It Just Isn't the Same

[Kay-Larr]

The hilt of Kay's saber bore no ignition switch, making it look more ornamental than functional. Of course there was a trick to igniting it, with a cleverly disguised pressure plate and the switch set inside. Only one knowing where the switch was and one that knew how to use the Force would be able to ignite it.

Her office and bedchambers held no clue as to who took her. Outside of the Hutt Cartel, it appeared as though she had no enemies. Even some of the Sith that were invited to the Celebration weekend caused no troubles and were her allies.

Einon in the meantime paced in the hanger, waiting for Najhaa to arrive. Finally the skitterish man came and was brought into an office for some questioning.

"Najhaa, you were on duty when the Madam President went on her speederbike ride, correct?"

"Y-y-yes s-sir."

"Who else knew about it? Did you tip anyone off?" Najhaa's eyes widened as he quickly shook his head. Einon's eyes narrowed as he leaned into the small man so that their faces were just inches apart. "You're lying. Tell me who you told! Your life depends on it!" But Najhaa couldn't remember what Einon wanted to hear. He was missing memories from parts of that day. How or why that happened just boggled him and it made him scared. He didn't know which was worse-having memories stolen from him, or facing Einon's wrath.

After a moment of silence, and while keeping his eyes solely on the mechanic, Einon brought up his commlink and signalled to [member="Connor Harrison"] through Kay's office channel. "I have the mechanic here and he's not talking. Maybe he'll talk to you.."

 

[Connor Harrison]

The call came to break his waning concentration on a puzzle that was proving difficult to piece together. The mechanic was back, and not talking. That was fine. Taking the lightsaber with him, tapping it gently on this thigh, Connor left her office and walked across the way to the hangar to see the aide and a weary looking mechanic.

Connor came up to them both and looked at the mechanic only.

"This him," he said. "Okay, you start talking before I got into your head and rip the information out – and trust me, it will be a lot less painful for you if you talk now."

He wasn’t in the mood to waste any more time, and he knew Einon was watching with fear and anticipation.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Najhaa just stood there, not sure of what to say or do. "I-I-I don't remember! I swear!" He then covered his head with his arms in an almost comical attempt to protect his mind from [member="Connor Harrison"] .

Einon just watched. He had never really seen a Jedi in action before. Ripping memories out of someone wasn't exactly something that Veiere would do. It was interesting and scary at the same time. It wasn't a technique he could learn as he wasn't a Force user. All he could do was read body language. Connor seemed adept at that too. But maybe he just appeared that way. Einon hoped to never suffer their wrath.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor didn’t buy it, and from the split-second hesitation, he smelt a rat. He raised his arm, slighty bent, and gripped his fingers together.

"You TRY and remember then!"

He focused on the raging thoughts of the mechanic, behind the matter that made up flesh and bone and into this brain-stem. He narrowed his eyes and accelerated the senses – ringing in the ears, blurred vision, nausea.

"Tell me who you sold her out too," he hissed, not paying attention to anyone looking on.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Najhaa pressed himself back against the office wall, using it for stability. He still held his head while [member="Connor Harrison"] attacked his mind. It wasn't the first time that he had been attacked in that way, but he hoped that it would be the last.

Yet Najhaa couldn't remember who he spoke to. He recalled being informed of Kay's intended ride with two others. So he made sure the bikes were ready and were stocked with fuel. Then a figure approached, a shadow getting in the way of the light in his workspace. After that, he remembered taking the bikes outside. He knew there was some missing time, yet he had hoped that no one would come and question him. The mechanic just had no answers to give.

"I-I don't remember! I'm not lying or hiding! I just don't know!!" He looked to Einon then, his eyes pleading. But the President's bodyguard could do nothing but watch.

 

[Connor Harrison]

The Jedi advanced towards him and clenched his fist, this time on the windpipe - a Force choke. Cutting off the air slightly which would be the worst sensation ever. Losing breath with every strained intake.

Panic. Fear. Helplessness.

Connor cocked his head. "Last chance. Tell me what happened."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

And Najhaa did panic. He grasped at his throat, as if trying to remove the invisible hand that tightened around it, but to no avail. His knees buckled as he fought for breath, his voice strained as he tried to speak while his windpipe was getting crushed. "I was...fuelling...the speeders....Then...I was....outside...I don't....remember....getting......there."

Einon watched while Najhaa's face grew redder and redder. He placed his hand on [member="Connor Harrison"] 's shoulder. "That's enough. You'll kill him."

 

[Connor Harrison]

There was a wonderful satisfaction being in control. Making someone see the power you had naturally, and exercising it for the greater good. He was insignificant, and his death wouldn't be important in the grand scheme of locating the President.

Einon's hand snapped him out of it, and the lapse made Connor see what he was doing. The grip went in a heartbeat and the air could rush back into his straining lungs, the colour slowly returning.

Connor turned, looking at Einon, mildly irritated for being interrupted. With a final glance to the mechanic, he pushed past and went outside.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Najhaa gasped and coughed the moment that he was released. Einon went to him, took his arm and helped him to his feet, all the while taking note of the look that [member="Connor Harrison"] gave him before the Jedi walked out. There was no doubt in his mind that Connor had meant to kill the mechanic. As far as his limited knowledge on Jedi told him, they didn't kill in cold blood, only in self defence. There was nothing dangerous about Najhaa to warrant such a response.

After taking the mechanic out of the office and having him taken to a med bay and into custody, Einon soon followed the Jedi, his pace much quicker as he moved to catch up to him. "What the hell was that about? Clearly he was used as a pawn. Killing him wouldn't of gained you anything, nor would it of brought us any closer to finding the President. Is this how the Jedi work now? Killing people on a whim?" Einon knew that his words would probably anger Connor. But he needed some answers if his people were going to wind up dead during this investigation.

 

[Connor Harrison]

"What makes you think I'm a Jedi, boy? Hm?"

He span and faced Einon.

"Because of what I said before? Those who use the Force do so as a tool to get the job done - you know nothing of what I am and what I do. And I wasn't going to kill him, I was...putting him under pressure." He broke away and continued walking. "It appears all her people are inept at looking after the President, so what do you want me to do? Sit around waiting for them to bring her back in pieces?"

Connor spoke over his shoulder.

"If she's where I think she is, you're going to have to start looking for another President."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Einon narrowed his eyes. It irritated him to be called a mere boy. Only his father used to do that. "You represent the Silver JEDI Order. What else am I to think? Or do they employ Sith as well?"

As [member="Connor Harrison"] walked away, he shook his head, waiting a second before he followed. Maybe they were unprepared for the abduction of the President, but such an attempt had never happened before. And she wasn't alone, but clearly what she had wasn't enough. Einon knew of her Force ability, but how far it extended, he didn't know. It obviously wasn't good enough to save herself.

What Connor said next caught him off guard. He had a lead? Einon quickened his pace. "Where do you think she is? Who do you think took her?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor didn't miss a beat.

"If what you've told me is true and accurate, then I suspect she has been taken by the Sith, and in that respect she'll either be killed and mailed back to you as a warning, or she'll be broken and subscribe to their code."

With that, he turned.

"And if she has fallen in league with the Sith, you will not be safe here unless you bend to her whim and accept that your President will no longer be the woman you served once. She will be greater. She will lead YOU to greatness. And the Jedi are running out of time."

He stopped walking and looked out.

"To be fair, this could be one of the best things to happen to her if she surives the process."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

The mere thought of her being broken sent a chill down his spine. He heard the stories of her torture by Thraxis. He knew that the Sith would be far worse. But it had been a couple of weeks now. If they had chosen to kill her and bring her back, then that would have already happened. Yet they have received no trace of her.

What [member="Connor Harrison"] spoke of next startled him, though he didn't show it. Instead Einon just spoke under his breath. "You sound as though you envy her for what she could be going through...." He needed to send word to [member="Veiere Arenais"] , yet he didn't want to lose sight of Connor either. It seemed as though he was switching sides and that was dangerous for those around him.

Commenor had been under Sith control not long ago. Yet it was under Kay that they thrived once again. It was unclear what could happen if she became Sith as well. All that they could do now was to hope to find her before that happened.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor raised his brow.

"You don't have to whisper, it's a sign of cowardice."

He went to look out into the wider city from whee he stood.

"While I don't envy what's happening to her, she's not being fed a narrow-minded view of things. She'll understand a lot of truths told to her, and she'll hopefully come back stronger and able to take action rather than sit and debate and squabble about it."

He looked to Enion again.

"I'm here to help her, don't forget that. While my methods not align with yours, my interests in her are for the greater good. Trust me, I won't see her come to harm."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Einon clenched his jaw. He was no coward. He never ran from danger. Perhaps [member="Connor Harrison"] was trying to get under his skin again. It was no wonder that Kay didn't become fast friends with this man, like she did with all others. He was a puzzle.

Clearly Connor didn't know Kay very well either. He saw her as most saw politicians. A talker rather than a doer. But she was different. Her abduction wouldn't of happened otherwise.

"I hope that you're here to help her and not those that took her." He held out his hand. "Can I have her lightsaber back, please?" Connor had taken it from the office, a detail that wasn't missed.