled into his hand at the princesses theory that she was safe and that both Crix and Draco sought only Xanders blood. That was not completely true Crix wanted to punish Thais and her king in the closet and death seemed like the fastest way but it was not the only way he would accept. He still remained silent still as This was after all mostly his fault much of the hard evidence had come from him. He had promised her on Nar kreeta that whilst he had saved her when he arrived he could easily unsave her and he met his promises. Thais was most amusing as she tried to remain composed in the face of her fear embodied such a childish little fool, thrust into the deep-end

Then the foreman confirmed Crix's suspicion melting the prison lock. Definitely a force user. He raised a brow with a smirk "Do you open all doors like that?" He asked. Draco could open his doors anytime he had whisky. No that was inappropriate and Draco would likely break him. Then his gaze was cast to the noise outside the sound of bones shattering "How inconvenient" he mused with an exaggerated pout "I was about to ask him to fetch me a drink ... can your companion make tea?" He asked with an inclined head. Argh his head hurt. No doubt the wookie would be inept at making tea all savage species were.

Of Course he was largely ignored ... as usual. It seemed all this talk of the royal whores fate was more important than his need for tea. When he returned his attention to Thais she was coming apart tears blackening her eyes. He sighed softly and rose passing Thais a handkerchief through what remained of the bars "Wipe your eyes Majesty" he whispered. He wasn't about to enter the cell though so the only help shed get would be verbal. Crix was not a fighter. "Might I also suggest majesty that now is not the time for smugness and bravado ... the law here is irrelevant Mr. Vereen has an axe and that can cut through you lawful or not" He turned to Draco "If I may sir can I urge you on her graces behalf to allow her to prove her innocence at trial on her home planet before her people" He put his hands behind his back "What options does her grace have?" He asked. Someone had to keep this moving or this would die here and crix would be deprived of his view of her public embarrassment. "I doubt any of us wants undue hassle"

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Objective: Toy with the Princess
Location: Prison on Ascension
Prey?: [member="Crix Meriet"] | [member="Thais Kallisto"]
8/20

I continued smiling as she backed herself against the wall. “Oh, and who in this room could stop me?” I asked, hearing her almost pathetic pleas. There might be repercussions for killing her in cold blood, but certainly no more than there had been openly besieging a Republic World, kidnapping Jedi, and raiding worlds under the protection of the Covenant. No, consequences wasn’t something I feared. Death was the worst they could do to me, and I kind of welcomed that. The eternal loneliness of life was weighing on me more and more as each day passed. “No, you haven’t seen suffering yet. Imagine each day alone, knowing that despite everything you do, you will die utterly alone and no one will remember you fondly. That no one will miss you once you’ve gone. That is what suffering is.”

The man spoke up. Perhaps I could make an example of him so she understood exactly where she was right now. No, I had no knowledge of this man. “No. Only locked doors I want unlocked. And Gorran can make drinks, however he is a wookiee warrior. I wouldn't treat him like a servant unless you can beat him in battle.” I smiled wryly. “Gorran, do you have any grog on you?” I asked loudly enough the wookiee could hear. The two meter tall hairy, armored creature stepped through the door to the room with a growl and a rumble, placing a jug on the ground before returning to his watch post. The jug smelled of spice and alcohol. Strong alcohol.

I returned my gaze to the princess. “I am prepared to lobby in her defense, demand she be found innocent in the court.” I took a step back from her, ushering her to sit on the bed. “Or that her sentence not be her life.” I peered into her eyes, trying to force my presence into her mind and peer at the secrets she held there.

I relaxed, crossing my arms and tapping two fingers on my biceps. There were a thousand possibilities here, and most of them were decidedly evil and cruel. She had paid her debts in my mind, the rest was simply getting at the pompous prince who had it all. Why should he be happy when every day that passes I wallow in misery? No, he would suffer some for this. “Assuming Xander ever truly cared about you, which is doubtful. You can convince him his life for yours and his daughter’s. But even if you would be willing, him sacrificing himself is laughable.”

“No, your options are simple. Your friend here can have the child, or I can take her and raise her among my clan. I can’t speak for him, but I will treat her as a member of the family, as I have many others in the past. And once you have paid your pittance, you can visit her.” If she could tell, my words were sincere, truthful, as much as I hated the idea of having Xander’s blood in my house, it would be a fitting punishment for Thais.

“And your fate is simple too. You are a slaver, so you will be a slave. Seven years you will serve a master of your slaves' choosing.” Mind control was a beautiful thing. I could let anyone pick who she would serve and still make the decision myself. The illusion of control was important for this. I wanted to see the betrayal in her eyes as her favorite servant that she treated so well all these years picked some horrid warlord or monster.

 

[Armand Temi]

Objective Three
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies: [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Crix Meriet"]
Post: 14/20

In any other situation, these options would be flatly refused. Declared preposterous even! Thais would storm out of her sitting room and have whoever had proposed them thrown out of the Crystal Palace. But she was alone in a cell with a blood-caked Mandalorian. Crix Meriet was right, blast him. She couldn't afford to be stubborn or smug. The choice was clear to Thais. It was either one of these options or death.

If she was without child, she would have allowed herself to be executed, rather than give up her throne, her company and everything that was her right. But she had to make sure Abigail survived. And if they both survived, there was a chance of reunion sooner even... if she was good. If she followed along like a dutiful Princess would. And perhaps Xander, her first and only love, would even come find her. Help save her from all of this disaster that she'd brought upon herself.

She swallowed hard and the tears finally stopped.

"I wouldn't allow you to take Xander's life. I cannot do that to someone I love," said Thais, beginning to talk her way through the miserable choices.

She glanced quickly at Crix. "I will become a slave, but only for the master of Crix Meriet's choosing. He will be in charge of my company and Palace while I am in this seven years of purgatory," she spat, frustration now showing. She instinctively placed her hand on her stomach and gazed directly into Draco's eyes. Thais's countenance was stoic, but her voice cracked as she spoke: "You will take Abigail, and you will raise her. I will provide you with credits to make sure she has the best of everything."

Thais sighed deeply and then said finally, "My only request is that in seven years - if I survive this hellish torture and provided Mr. Meriet doesn't bankrupt me - I will be allowed to return to my throne, reclaiming everything I had and that Abigail is delivered back to me."

Her back still to the wall, her mind still swimming, the Princess looked at Draco and then at Crix to see what reaction either of them had. Her biggest reservation was that she didn't know how barbaric Draco really was. He had certainly shown her cruelty today in his words, but his actions showed otherwise. The Foreman hadn't maimed her or slaughtered her. He wasn't going to throw her in a dungeon to rot. He had shown her some sort of mercy, but she was still wary of him taking her only daughter.

"One more thing," she said suddenly. "I will need proof from you that Abigail is being treated well. Some type of correspondence or holos to let me know she is okay."

 

[Crix Meriet]

6/20
Objective Three : Gloat
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies or Enemies (it's hard to tell): [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Thais Kallisto"]

The forman continued to chastise Thais. Crix was enjoying this a great deal. His face didn't show it though he remained stoic. He seemed to know just what to say to terrify the princess. Crix picked up on the subtle threat behind all the talk of suffering. Draco vereen was a man after his own heart. Perhaps a touch brutish for him though.

Then Draco's attention was turned on him. It seemed draco had no interest in Crix's doors that was perhaps for the best " Tell me about it Stud" He whispered with a coy smirk. In terms of the wookie and his drinks ability Crix was surprised " There is no risk of me antagonising that wookie ... I value my arms" He smiled but he did still get his drink , Grog was better than nothing. He smiled as he moved over to the jug pouring himself a drink of the strong stuff "anyone else?" He asked, it was after all eight o'clock somewhere.

He listened to the options offered by the foreman. Behind door number one her own death ; door two the death of the king in the closet ; door three slavery. They were all so good. He'd be happy with any of them. They were all embarrassing and degrading. The coming days would be glorious, He had dreamed of seeing Thais dragged low since Nar Kreeta and finally it was going to happen. He covered his glee behind his cup. He hoped she swung for the slavery condition 7 whole years of watching her degraded. 7 whole years ...

He was practically bowled over when she acquiesced not only going for the slavery but also giving him immeasurable power, his choice of master, Power over the Palace and ownership of the mines. "You do me honour majesty" he smiled wide "I will see to it that you are properly treated". He tossed over in his head who to give her too, he might do her mercy and give her to Toby. She would be embarrassed but Toby would not see her mistreated, Crix would still make her suffer when Toby wasn't around though ... of course when was Toby not around Crix. Then again perhaps it was better to get her out of his hair he could decide later.

Of course she wanted all that remained of her estate back in 7 years well Crix would be damned if he saw that happen . Once he got his freedom he would avoid giving it up for as long as he could. He rather wanted to leave now he had so much to do but he doubted he would be free to do so.

 

[Raziel]

An underground secret prison complex. How positively cliché, Raziel thought as he approached the security checkpoint. He appraised his surroundings with a professional eye. Autoblasters mounted in cavities behind the turbolift shift and above the desk. The thin bezel around the opening to the guardhouse desk would focus both ray and particle shields in a moment's notice. There was a double set of mark seventeen doors between this lobby and the main complex. Between them would be a range of scanners. There was apparently no way to break through a set of doors certified to MK.17 standards without a main battle tank. Raziel knew seven.

Wearing a crisp black suit, Raziel body approached the desk. He slid a matte grey card through the gap. The uniformed officer behind the bars simply looked up at him.

“I have no scheduled appointments,” he stated flatly.

“Swipe the card. Boy,” Raziel replied. He fixed the young human with a cool stare and waited.

The card was picked up and tapped against the scanner. The guard blanched. This time the confidence had evaporated from his tone. “Who were you here to see?”

“I believe she's in your records as seven three auresh,” Raziel replied, taking back the card.

There was a loud clunk that reverberated through the walls as the outer door started to slide out of the way.

“No need for the scans,” Raziel added.

“Of course sir.”

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Objective: Toy with the Princess
Location: Prison on Ascension
Prey?: [member="Crix Meriet"] | [member="Thais Kallisto"]
9/20

I sat back, looking the princess over and gauging her emotions. There were worse fates that could have been bestowed upon her, but these seemed most fitting. And it allowed me to claim ownership of Xander’s kin and force his love, or current favorite toy, into slavery. It was a jab at him and justice done to Thais. And it required only minimal effort on my part. “Well, assuming your company no longer employs slave labor it can remain, under the watchful eye of my own corporation. I need to ensure that your slaving is put to death.” I would not abide slavery. Even the barely ethical form of employment that I used provided choice, just not good alternatives.

“Keep your credits. I am one of the wealthiest beings alive. A few million credits won’t even be noticed in my accounts. Besides, she will be raised Mandalorian. She will earn the best of everything. And her being delivered back to you, well that will be up to her.” She wouldn’t be happy to hear that. What child would choose an absent parent over a present one, but then again, there were always variables and options hidden in the future. “And sure, I will send you monthly holovids of her.” Well, I would have someone send her monthly holovids.

Finally, I turned my full attention to the man in the room. This Crix. Why was he so trusted with her life but not her child’s? Perhaps Thais overestimated his loyalty but wasn’t willing to bet the farm on it. My gaze cast over him I inserted a thought into his mind, quiet and deep in tone, <We will have much to discuss.>, the words echoing in his brain.

“It’s time I had you released to enjoy your last few weeks of relative freedom. I will be around, often while you spend the last weeks of your pregnancy at the palace.” I had a simple plan for her release and subsequent pardoning. How much about the Force did the Deputy-Governor understood, I wasn’t sure. But I was certain I could convince him and his cronies that she was not in her right mind, not in control of herself when these things happened. Granted it would leave everyone else out to dry in the plot, but justice could be done to them as the courts decided.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Ember's part in the debacle had come to an untimely end when several persons - ostensibly on Vereen's side - had blanketed Ember's position in shrapnel and hard radiation. That had earned enough irritation that Ember had been sorely tempted to swap sides - a temptation that had only grown when the indiscriminate slaughter began. But it would be a cold day in Hell before Ember Rekali fought Mandalorians alongside Sith. Ergo, he had vanished, as he often did. And if by chance a few Sith minions had vanished as well, that was just par for the course. There had been no innocents left to save.

 

[Armand Temi]

Objective Three
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies: [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Crix Meriet"]
Post: 15/20

The nerve of Crix Meriet right now! Out there enjoying enjoying cocktail hour with a Wookie! It figures that everyone is celebrating on my wedding day but me, thought Thais grimly. And she didn't think her courtier was sincere for a minute when he said he would take good care of her, but it's the devil you know. Unfortunately, she would be giving her daughter Abigail to the devil she didn't know.

Draco may have been confused as to why Thais chose to leave her own daughter with a complete stranger rather than Crix Meriet. That was understandable. The reason for this was because she still felt that she could manipulate the slaver. If she could control him, even just a little, there might be a chance to get her daughter and her kingdom back sooner. But if the situation was reversed, and Thais went with Draco and Abigail was left with Crix? In just her ten minutes meeting with the Mandalorian Foreman, Thais knew that she wouldn't be able to exploit him, not for one second.

"Can we leave for Isis now?" Thais asked. "Am I free to go?" She was exhausted, heartbroken and felt like a complete failure. The one thing she had not just dreamed of, but prepared for her whole life... was gone. Thais wasn't in a position to assess how much of the damage she had caused herself, but she supposed she would have many hours to dwell upon it as someone's slave.

Princess Kallisto also didn't relish the thought of Draco hanging around her Palace just waiting to take her baby when it was born. Therefore, she would make sure a handmaiden went with them, someone completely loyal to Princess Kallisto, so her daughter could experience a minor part of the noble upbringing that she had.

 

[Crix Meriet]

6/20
Objective Three : Gloat
Location: Prison on Ascension in a secret location
Allies or Enemies (it's hard to tell): [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="Thais Kallisto"]

Crix was largely disinterested in all this talk of killing off slavery. Crix didn't need the whores mines anymore he had her entire fortune and he did plenty of business in the one sith and the outer rim. So this Mr. Vereen could free all her slaves if he wished. Crix didn't care, these union bureaucrats and their moral high ground. Such boring lives they must have led when they weren't massacring wedding parties. He was unfazed by the foremans boasts of wealth he had just been given a royal's fortune. He was plenty rich now himself.

He was soon the subject of the Foremans attention again. This time the man was talking into his mind, he hated when people did that damn force users. He didn't really know how to answer the foreman. He was no force user after all so he just said his answer out loud "We do Mr. Foreman" He replied rubbing his neck the echo in his head gave him a headache. Perhaps they could discuss the other matters in a slightly more comfortable room. Crix was beginning to feel enclosed by this prison.

It seemed that he would have to suffer through Thais for a few weeks until she had given birth to her baby. Darn it she was going to be insufferable and so demanding since she was about to lose her liberty. He was going to have to take a holiday until she was enslaved. Damn it he'd probably have to do the enslaving. That would not be fun Thais would probably kick and scream. It was like her to make things difficult. It better be worth it at the end he thought returning to his chair.

Finally the princess begged for home again. Infernal woman she did not seem to gather that she was powerless now. He turned to her she looked broken, finally she looked human and all it took was her losing everything. she was no longer pushed up against the wall so he could approach now. He poured her a drink then entered the cell and handed it to her and took a knee. Might as well kiss the ring one last time. "Your grace looks Tired" It had been a long day indeed and it would be longer still for Thais, Crix had Toby time to look forward to. Crix reflected amused that Thais might have been in a very different position had she left Toby alone. Crix could have helped her if he was her friend. He kissed her hand for the last time and stood once again "I doubt Isis is a good Idea Majesty" .

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Objective: Toy with the Princess
Location: Prison on Ascension
Prey?: [member="Crix Meriet"] | [member="Thais Kallisto"]
10/20

“Yes, and no. We are going to leave for Isis soon, but you are not free to go.” My head turned to the doorway, “Gorran.” I stood and moved out of the big Wookiee’s way as he made his way into the cell. “Gorran here can assist you in moving, he can carry you or help you walk until we get out of the prison and get you a repulsor-chair.” I told her, the big wookiee kneeling so that she could reach his massive shoulders.

“And everything will be fine with Isis. Just play along with what I tell the Deputy-Governor.” Simple plans for simple problems. No doubt the deputy-governor would be furious with how things were about to go, but he didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter.

Approaching Crix I sized him up quickly. “She can rest on my destroyer. There are luxury suites aboard, you can hitch a ride with us or meet us back on Isis. But I have some things to handle on Ascension before she and I leave the system.” But I did kind of need the Destroyer and the small army it carried to force my point across to the people of Isis, and since I bought it off the One Sith, I might as well use the thing. Plus I wanted to make clear to her and to him, I was sheparding her until the punishment was meted out.