Not Again....

[Kay-Larr]

Kay obviously couldn't see the look that [member="Ghorua the Shark"] gave her from behind his helmet, but she knew that he was only looking at her for one reason. He was concerned. She gave him a small nod of her head, letting him know that she was alright. Later on she might have felt as though a thumb's up was a more reassuring response, but for right now a nod was all that she'd thought to give. Hopefully it was enough to appease her friend.

[member="Darth Abyss"] posed his question. Kay thought about it for a moment. Was there a danger in holding one of his secrets? Of course there was. But was it better to have than to not? [member="Veiere Arenais"] wouldn't of suggested it otherwise. Perhaps he wanted leverage, just as Abyss wanted one over them. "Yes, my Lord. I will take your secret and keep it safe."

Her attention turned to her husband then. Who knew what Abyss would decide to take from him? It worried her somewhat, as there were a lot of cunning individuals within the Sith. [member="Krest"] was one of them. Was he an ally or not? The man flip-flopped whenever it suited him, manipulating her situation to gain an upper hand as he saw fit. But she owed him. He taught her how to hide her Force sensitivity and without that, her life would be very different. She wouldn't be in politics, she wouldn't have found Veiere, wouldn't of even gotten married, wouldn't be having children. And who knows? She might have even been dead by now. So at least Krest did some good to her.

Kay watched the scene as it played out.

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

 

[WolfMortum]

To say that there was opportunity to learn about the Jedi Order and their workings didn't do it justice; within the recess of his mind, Veiere's knowledge over the Order was vast and experienced. A Former Grandmaster of The Jedi Enclave of Deneba, those whom were soon moving towards Mon Calamari for new settlement had sought out the holocron from the Order's history themselves yet to little avail, these artifacts of the truest worth had been taken to the New Jedi Order of the Galactic Alliance and the temple upon Coruscant for sake keeping.

The last artifact of great worth to either side of the Force had been known as the Holocron of Heresies, for which [member="Ella Nova"] had sought to offer to the Order for want of protection over this and The Apocrypha of the Horde. Given their organizations fewer numbers and Yutan being taken from them some short time later, her wish had been declined and instead put forward to the Alliance for their ability to keep watch over such things.

There were however other memories and pools of knowledge for which [member="Darth Abyss"] could find useful. The Full extent of Veiere's history encompassing four decades of service in the Order, moving from the Enclave of Svivren to the later times of The Force Praxeum of Commenor. Veiere himself had created such a Holocron and invested the entirety of his experience within that their children might come to know the Force should anything become of his life. This was however, handed down to his wife, [member="Lady Kay"] so that only she might know of it's place in hiding. A decision that given the situation now was incredibly wise in hindsight.

 

[Darth Abyss]

With every little thought Abyss discovered inside the mind of [member="Veiere Arenais"] he felt more triumphant. At first he considered simply ripping out everything the former jedi grandmaster knew about the Holocron of Heresies, a fabled price he had long desired for his collection. Yet the true victory was the knowledge that [member="Ella Nova"] had actually acted against him when she told him about the Holocrons, and the opportunity to undermine her position in the order once and for all.

Instead he opted to search for anything that was related to the creation of force ghosts, the jedi way to archive something akin to his own form. The reason was a simple one: Without that knowledge Veiere had no way to return after his death. Abyss didn't expected that the former jedi grandmaster clawed to life with a obsession like his own, but it was common among the jedi to return to their friends, family and former padawans long after they were gone to guide them in the darkest of times. Taking that option away seemed like a reasonable option to force him to fulfill their part of the barging.

"Delicious. One piece of advise for you and your jedi friends. There is someone among your order that has deceived you, a sith in disguise."

The husk released a laugh. It would've been easy to make sure that the King knew who he meant, but it wasn't the point. Shaking the jedi order from within, creating chaos and unrest that lead to a long, straining hunt of his old enemy would be much more pleasant to obverse then a quick, clean trial that would lead nowhere.

"Now my Queen, open your mind as well."

Again he raised his left, this time pointing his fingertips at [member="Lady Kay"]. For a while he had thought what to pass on to her. At first he considered a simple fabrication, an unreal memory to keep his secrets save. Later he considered something twisted and corrupting, but he discarded that idea quickly. In the end he picked something true, something dark but meaningful, the first real milestone of his rise. It was a symbol of his good will towards the Queen, answering a question about his origin she had asked him during their first meeting.

Kay's mind would grasp a strange vortex, a endless void from which fractured impressions rapidly twisted and deformed until a memory would arrange in her mind:

A young man with skin that had not grown pale yet and eyes without the yellow glow of the dark side, walking besides his dedciated, caring father upon an ancient jungle moon. Around them thugs and pirates, weapons aimed at the pair of relics hunters. Then a shot, then a second one. The father on the ground, his body wet from tears. Then a calling of darkness. An ancient red saber. Blood, fire, cut of limps. Death, death to them all. A black robe found within a ruin. Lastly an endless abyss, a all consuming eldritch hunger that had just awoken.

OOC: Sorry for the delay, this somehow got buried.

 

[WolfMortum]

Disorientated though conscious, Veiere Arenais moved to collect himself back to his feet while [member="Darth Abyss"] would motion to that of his wife, [member="Lady Kay"]. His brows furrowed, uncertain of what information he had lost exactly, given that Abyss had erased it from his mind in order to take it into himself. The retired Jedi Master soon returned to Kay's side, looking between both [member="Darlyn Excron"] and [member="Ghorua the Shark"] for reassurance in the case that he had been taken advantage of against his awareness.

"That was...Unpleasant"

He spoke under his breath, turning to cast his gaze back upon that of the Sith Lord; Veiere had assumed that the husk of Darkness would have removed him of his ability to utilize and manifest within his hand, that of the Light of the Force for which had proven extremely effective against Abyss; yet the knowledge and experience remained where otherwise he should have had no clue were it the Sith's choice to take.

"What exactly did you take from me..."

His head would lift a little, tilting to the left to eye the Sith Lord with great skepticism. Ever the manipulators, the pursuers of power and dominion over others, no doubt he had somehow benefitted greatly by his reach over the former Jedi's mind, even if it had only been temporary.

None the less, their agreement had been met and his beloved wife would be able to return home...-Least Veiere be removed of their pact and forced to act with far less restraint than he had prior.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Ghorua watched everything that transpired with a muted silence, content to simply be.

He was recording everything, of course, to be reviewed later. Every facial expression, every twitch, every word would be poured over by the Shark later, to analyze what had just happened. It was, as far as he could tell, a load of Jedi nonsense. [member="Veiere Arenais"] and the Sith seemed to concentrate a while, then [member="Darth Abyss"] mentioned something that raised Ghorua's eyebrow.

A Sith amongst Jedi. Not unlike a Loth-wolf amongst sheep.

After the deed was done, Ghorua nodded to Veiere, if only to reassure him he was still okay. Whether that was true or not, Ghorua was unsure. Who could guess what had happened in that meeting of minds.

Now that it had happened, Ghorua was sure he would rather be somewhere else. Within his helmet, he sent a quick message to Minna, to ensure her safety. Other than that, he stood ramrod straight, not daring to move, lest it upset the balance.

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

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay didn't like this situation, but what could she do? One simple walk to go out for tea with [member="Darlyn Excron"] had turned into a nightmare that had taken her far from home. And now both herself and [member="Veiere Arenais"] were having their minds delved into by [member="Darth Abyss"] .

She watched as her husband experienced some of what she had been through before. Losing a memory in such a way was not a pleasant experience. Sure memories fade over time, but they were never meant to be removed in this manner.

Now it was her turn. Kay took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She wasn't exactly sure of what to expect. Her eyes closed as she felt Abyss' presence within her mind, dark and cold. Visions that weren't hers swirled around in a mess of a puzzle that she couldn't piece together at all, until finally some of it became clear. Her expression remained the same, as one of someone that was focused on something unpleasant until it was finally over.

She opened her eyes and then slowly got to her feet, almost as though she was testing her balance first. "If we're finished here, I'd like to go home..." She needed to rest after this ordeal. They all needed a break. She just wanted to stay in her room and not come out for a while. Maybe they all felt that way.

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]

 

[Darth Abyss]

"Would it not defeat the whole purpose of this little bargain if I just told you that, my little jedi friend?"

The words were followed by his all to often heard laugh. He assumed that his guests by now had grown accustomed to his wicked sense of amusement over the situation that was clearly unpleasant for anyone but himself. His empty his left their position towards [member="Lady Kay"] and returned back to [member="Veiere Arenais"] who had just asked him about the price he had to pay for the rescue of his wife. For a moment he had considered straight up telling the former jedi what he had stolen, but the uncertainty was most likely far more haunting then the knowledge of what he just lost.

"Of course your highness. Our business if finished, you are free to go. I would invite you to stay for dinner, but considering how unpleasant you husband found my personal taste I would assume you would pass anyway."

There it was again, the ever present laugh that followed him. The husk rose from his chair, once again passing on a few silent commands to his men through a series of hand signs. Outside the palace a speeder was prepared and waiting for the Queen and her friends and family.

"There is a speeder waiting outside, but obviously it is up to you how you intend to leave. Goodbye, I hope you will all remember what it means to have friends in low places."

The laugh swelled into a last, deranged crescendo, then it was suddenly gone, as was the sight of the husk. He hadn't truly vanished, but merely disappeared below a cloak of shadows and darkness. It served no other purpose then pure theatrics, but getting his will in this scenario meant leaving a very lasting impression on any of his guests. Invisible and silent the husk simply remained in the room, watching the Queen and King, the Fish Headed bounty and their crippled ally, to see if his act had the desired effect.

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

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere expected that [member="Darth Abyss"] would give up little in the way of an answer, the secrets for which he might have removed from Veiere's mind, voluntary as it was for the sake of his beloved [member="Lady Kay"], left nothing to go on in regards to a possible clue or hint of the price it had cost him. His mind felt disorientated, yet he could not grasp upon the knowledge that had been removed of him. The Sith Lord was experienced, that much was clear, the removal of memories was by no means an ability to be undertaken by one of ill-experience; Veiere had to wonder how much souls had been tormented through the husks tempering of such a skill.

"That won't be nessecary" Veiere turned to glance to his wife in response to the Sith Lords mention of a speeder, instead looking to inform Kay that their leave of the world would be rather easy and well within reach; "The KingsGuard is just outside and Terrac is awaiting us all" His eyes cut to that of [member="Ghorua the Shark"] for whom words could not express his appreciation for. [member="Darlyn Excron"] has always been a staunch loyal presence within Kay's life and Ghorua too was one of her most trusted friends, yet Veiere and the Mercenary had not had a great deal to do with one another and he felt it was time to change that.

First things first, however...

Turning back to look in the direction of Abyss, Veiere Arenais paused for a moment. Were the situation different, he would have liked to have remained and seen to further exploring what information he might gather about their dark rival within conversation with one another. He was a presence that Veiere felt he would come across again in the future, not certain at all that this would be in his better interests, he poised himself to take a final look of the Sith Lord, a gaze that Abyss would notice and one that might leave a lasting impression for the former Jedi's acknowledgement of the Husks worth.

Soon enough he would turn away and begin to take his leave, the group for which would surely follow, his wife's safety would not be secure until they were off this world, yet for no cost to her own, Veiere was glad to have come to her aid and saved her from any possible torment. The past still held a great weight of guilt over him for what [member="Darth Prazutis"] had wrought upon them, a stain in his memories for which encouraged darker motivations he kept buried deep down. Abyss had bordered upon inspiring such passions to flare up again and with his back to the Sith, he could breath a sigh in relief knowing that they had avoided a confrontation.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay just gave a light and uncomfortable laugh to join in with that of [member="Darth Abyss"] . However it was more out of politeness than amusement. Friends in low places indeed. She surely didn't consider him to be that. He was a Sith Lord far powerful than most others that she had met before. He was probably far older too.

Before turning away, she bowed her head to him. "Thank you, my Lord." A glance to both [member="Veiere Arenais"] and [member="Ghorua the Shark"] was made before she started walking towards where [member="Darlyn Excron"] was, and the exit.

The Kingsguard. That was a relief. She had a room to rest in there. And there was tea too. Thank the Force she kept some supply in stock there.

Once they were clear of the old Palace, she remarked quietly. "I'm sorry that my past caught up with me. It shouldn't happen again....But thank you for finding me so quickly. It means a lot." In truth it gave her confidence that she'd never be held captive for months again. And that was a great relief.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

And like that, [member="Darth Abyss"] was gone.

Ghorua's eyes narrowed as he processed... everything, well out of his comfort zone. After a moment of hesitation, he decided his best course of action would be to vacate the premises.

Stepping hesitantly, Ghorua made his way from the building, hot on the heels of [member="Veiere Arenais"], [member="Lady Kay"], and [member="Darlyn Excron"].

He heard Kay's remark, and bit his lip under his helmet. "We'll make sure it doesn't happen again." He gave an affirmative nod to Veiere, perhaps a little too sharply.

The Shark tapped his comms, sending a message to Minna, telling her he and the Queen were safe, and to follow his signal as he boarded the Commenori ship.

Ghorua looked one last time behind him, at the palace, and finally, where [member="Koda Fett"]'s Firespray once lied dormant. He had work to do.

Suddenly, the scent of blood filled his mouth. In his preoccupied state, Ghorua's sharp teeth had bitten through his rubbery lip. The large Herglic snarled in annoyance, fed up with today, and the part of his mind tickled by the taste.

Work to do indeed.