The Admiral, The Traitor, The Murderer

[GhostOfProtocol]

Kei sat.

He looked over Commenor from the floor to celing glass windows that made up the walls of his penthouse. He almost wished he had a book, but he knew he wouldn't have time to read it. Commenor had been liberated and now he knew that it was his time to suffer in payment for everyone he had caused to suffer. He sighed, adjusting his tie as he slouched into the chair.

Kei knew [member="John Locke"] told the Silver Jedi of his location. Kei used farsight to "spy" on his former friend. He saw [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] recieve the news, he saw Asaraa decide to come and find him. He saw Asaraa telling people of her mission, he saw a Jedi agree to travel with her, a Jedi he didn't know. It was almost as if they thought Kei could be dangerous, like he was dangerous. Maybe once he was dangerous, but he didn't want to fight anymore, he was done running.

Kei looked towards the suit of armour in the corner, the suit that had been built by him and John Locke. Kei wouldn't need it, he wasn't planning on fighting back. He was done running from his past. His plunge into the darkside had happened, he wouldn't deny that, however it was in the past, caused by the Sith armour that he had been locked in for a year, the Sith armour that had nearly killed him.

Kei had learned much about the past however, about Darth Krayt.

Kei raised to his feet, taking a glass of scotch from the protocol droid who was walking around, cleaning and serving. The astromech droid was on the Flying Dutchman, was having a good time. The Dutchman itself had returned back into Kei's life, was currently outside of the Kashyyyk system where it would wait until Kei had been arrested and had served his time. Kei had given the crew orders to turn themselves over to the Silver Jedi command if he was gone for a while.

He sipped his scotch.

He looked over the planet again, closing his eyes. He felt the presence of Asaraa, she was close. She felt different, but she was close. Kei instictively reached to his side, sighing. He missed his lightsaber, the weapon he had crafted and carried at his side for over five years. He would need to craft a new one while in prison, or once he was released. Either that, or he would be given a life sentance, torn from the force and never allowed to craft a new lightsaber, a new weapon.

That was a fate he couldn't think about.

Then he heard the ding of the lift. It was time.

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

This was possibly one of the more surreal experiences she'd ever had, riding an elevator up to a penthouse apartment based on a tip-off from a member of the Silver Assembly. The truth was she'd had her ear to the ground, trying to tie down [member="Kei Raxis"] for a while now, ever since that day that he had fled Silver's Rest after shooting their friend and leaving her for dead. She'd followed the man's escapades for some time now, but had always been one step behind him. If she was honest the Jedi thought that they might still be a step or two behind him. THey'd arrive in the penthouse and the man would have gone, vanished off into the next step of the chase. Unconsciously she tightened her hand on her lightsaber, raising her head to stare at the roof of the elevator as if she could see through it, force it to move faster through sheer force of will.

It was actually a relief to have [member="Yuroic Xeraic"] with her in the elevator, the idea was to bring Kei back alive, not dead. She thought she had a handle on herself, but she couldn't be quite sure and having the man around would at least give her that backstop, someone she was sure would and could restrain her if things started to get out of hand.

 

[WelshPsych]

Commenor had been taken back by the citizens, it been a tough victory from what Yuroic had been told. He hadn't been directly involved with the campaign since the initial Sith invasion. It seemed unnecessary due to the number of SJO members contributing amongst many other individuals. However, this was a different matter. It was a Sith that needed to be captured. Yuroic wondered if the man would offer any secrets he possessed about the Empire, anything to help them deal with the Sith threat. Commenor was another sign that the Sith Empire was getting too large for anyone to continue to ignore now. Especially after they destroyed an entire city of innocent people.

His eyes gazed over to Asaraa, the young girl been recently promoted to Knight, she was quite capable from Yuroic had heard and seen from her. However, something was off about her today. Her emotions were lingering in anger. Yuroic turned to her and shook his head. He pressed the stop button on the lift. "Talk to me Asaraa. Your emotions are all over the place and you are too ready to use your Lightsaber. What do you know about this Sith?" It was clear there was history and Yuroic was not going into the room without knowing the full story, especially if the young Knight ended up losing herself to her anger and attacking the potential captive.

[member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Kei Raxis"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Kei looked over his shoulder.

He had maybe two minutes until the elevator arrived, depositing the two Jedi directly into his penthouse. He missed Asaraa, however he knew they wouldn't have time for a catch up. Kei could sense her in the lobby and he was sure that she could sense him. She was angry, rightfully maybe so. He was calm, collected. Maybe there would be an awkward stare between them when she arrived, a stare about the new body. Maybe she would punch him, and Kei wouldn't blame her if she did.

He remembered the first time he ever stepped into the elevator and stepped out into the apartment, the same day Kay named him an advisor, the naval advisor of Commenor. He had always intended to buy an apartment on the planet, Kay had just given him a reason to move up his plans to do so. He remembered walking into the apartment, noticing the modern furnishings, most of which were missing now, replaced with workbenches and holoprojectors.

Kei and [member="John Locke"] had all but torn the place apart to make it a workshop.

Kei regretted his choice. He regretted the choice he made on Kashyyyk, shooting his friend in the stomach. He was desperate to join his father and the only way to join the man was to pretend he had fallen to the darkside. He never intentially planned to fall. The crystals he found that broke off in his hand, the suit of armour that saved his life but corrupted him in the process. That was the fall that he had never intended.

The memory of Darth Krayt and the former wearers of the suit had made him power hungry, but they had given him the power to save himself when [member="Adron Malvern"] had killed him. Kei had all but forgotten that power now, as well as everything the suit had given him. In some ways the criminally insane half of his mind wanted to track down the armour, take it's power once again but the now forgiven part of his mind knew that he couldn't.

He would inform the Jedi of it's location, buried on Corellia. He would see if one of Silver Jedi could master it's power and remain in the light. Maybe when Kei was stronger he would attempt it himself, attempt to master the power of Darth Krayt, control the memories of the Sith Lord and keep himself in the light at the same time. A difficult task, Kei wouldn't deny it, but he was sure it would be possible.

He wasn't really a Jedi Knight, nor was he a Sith Knight. He wasn't even sure he was a Knight. He was made a Jedi Knight based on his skill level but he even knew he wasn't ready. He had taught people when he knew he wasn't ready. He could teach a force power easy enough but teaching the morales of the force, the code of the Jedi? He couldn't do that, he wasn't stable in himself to do that, he didn't believe them enough to do that.

He heard the doors open. He knew the two Jedi were in the elevator that had just arrived in his penthouse. He knew that they could see his head, he could sense Asaraa. He stood up slowly, sipping his drink, keeping his eyes looking over the city skyline. He felt the anger burning in Asaraa, the calm in the second man. He let out a gentle sigh, turning on his heels to face his guests as he did so.

"Well then"

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

Deep breaths, let the anger flow through you like a river, not finding any purchase or hold on you. She'd heard the theory many times, even practised it before, but this was different. Asaraa sucked in another deep breath, her hand resting on her lightsaber as she heard that voice in her mind urging her to reach up through the force, to tear off the elevator roof and float up the rest of the way, to use the very penthouse he owned to deal with a criminal like Kei Raxis. It would have been easy, oh so easy to just give up, to give in to the temptation and act She could feel her body tensing at the thought of the fight to come, bubbling with excitement at the thought of exacting her revenge on Kei, the force beckoned to her, a sweet siren song that was like ambrosia for her ears. All she needed to do was to reach out there, and it would be hers.

So she did nothing, that voice, the instinct to react with force and violence was a constant companion of hers now, had been for a few years, ever since the Sith had managed to pull their bait and switch with her. The little voice that always led her on, offering the world, offering a shortcut to get where she wanted to go. Everyone had it, it just wasn't such an instinctive visceral thing in others, or at least she hoped it wasn't.

Very deliberately the young knight lifted her hand from her lightsaber, clenching it into a fist which she rested against the cool metal wal of the elevator. "He's not just a sith, he used to be one of us, a Jedi. I knew him when I first arrived at the temple on Kashyyyk, thought we'd become friends. Only then he decided the life of a Jedi was too good for him, decided he'd be better off elsewhere. It wasn't like anyone was holding him in place, telling him he had to stay here, but he thought the best way to get away was to shoot another Padawan in the stomach and run. I've been hunting him on and off all over the galaxy, and no he's just 30 meters away, so close I can almost smell him and...he's just waiting there. Who just waits when they know people are coming to arrest you?"

[member="Kei Raxis"] | [member="Yuroic Xeraic"]

 

[WelshPsych]

Yuroic pressed the button that allowed them to continue to the destined floor. "This man, he made some big errors in his life. It will be difficult to forgive him but you will have forgiven others for actions that they have committed. I forgave Jairdain when she turned to the Dark Side after the Sith capture and tortured her, it was difficult to see a friend I admired turn to my enemy." It was difficult to see his closest friend turn against him but he remained supportive of her, though their friendship never really recovered from it the same way. "He killed someone innocent, yes, it will always make you cautious of him but that doesn't mean he is beyond redemption, no one is beyond redemption, not even the Sith Emperor himself." Yuroic believed that there was good in everyone, it was just dependent on whether or not you acted on that good within you.

"Asa, be careful of emotions. We came here not to fight but to arrest, you cannot kill this man. I know he hurt you but you must learn to accept that the past is behind us and to focus on the here and the now." Yuroic stated as he placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze to reassure her. She needed understanding not a lecture he figured as she was a capable Knight, in some aspects, the young Knight was more competent than he was at her age. "The likelihood is that he has realised the errors of his ways and wants to face his punishment. Only a man rattled with a guilty conscious stays to be captured on their own accord."

Once they reached the floor, the doors opened and Yuroic stepped forward. He walked into the room and saw the man sitting, waiting for their arrival. "Kei Raxis. We are here by order of the Silver Jedi Order to arrest you and bring you with to face trial for your crimes. Do you have anything to say?" His tone was neutral but he was curious to see if the man wanted to explain his actions or beg for forgiveness.

[member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Kei Raxis"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Kei looked at the two Jedi.

He felt Asaraa in the force, however he didn't recognise her. She had changed from how he remembered, in the same way that he had changed from how she would remember him. He run his hand through his hair, studying the young Jedi slowly. The pink hair was a little much, too in your face for Kei's liking. Then again, he was wearing a bright purple tie so who was he to judge clothing or hair sense?

He turned to face the second Jedi, the one who spoke.

The man had soft facial hair, his eyes deep and clearly knowledgable. He wasn't as angry as Asaraa seemed to be, much more relaxed. The man knew that the arrest was just a job, something that had to be done. For Asaraa it was personal, Kei had hurt her and Zavii. He licked his lips, adjusting his sleeves. He almost wanted to invite the two Jedi to drink with him, but he was aware neither of them would do it.

He looked towards the suit of armour one last time before flicking his eyes back to the two Jedi.

"I expected as much, Master Jedi. I assume this is the section of the arrest where you hope I beg for forgiveness, where you hope I feel sorry for everything I did. I'm sure you heard a version of events, I know my clone was arrested and I know my clone faced trial on Kashyyyk for my crimes and I'm sure he told you everything I had done. However, I can only assume that he never told you why"

Kei raised an eyebrow.

"The armour I sought to find would have been destroyed by the Silver Jedi before I had chance to wear it. It was a Darkside relic granting me powers beyond anything the Jedi could teach me. For once I just wanted to be able to take what I deserved. Take back my family name. I rebuilt my family while I was guided by the memories of Darth Krayt, of a number of other Sith who had worn the armour before me. They taught me the powers that were being kept from me but they also taught me the true cost of power. They lead me to my death"

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

"Was it worth it then? Betraying us, betraying your friends and allies for what? A taste of power before it fell away from you." Yuroic had cautioned her against showing emotion, about letting Kei get to her, and it was a good warning, a fair one given the state of her emotions right now. The young knight made sure to keep her hand far away from the hilt of her lightsaber, fists clenching at her side, "you don't seem all that dead to me so I see it didn't really stick." To be fair, the body was different, everything about the man seemed to have changed, but the force signature, that was Kei through and through.

"Was putting your family above all the bonds you'd built, all the people you'd heard worth it Kei? Cause now," her hand swept out to encompass the penthouse, the rooms silent, empty of emotion or companionship, "you're all alone here to face us. You might not mean to fight us but...if you did, if you needed it, who would stand in your corner? Who would have your back no matter what? Cause we would have, but apparently we weren't that important to you. Apparently, you weren't the man we thought you were." Asaraa closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before opening them, the girl's blue orbs cold as ice as she straightened her back, her voice clipped and precise. "Death or not, it doesn't absolve you from your crimes. Kei Raxis, do you intend to fight? Or will you come quietly? We have a ship waiting to take you back to Kashyyyk." A ship Kei would be taking one way or the other.

Asaraa wasn't sure if she wanted him to fight, to threaten them or to come along peacefully. Nothing about this mission was clear or easy, and it was perhaps the easiest mission she'd had in forever, it didn't even look like Kei wanted to fight. Normally Commenor was a relaxing place, a place she could go to forget about her troubles. Only today...today they had chased her to Commenor, right up to this penthouse here. Right now they had left her confused, echoes of the young padawan who had sworn to track him down, sworn vengeance. That was the truth of the matter, wasn't it? SHe'd sworn vengeance on him, it wasn't very Jedi, it wasn't very right but she was angry. She had every right to be angry, no one could deny that. But this, this easy capture, this capitulation it seemed anti-climactic, it felt like she was being cheated of her target, her anger was left with no-where else to go. She knew it was better to just let it go, but it was like an old friend it...oh wow she really did need to let this go. Another deep breath the girl looked at Kei with a softer expression, she wasn't going to le the anger become her. "Please Kei, don't fight, just...come back and let us understand why."

[member="Kei Raxis"] | [member="Yuroic Xeraic"]​

 

[WelshPsych]

Entering the room, he could see that this Kei figure was a defeated man. This was not the look or feel of a man looking to fight to the death to avoid capture. Something that Asaraa clearly did not see. Whether it was inexperience or anger blinding her to what appeared clearly to Yuroic, he could not say. Holding back, he let both parties say their points. It seemed that Kei had been lead astrayed by family and the allure of power. It was disappointing to see but he could not blame the boy, all too many Jedi have been turned to the Dark Side by both things in the past and likely happen to others in the future.

"I expect no beg of forgiveness or explanation. Only give you the chance to do that if you wish." He turned to Asaraa, his eyes were understanding her pain, he had lost Jairdain, a close friend to the Dark Side and it had hurt not able to stop her. "Where is this legendary suit?" Yuroic said, not believing the suit was powerful asbthe boy claimed. "The suit will be likely destroyed if deemed too dangerous or if we can expel the Sith spirits then be used once more." He was curious to take a close examination of the suit. It was sensible to be cautious but if the suit was powerful without the Sith then it would be a waste to just destroy the suit.

Yuroic shook his head. So many would had turned to the Dark Side blamed the Jedi for holding back knowledge and claiming the Dark Side had hidden strengths. Strengths that Yuroic had never seen. "What power did the Dark Side teach you? Did they teach you how to restore life to the dead? How to escape the inescapable end? I doubt you learnt anything that the Jedi wouldn't teach you themselves. What you lacked, what most of those that turn to the Dark side lack, was patience. In time, you have learned anything you wished." It was disappointing that so few were willing to wait and learn when deemed ready not when they wanted to learn.

Walking up to the man, he handicuffed the man. "I know you aren't seeking to resist or fight. However, there are precautions in place if you are seeking to disrupt us from within or send coordinates to Sith of our location." He was letting the Sith know that there was no chance to escape or send information about them away.

[member="Kei Raxis"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

He nodded.

He expected to be restrained and searched. He was unarmed, he didn't plan to fight back. He had nothing that would allow him to communicate on his person, he didn't even know who he would call. Anyone he could call wouldn't bother to help him, the one person he trusted had been the person who had killed him. Kei adjusted his jacket one last time, running his hand through his hair. He expected it to be a long time until he was free from his restraints.

He offered out his hands.

"The armour in question is buried deep on Corellia, under my own estate. It is locked up tight, I know the person who killed me made sure no-one else would ever be able to become controlled. As for the restraints, I expected as much. I understand that neither of you trust me, I know neither one of you has a reason to trust me. I shot a padawan because I was reckless and stupid. I did stupid things, for that I expect to be hated"

He flicked his eyes to Asaraa.

"I would like, if you would, a private chance to talk to you. To apologise. Once I'm bound, I can't run anywhere. You can even hold me at lightsaber point if it makes you feel comfortable. Someone also needs to water the plants while I'm away, I expect I won't be returning for a while. Hopefully someone will let the Queen know I won't be able to attend Commenor business for a while, you understand?"

He grinned, just slightly.

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

And there was the slightly cocky humour that had started the friendship in the first place, for a moment the mask on Asaraa's face slipped, her lips curling up before she remembered holding the groaning body of their friend in her arms as that fleeting smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. It was so easy to fall back into it, to forget the reason she'd chased Kei across the galaxy. "You don't think we'd just waltz onto the planet without properly notifying people that we were here? I'm sure the queen will be informed of your absence and would be happy to arrange for someone to take care of your plants." The girl turned her face away, for a moment, staring out of the window, at the city lights that seemed to spread out in front of her, like a sea of star twinkling far beneath her, reflecting the stars that dusted the heavens above them. A small twitch of her lips showed a hint of amusement, where else would they find someone like Kei but twixt the stars of heaven and those of the hell visited on the planet. She knew he must have a reason for his betrayal in his head, no-one...well most people, had a reason behind their actions, very few just acted for no rhyme no reason. Yet, just because he had a thought in his head that had, for him, justified the actions he'd taken, that didn't mean they truly did. The truth was the judgements of actions was a subjective thing, not something you could look at objectively, yet, that was it wasn't it. Yet, she couldn't help but look at it subjectively since it had impacted her life so completely and utterly.

"I hardly think that I'd need to hold you at lightsaber point," she allowed with a wry shake of her head, "that sounds like the start of some kind of elaborate escape plan. Like you might impale yourself on the lightsaber, and when we diverytt to the hospital make good your escape...or you know something." The pink-haired Jedi looked between the two men and shrugged, "What, escape plans were never really my speciality. But, if you want to talk, it's not a hugely long flgiht, but I'm sure there'll be plenty of time for that at least." She just had to be careful not to punch through his head while they were talking.

[member="Kei Raxis"] | [member="Yuroic Xeraic"]

 

[WelshPsych]

Yuroic watched the two interact. It was odd to see Asaraa become so angry, so upset. While he didn't know the young Knight well, he knew that she was meant to be a great Jedi, one of the best Padawans that was around. He thought she would have better control but then, he was never good at controlling his own emotions when someone he cared about got hurt. This boy was misguided though, he had sought something out, there was still every chance that he could learn from this and still become a Jedi. Yuroic believed that, especially since he had seen worse men come back to the Light.

"Hate you? No, might not trust you but hate is only for ths Sith. While what you have done cannot be changed, there is every chance going forward that you could be a better man." Yuroic stated as he stood back then walked to Asaraa. "Deep breaths and keep your anger in control. Don't let your emotions control what you say or do." Yuroic stated as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "And there is no chance for him to escape, I can heal any injury that he gives himself." Yuroic was skilled in healing, while not a healer he had taken the time become as skilled as an expert healer as he felt it crucial to know a skill like that.

Moving to Kei, he gestured to the prisoner to lead the way. "Might be better if you don't hold your breathe for that private chat. While I don't know you, I do know Asaraa and never seen her this upset. Don't do anything to make that worse." Yuroic wasn't sure why he was being protective of his fellow Knight but he was and he put it down to the Order being his family in general. That he'd be this way for anyone.

[member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Kei Raxis"]