Not Again....

[Ghorua the Shark]

Ghorua had been quietly observing the conversation for some time, content to sit it out. In an adjacent room, the Shark waited, listening and watching, silent and invisible. He went through various Teräs Käsi techniques to quiet his mind, keeping his thoughts as still as possible. He'd practiced day in and day out to combat powerful Force-Beings, and it was paying off.

At first, things seemed to go well. A bargain was struck between [member="Darth Abyss"] and [member="Lady Kay"], but Ghorua was surprised when [member="Veiere Arenais"] tried to redirect the bargain to himself. Feeling the sudden charge of threat in the Sith Lord's words, Ghorua decided he'd seen enough.

Around Kay projected a bubble of impenetrable energy, encasing her and protecting her from danger. Ghorua seemed to materialize out of thin air within the shield, removing his cloak and revealing all of his 10'5'' frame. The Herglic's Voice Disguiser kicked into action as he spoke, his words reverberating powerfully throughout the room, anger palpable.

"Say that again."

He stepped in front of Kay, blocking her from Abyss' line of sight, noticing [member="Darlyn Excron"] in bad shape. He suddenly realized how terrible of a situation he'd decided to interpose himself within. He had just taunted a Lord of the Sith.

At least Kay was safe. For now.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay made no effort to resist as [member="Veiere Arenais"] took her hand and pulled her to him. She placed her hand on his cheek for a moment and nodded. "I'm alright my dear. I wasn't really hurt." Which was the truth. More or less she was fine.

She gave him a double-take as he tried to take the burden of her ordeal upon himself. She knew why he would do such a thing. He was her husband and it was his duty and desire to protect her. But Kay didn't know [member="Darth Abyss"] very well, so she wasn't sure if he'd allow it.

She soon got her answer. The sounds of the rifles being brought to bear, even against [member="Darlyn Excron"] was a clear enough indication. This was going to be far more personal. Kay turned her head to Abyss. "My Lord, this man is my husband as well as the King of Commenor. He is only trying to--" Her words were cut off as soon as [member="Ghorua the Shark"] appeared out of nowhere and had put some kind of shield around both herself and Veiere.

That was unexpected.

But she didn't want this all to be a blood bath. Not now. Not with those that she was the closest to inside of the same room as her. It brought her back to more than a decade before, when her husband took her place and was murdered by a Sith Lord. She didn't want history to repeat itself. She couldn't let it.

"STOP, PLEASE!!" When she had their attention, she spoke again. "My Lord, I will only agree just so long as the favour is reasonable..." She couldn't exactly act blindly.

 

[WolfMortum]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]'s sudden appearance and want for his wife's safety was most timely and well appreciated. Even as [member="Lady Kay"] herself had not expected it, Veiere turned to glance back over his shoulder to offer a his silent thanks in the form of a half smirk to the great herglic, he himself being separated from Kay due to the defensive shield that now surrounded her.

Kay's reaction was as expected given her pacifist attitude that so often mimicked his own, today however he had been robbed of his wife for a second time and come well armed for a fight, his left hand lowered to take the hilt of his Lightsaber, the two hilts connected as one, refraining for the time being from unclipping the weapon from his belt yet ready to do so should [member="Darth Abyss"] give him enough cause.

When asked to stop, Veiere's gaze landed upon his wife in a moment of apprehension. It was admirable of her even in a situation such as this that she want for no one else to get hurt yet the Dark Side of the Force surrounded this crime lord, no ordinary opposition in any sense of what was typical in the criminal underworld of Nar Shaddaa; at-least to Veiere's knowledge.

With Kay having spoken up and declared her agreement to what she proposed would be a 'reasonable favor', Veiere's head lifted some as he looked back upon the Sith Lord. He did not speak any further, his concentration within the Force spanning the area around them, hoping to ascertain a better read of his armed men with their rifles pointed in their direction.

Breathing slowly, the Force pooled to him in presence of strength, the light cascading against all the Darkness that corrupted this place. Darth Abyss would sense this and perhaps it would aggravate him though it would too express Veiere's readiness to fight for his wife's sake and their future children for whom she carried. He would make no move to initiate conflict here, not until he was assured that there would be no other way out. With Kay speaking to the Sith Lord, Veiere would patiently wait to see where things would land.

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

 

[Darth Abyss]

"Is that how you thank me for saving your Queen?"

The appearance of [member="Ghorua the Shark"] had come as a surprise, but Abyss made an effort to not make that apparent on the outside. It wasn't like his excuse of a face could show many emotions anyway. Without hesitation the husk stepped forward, until only inches departed him from the energy field that the bounty hunter had employed. His fixed, demonic grin was unchanged, hoovering in front of the group as a reminder that he was no ordinary criminal that would allow such insolence in his presence.

"I told you before, and I tell you again, think very carefully about your next move. This shield can not keep you safe forever. Blasters are one thing, but what about deadly neurotoxic gas? Hardly blocked by lightsabers, and not quite the right nutrients for unborn children the last I checked."

The deformed creature once more lifted his left talon, and on his mark several small devices were thrown around the bubble of energy, patiently waiting for someone to pull the trigger the second the shield would go offline. They were safe for now, but they accidentally granted him and his men time to set up a trap for them, that needed nothing more then a single signal from Abyss' comm.

"I will give you a little time to consider my offer, other then you worthless insects I still have a whole eternity waiting for me once this unpleasant matter is taken care of. Until then I will spend some time with your fishheaded friend who thought it a good idea to come here uninvited."

From his left sleeve the Sith Lord produced a small pocket watch, the silver trinket dancing from left to right like a pendulum. Something about it was clearly of, despite the darkness that surrounded it, there was an intriguing quality to the cursed object, a seductive pull that demanded eyes to look at it. Hopefully it would catch the sight of the fish like alien.

"Tave Jena'tes luai atitrazi mus visa, girdeti le visita" ("The Darkness lives within us all, hear its call")

The words in the ancient language of the sith had something otherworldly to them, and the runes engraved upon the clock began to glow in a crimson light. Now their time was running out. He didn't expected the spell, that called unadulterated anger and violence inside the minds of those affected, to work easily on the bounty hunter who so carefully concealed his thoughts, but with every passing minute they would risk that his mental defense would fail. Then they would be locked in with an mindlessly violent, oversized alien bounty hunter that wouldn't remember that it was bad to eat his friends.

[member="Veiere Arenais"] [member="Lady Kay"] [member="Darlyn Excron"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay clenched her jaw. [member="Darth Abyss"] wasn't recognizing her husband's shared authority with her own. And he mistook [member="Ghorua the Shark"] as one of her citizens, when really, he was one of her best friends. He also seemed to have not heard her when she spoke. Perhaps actions spoke louder than words.

As he stepped towards the shield, Kay stood herself up taller in a show of bravery as he threatened herself and her children. He was right though. The shield wouldn't last forever, nor could she stay inside of it. They were outnumbered and already Abyss was just daring them to not comply with his deal. And the clock was ticking.

[member="Darlyn Excron"] wasn't capable of defending himself for long. Veiere was capable, but even he could become overwhelmed. And then there was Ghorua. Abyss brought out an item and started working a spell. It felt as though she was losing her grasp on everything, and no matter what anyone else said or did, it only made it all the worse. And she didn't need it to get anymore worse. "Alright!...Stop your spell, get your men to lower their weapons, let us all return safely home together...then...we'll have an agreement." [member="Veiere Arenais"] probably wouldn't like it, but what other choice did she have? In her mind there wasn't one.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Ghorua steeled himself as the Sith Lord loomed outside his force field, trying to combat his intimidating presence with his own. He seemed to bristle, like a guard dog protecting their master, or a brother protecting sister. The Shark imposed himself at the Sith, showing off just how big he was.

When Abyss threw the grenades around Ghorua's bubble, his HUD tagged their trajectories and final places, immediately running diagnostics. He didn't need to be told about neurotoxic gas: he used to heavily use Fex-M3 regularly in his hunts. He knew that Kay could survive such a weapon, and his suit could protect him from the gas. Still, he wasn't sure if he believed the Sith Lord. Mentioning a weapon he didn't have would be a good way to throw Ghorua off. If they were simply thermal detonators...

That would be bad.

Then, Abyss pulled out a timepiece, fiddling with it and performing a ritual. Something tickled the back of the Shark's mind, a familiar feeling, a primal feeling.

He'd had plenty of practice fighting off his Blood Frenzy, but this felt different. The spell wiggled through his defenses, and the Shark had to actively push it out with his mind, throwing up his mental barriers. He quickly diverted all his attention to keeping himself in check. If he went over the edge, bad things could happen.

Ghorua barely noticed Kay walk up to the barrier, and plead for a deal. He was focused inward, fighting with all his brainpower. He silently prayed for help, or for a deal to be struck. He wasn't scared of the explosives around him. He wasn't scared of the Sith Lord.

The Shark was scared of himself.

- [member="Darth Abyss"] - [member="Lady Kay"] - [member="Veiere Arenais"] - [member="Darlyn Excron"] -

 

[WolfMortum]

The Dark presence spread around them, dense and palpable; [member="Darth Abyss"] sought the power of its corruption and had directed it not to Veiere but to [member="Ghorua the Shark"] oh whom had not the will outside of his mental defense to counteract the feelings that the Sith Lord would seek to incite. "Enough of this!" Veiere turned back, his gaze sweeping the room from the Herglic back to the Husk of dominion over the palace they had entered into, a wellspring of Dark Side energies all playing host to this man before them.

Veiere's left hand extended, not to that of Abyss but off to his side, his hand outstretched and palm facing the floor. The stone surface became illuminated by a great and blinding light, warm in temperature and alive within the power of the Force, it slowly spread out from Veiere within it's epicenter, flowing on beyond his arms length and seeking to reach all corners of the area. Abyss could deny himself the comfort of it's touch should he wish though for the group who stood around the former Jedi Master.

"You have made your point..." Veiere reluctantly agreed to Darth Abyss' demands, given the situation there was far more risk present to justify going on the offensive and they had come for his wife, now holding her on their side, they needn't draw blood to prove anything to this man; "You will be owed a favor...-In time we shall see what that will bring but for now, this does not need to result in a massacre..." the words he spoke were firm yet not made in demand, resignation shone evident more than anything else.

Ghorua however would slowly be granted the return of his strength of will, the light of the lightside of the Force battling to deter the darkness around him. Hopefully, it would be enough in what little strength Veiere sought to portray without the intent of entering into battle with the Sith.

"Are we in agreement?".

[member="Darlyn Excron"] | [member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Darth Abyss]

The husk instinctively took a few stumbling steps backwards as the purifying light of the force emerged from below [member="Veiere Arenais"]. A high pitched, distorted shriek was released from around the arcane construct, as the integrity of his armor trembled for a moment, fighting of the power that sought to disrupt and shatter his very means of existence. The spell he had woven rose for a last moment, powered by eldritch rage, before it faded involuntarily as a result of Abyss' broken focus.

It took the unnatural creature a moment to regain his composure. Like a Vampire feared the light of the sun, the Mindeater feared the touch of the force's light, one of the few things that could fully shatter his last grip to the physical plane of existence and unleashed his tainted spirit into the void. The chain of the pocket watch began to retract and twist, wrapping around the husk's arm like a wretched tendril before the small trinket fully disappeared within the sleeve of his robe.

"Your actions do not make a very compelling case for your words. Why should I trust in anything that comes out of your mouth after this?"

Despite his words the husk lifted both his hands snd passed on a series of mute commands to his men around them. Slowly weapons were lowered, but they remained tightly gripped and ready to be raised at the slightest sign of resistance. Lastly the sith reached for his comm, deactivating the myriad of mines scattered around the shield.

"I am willing to release all of you unharmed, but I need a ensurance that you will uphold your end of this bargain. A hidden, cherished memory of you and the Queen should suffice. Once the favour was granted it will be given back to you unharmed and unchanged."

There was a reason why he chose the title of Mindeater, and his abilities had been of good use in his various ventures in the underworld. Everyone could take away lives, credits and mementos, but they all were willing to come back for something so dear as a honored memory.

[member="Ghorua the Shark"] [member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay's jaw dropped slightly as the light began to expand from [member="Veiere Arenais"] and spread throughout the room in the dark Palace. Though instead of looking at her husband as he showed just some of the power that he held within him, her attention was turned to [member="Darth Abyss"] as he had stumbled back. Was he really that afraid of the Light? She had never seen him recoil like that before. But then again their past meetings usually took place sitting at a table.

[member="Ghorua the Shark"] was another worry for her. The Herglic had been quiet and still. She recognized that behaviour from past experiences. He was battling himself, battling his frenzy, only this time she didn't have a fog machine to bring him out of it should he lose that battle. Nor could she run as well as she'd need to.

Her attention was brought back to Abyss as he made his request to take away a cherished memory from Veiere. Kay knew first hand of what it was like to have memories stolen. It took away who she was. It enabled the Darkside to take over. She didn't want that to happen to her husband or anyone. "My Lord in the short time that we have known eachother, have you ever witnessed me going back on my word? You asked me for humanitarian aid and I gave it. We are an honourable people and to break our word to you would tarnish that. It would decrease our standing in negotiations with everyone that have kept us in peace for so long, despite the conflicts raging all around us. Trust me, it is not in our best interest to deceive you."

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Ghorua could tell he was fighting a losing battle with himself. He was semi-successful for a few moments, barricading the worming force that was [member="Darth Abyss"] from entering. But it took all of his focus to do, and he knew it was a temporary victory. He wouldn't be able to take much more.

Thankfully, he didn't have to.

The pressure on his mind suddenly alleviated as [member="Veiere Arenais"] made his hand glow. It was a Force Power Ghorua was completely unfamiliar with, but whatever it was, it sent Abyss into a frenzied panic. The Shark gasped, taking in air he hadn't known he'd needed.

Getting his senses about him, the Herglic took note of the Sith Lord's reaction for future use. It seemed Veiere had stumbled upon a critical weakness of the Darth's, one that had the potential to be exploited in the future. Information like that was valuable.

Of course, first he had to escape with his life, and the lives of his allies. That meant complying.

With a swift motion, the Shark disabled his shield generator, ever cautious. He stood near [member="Lady Kay"] and Veiere, prepared to spring into action, should something go wrong. It seemed negotiations were back on, but Ghorua had known enough Sith to put little stock in it. Things could turn on a dime.

The Bounty Hunter wisely decided to keep his lips sealed for the foreseeable future.

- [member="Darlyn Excron"] -

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere hadn't expected the show of his hand to bring about such a frenzy in [member="Darth Abyss"], he merely meant to ease [member="Ghorua the Shark"]'s struggling. The sight of the Husk of Darkness coiling in on himself caused Veiere's eyes to narrow slightly in recognition of the affect the light held upon the Sith. "You forced my hand, I'm afraid...-But violence is not something I seek here. I am prepared to fight for my wife and the others here, yet what need is there where an accord can be struck between us..." Veiere responded with a somewhat gentler tone of voice in return to Abyss' question and statement that their actions were proving to contradict their claims.

Lifting both hands to his sides, palms open and facing that of the Sith Lord slowly, Veiere dropped his gaze in a moments acknowledgement, a casual bow in compliance to emphasis the sincerity in his words. "You are not the first of the Sith that I have met with and been able to come to an understanding with, nor do I expect you to be the last. Your life is not my priority..." He soon gestured to [member="Lady Kay"] with a flick of his wrist, his hands remaining high at his sides in good standing; "Hers is however".

Slowly, the armed personnel surrounding them were ordered to lower their weapons, for which Veiere allowed his own hands to lower slowly to his sides. The Sith's request for memories were somewhat disturbing in a way, not something that Veiere felt comfortable with in the least. Turning to look to Kay somewhat perplexed by the request, his brows furrowed in skepticism. "To what effect?..." he would respond, not ready to simply give up something so valuable. Knowledge was a truly value commodity after all.

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

 

[Darth Abyss]

"Your highness, I hope you have not forgotten the aid in some more delicate matters of Commenor's security that I offered in return. A debt paid, is no longer a debt to my understanding. Of course I do not know how these things are handled among royalty."

The mocking tone had returned to the strange voice of the husk, as had the deranged laugh. It was a good thing that his form of being allowed very little insight into the feelings that happened within the void inside of his armor, or else the others would know that he was close to losing his last bit of restraint. The Mindeater was always hungry, but the more his guests opposed his generous offers, the more the monster inside demanded to be unleashed upon their thoughts.

"Yet my mistrust is not aimed at you, [member="Lady Kay"]. You are the victim here, I am well aware of that. Your husband on the other hand has done nothing that would give me any incentive to trust him. I can forgive many things. His disrespect towards me after I released you from the filthy hands of an equally filthy bounty hunter, even his insolence to call upon the light in my presence to defend you. What I can not forgive is an armed mercenary send to infiltrate my facility with the goal to forcefully end our negotiations. If that is what I can expect from Commenor's leadership in the future, I see no other way then to secure my position."

One of his agents again stepped forward, whispering into the hollow creature once again. The husk answered his servant with a short nod, and the figure again vanished back into the crowed of soldiers and guards around them. Then he emerged again, together with a few others. Instead of weapons they carried chairs for his guests. He had already proven that he was willing to use all measures at his hand to make a point, now came the time to return this negotiation to a level fit for a Queen and a former Jedi Grandmaster. Lastly a soldier stepped besides [member="Ghorua the Shark"], offering the large alien a bottle of strong liquor while mumbling something about "calming his nerves."

"I understand your resentment towards my offer your Highness, but believe me if I say that the extraction will be surgical and without long term damages to your mind. This is far from my first time doing this. If it would allow you to accept this not as an attempt to corrupt you, but merely as an way to secure a transaction, then I am willing to offer you a secret of my own in return. One I will only be able to make secret again once I give back yours."

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

With Veiere's help, [member="Ghorua the Shark"] seemed to calm down. He was still visibly tense, but not at the same time. His inner struggle appeared to be over. The shield was deactivated and once more she was out in the open. A small sigh of relief escaped her.

Her eyes were drawn to [member="Veiere Arenais"] as he revealed to [member="Darth Abyss"] about his past dealings with other Sith. It wasn't as though he was violent towards them when he didn't have to be. Now Abyss could realize that too.

When the Sith Lord spoke, she furrowed her brows. He had heard her words, but didn't catch her meaning. She merely used it as an example of the strength of her promises, not as something that could be used to prevent herself from owing him from paying her bounty.

"My Lord, this mercenary is one of my closest friends. Just as I had no knowledge of where or who I was being brought to, I am sure that they didn't either. They only seek to keep me safe, just as your men protect you. Surely they cannot be faulted for that..."

Once again she retook her seat, looking to her husband that seems to be accepting the condition that Abyss is suggesting to pay for their safe return home. It was a dangerous move and it had Kay worried. What memory would he chose? Their wedding? Fortunately they had two ceremonies, so he would at least remember the fact that they were married. But still, it could change him, just as the loss of her memories changed her. Yet this was Veiere's choice to make, not hers. Kay picked up the bottle of water and had another sip, trying to force away her feelings of guilt for the whole mess. Yet as far as she was aware, she hadn't done anything to deserve the bounty.

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

For the first time since finding out [member="Lady Kay"] had been captured, Ghorua smiled.

Throughout the entire negotiation process, Ghorua had been at a loss. All this talk of taking memories, and royal blood, and Jedi-speak, had left Ghorua scrambling to keep up. But the Shark had always been a quick learner, and finally, something clicked. A thread he could pull.

What did [member="Darth Abyss"] want? To keep up a facade of strength, to amass power, to hide weakness. The instinctive solution to keeping up all those desires was a show of strength.That was what the Sith Lord had started with, using insult and threat to further his goals.

But then, the Sith made a sudden shift, appealing to them in a more civilized manner. After Ghorua's surprise appearance, and [member="Veiere Arenais"]' display of the Force, Abyss had correctly deduced that he would get nowhere showing strength, and sacrificed some of his power to appeal to their humanity, the promise of painlessness in his words.

That told Ghorua something interesting. The coercion, the insistence, the willingness to give up a position of power to create this deal...

The Sith Lord was grasping at straws for a favor from Commenor, and he didn't think fighting would be beneficial for him to that end.

That meant, in a purely political sense, Lady Kay had all the power.

Ghorua didn't move to take the drink from Abyss' lackey's hand, blank visor staring ahead. He hadn't drank alcohol in a long time, and had a personal rule to never drink on the job.

It was probably poisoned anyways.

- [member="Darlyn Excron"] -

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere's breath escaped between barely parted lips in an apprehensive exhale of resignation, thus far his voicing cooperation and the restraint he offered in place of [member="Darth Abyss"]' readiness for violence seemed to fall on deaf ears. They were both men of power, standing upon opposite sides of alignment and it took the former Jedi Master a moment to recognize his need to pace himself, his desire to see his wife home was impeding on the discussion that had now fallen solely to [member="Lady Kay"] to dissuade from conflict.

Turning slowly, his gaze swept the group to glance back to [member="Ghorua the Shark"], trying to get a bit of a read over the big fish, gauging how the herglic was feeling following the riddance of corruption that had sought to consume him. Lifting his head in a half nod, Veiere offered the former hunter an approving gesture, as if to silently thank him for being there to back them up. His agreement and freely given aid was a blessing that seemed to come with such little price in return. He truly was a valuable and appreciated friend of his Queens and one that Veiere felt thankful that she'd made over the years.

[member="Darlyn Excron"] had thus far remained quiet and withdrawn, it was clear that he was no longer in any state to combat the threat of numbers upon them. Veiere's eyes took him in for a moment as he wondered the mans stubbornness and where he might finally cross his limitations. One of these days it was going to get him killed and he was a friend to the pair of them that they'd sorely miss were that day to befall them any time soon.

As far as this deal was concerned, Veiere was finding himself crossing wires. He had offered to stand in for Kay's stead yet the Sith Lord seemed reliant upon taking this request upon his wife, something that discomforted him greatly. These loss of memories, such things were precious to ones own, a part of their conscious presence within the flow of the Force.

"How are we to know the value of this memory...-Between either of us there is knowledge that could threaten millions of lives within the Systems Alliance and the Jedi Order alike. Whether you take from mine or her own, either way we have startling few guarantees or reassurances this knowledge you seek won't be held against us or the lives of those we care for..." his words were gentle yet sought to reason with Abyss, what he asked was a lot to go on in faith alone. Veiere had reluctantly agreed on it in his wife's place but she had undergone so much grief in the past already, Prazutis had left her mentally scarred and at war within herself until Veiere had fought for years to get her back to some semblance of stability and contentment.

Between risking this deal struck with a devil or taking their chances in violence, it was hard to tell which bargain would be best struck and for whom would pay the price for it all.

 

[Darth Abyss]

"If I had any interest in ending you or the Commenor System Alliance, then why have I not simply told my men to kill you all? In my opinion a much cleaner solution than this nonsense negotiation, but sadly not of much use to my goals. The stronger and the more stable your alliance is, the more I have to gain from it."

For once it was the straight up truth that Abyss told his guests, even if his laugh made it seem like there was another layer to his words. His favour would become useless if Commenor and its allies would fall apart, and then all he did today would've been for nothing. He truly had no interest in crippling or corrupting [member="Lady Kay"] or [member="Veiere Arenais"], and neither of doing so to their assets. The husk himself reached for on of the chairs his men had brought and descended down on it. It wasn't like he could feel its comfort, but he wanted to see eye to eye with his guests.

"I understand your concerns, and I am willing to make this even easier for you. The Queen's mind will be spared, and instead I will only take some of the jedi filth in your head. Does that sound more agreeable?"

The husk reached inside his robe and produced a small pipe shaped like a dragon's head, and placed it between his metal teeth. Without lightened it up, the Korriban incense inside began to burn, ignited by the red glowing runes engraved into the trinket. The smoke that emerged from it had an heavy, unpleasant scent to it, as well as a very slight hint of arcane potential echoing within it.

"I am also willing to pass on my secrets before taking yours, so you can assure that it is of equal worth."

[member="Ghorua the Shark"] [member="Darlyn Excron"]

 

[WolfMortum]

To say that this was the outcome he had been expecting when word had gotten to him of his wife's second abduction was the farthest from the truth one could have predicted, yet at the words of [member="Darth Abyss"] in agreement to Veiere's unspoken desire to keep [member="Lady Kay"] far from any further turmoil, he stepped forward before she could have the chance to protest. What memories he might lose, he didn't know but compared to having to play witness to hers being tampered with again and the possibility of the torment she had overcome coming back in even the slightest regard, he would refuse to allow no matter the price that it might cost him.

"Agreed" He spoke firmly and abruptly, his voice carrying itself in conclusive exclamation soon to follow be the former Jedi Master's steps closing the distance towards that of the Sith Lord and moving to take to one of the seats that he had led into the area for their would-be arrangements. "Whatever secrets you have you may divulge to my wife..." Veiere did not need to know of the Sith Lord's practices, he wanted no part in this play for manipulative power or knowledge to hold over one another, even in the face of such a situation he cared not for the presumed pedestals in which they might have compared one another to in vie for equality and intimidation; all that mattered at this point was getting them home where Kay could relax and any threat to their unborn children would disappear in the presence of security and their hidden residence within the eldritch mountains ensuring a long days end.

[member="Ghorua the Shark"] | [member="Lady Kay"] | [member="Darlyn Excron"] | [member="Darth Abyss"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay furrowed her brows. [member="Darth Abyss"] wanted to gain from their Alliance, but could only do so while it was strong. That was not what she had expected to hear. It wasn't entirely a bad thing, but it made her wonder about what favour he'd seek from them in the future.

She clenched her jaw as [member="Veiere Arenais"] agreed to have some of his Jedi knowledge removed. What if he took the very skill that Veiere had just used? Whatever it was, he'd have to learn it all over again. At least they had resources for that.

Her husband stepped forward then, almost blocking her from view and clearly not giving her a chance to protest or anything. Both wanted to keep eachother safe and would sacrifice much for the other. But that didn't make her feel less guilty about it. Even though the bounty was years old and she had done nothing that she knew of to earn it, that didn't mean that she didn't feel bad about putting everyone through this ordeal.

Instead she could only watch, along with [member="Ghorua the Shark"] and [member="Darlyn Excron"] . To hear that she could get Abyss to impart one of his memories, that was something that she was unsure about. The only memories that she had ever gotten from someone was some of Veiere's. It was the first time that they had ever connected. It was the start of their Force Bond. She had to be careful. Very careful.

But right now she just wanted to go home. They all did.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Ghorua was very much in the same boat as [member="Lady Kay"] and [member="Darlyn Excron"].

That is to say, almost entirely superfluous.

The real deal, the one in which everything hung in the balance, was being struck between [member="Veiere Arenais"] and [member="Darth Abyss"]. Ghorua was little more than decoration at this point, a deterrent from violence that would never come.

Then again, the night is young.

Ghorua's deductions proved to be semi-pointless as Abyss confirmed them out loud. At least he knew he wasn't losing his edge. Abyss' allowance of taking Veiere's memory instead of Kay's was intriguing, and the Shark was left to wonder if that had been the dark one's plan all along. That certainly would be a twist.

The Shark ripped his attention away from observing the guards around him to look at Lady Kay. No obvious injuries. He gave her a concerned look behind his helmet, then turned back to watching the scene. She'd be fine. Kay was one of the toughest beings he knew.

At this point, Ghorua was fairly certain he would've rather faced [member="Miss Blonde"] and her armies than negotiate with the Queen's self-proclaimed savior.

 

[Darth Abyss]

"[member="Lady Kay"], are you willing to take my secret? If not I am obviously willing to not share one with you and your people."

The husk laughed another time, the sound of the deranged noise vibrant with a sense of victory. It hadn't worked out exactly how he planned, but it still left him in a position where he only had to gain, and very little to lose. After his question he turned his hollow eyes to the king that had taken place on a chair as well.

"Then let us begin."

The husk's position on the chair changed, as metal legs were lifted and then crossed in a meditative stance. It allowed a hint of insight into the being below the darkness and rust, a man that despite his hollow form of existence still showed remnants of his humanity in small details of his behavior. Then the figure grew still and silent. In his mind he performed the art of emptiness, a jedi meditation technique in his own perverted version. He wanted the extraction to be surgical, and for that his hunger had to be under control. All thoughts and all emotions faded from his mind besides one, the faint, constant flame of obsession that kept his body together.

"Open your mind."

The left claw of the creature lifted, the deformed fingertips aimed at [member="Veiere Arenais"]. Uncountable invisible tendrils emerged from the void within Abyss, twisting and wrapping around the mind of the former jedi grandmaster in an attempt to rip out what he desired. An old ally had once told him about several sith holocrons that a relatively recent jedi enclave among various different factions had claimed, and he wanted to see if the King of Commenor had been there as well. If not his tendrils would continue their search, trying to find the location of the jedi holocrons that held the secrets of the King's former order.

[member="Ghorua the Shark"] [member="Darlyn Excron"]