The Bad Penny

[Connor Harrison]

Eager to see the planet for himself and the people, Connor followed, focused only on where he was being led and not of any looks that came his way. Looks were not important from uneducated people.

"I am simply curious, and wish to understand your people more, your Highness. Nothing sinister."

Through the royal grounds and to the ship that was waiting, Connor stayed with the guards and entered the cockpit and took his seat. The craft eventually took flight, and so he began to relax and enjoy the view. Looking this way and that, he took in all Kay said and how trade was key for them.

"Wonderful geography. Tell me," he said to her, "what trouble have you ever faced from external forces? What do they target?"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay had the pilot take them to all the touristy spots, the Twin Canyons, Rock Point Beach, Valley of the Storm and the Eldritch Mountains. She pointed out the two moons in orbit above them, but didn't describe much of them, as though they weren't important. However that was far from the truth.

[member="Connor Harrison"] asked about what it is that external forces target. There hadn't been much attacks at all since she began leading, and that included being her time as President. Only a pirate raid to break a prisoner out of jail. Then there was her abduction. Even then, that was just a personal matter that didn't endanger anyone else but the two guards that were with her at the time.

Kay didn't look at Connor as she answered him, her attention focused on the window. "We haven't had any real trouble. I suppose that being the head of state, I'd be the target." More than likely to be removed, either by death or imprisonment.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor looked at her as she spoke and she was distant. Vague. Deceptive.

"Hm. I see."

He glanced around as she pointed out a few areas, and the moons above.

"What are you defences like. Planet security. I take it you have a fleet and army, but are they based here or in another system? Do you have support from others or are you as neutral as they come?"

His eyes looked around as they flew. It certainly was an impressive planet.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay wasn't sure just how much she should divulge to [member="Connor Harrison"] . Perhaps it was best to not go into details. Keep it vague as though they were no different than any other planet, which they probably weren't.

"Our fleet is based here, but with acquiring more planets in our care, we'll have to branch them out more to secure our expanding borders. Commenor itself has a shielding system that consists of manned orbiting substations, keeping an eye on the traffic and able to fire on any vessel going in or out. In case of invasion, there's a vast network of tunnels under each city, connecting to either mines or shelters deep below the ground." That'll at least keep the people safe.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Underground networks. Ground defence. A substation.

A well-stocked little operation for a neutral planet.

"Very good."

Connor craned his head and looked down upon what looked like a spaceport passing by below.

"May I ask a personal question?" Regardless of the guards in their company and the right or not to ask said question, Connor continued. "Do you deny the darkness in you, or do you pretend it’s not there for the sake of your people and yourself."

His eyes looked around as if browsing casually through a sweet shop.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay went a little stiff as [member="Connor Harrison"] brought up a topic that she didn't want to talk about right now. Most were unaware of her abilities and that included most of her staff; some of which were on the Free Lady right now.

So when she finally answered after a pause, she did so with careful words. "We all have a little darkness in us. Some just choose to feed it more than others do. I have had councelling to help me with my post traumatic stress that had brought my own darkness to the surface. I choose not to feed the beasts that plague my mind. I have too many other things to focus on right now." Hopefully that was a clear enough answer for him.

 

[Connor Harrison]

With her answer clearly showing there was still more to hide from those around her, Connor turned to the Queen.

"Counselling. That’s a new one. I didn’t think they provided counselling for what you and many more endured. I would have thought a prison, or confinement at least to make sure you were not a danger to yourself or others."

He didn’t say it quietly; hopefully the guards would hear and their brains would be working – what was he talking about? What darkness? Prison? Why?

"One day, Lady Kay, I think it would be wise for me to meet your husband. Bury the hatchet. If we want to move forward then surely it is time to do it sooner than later, wouldn’t you say? If I will be here a little more in future, we can’t have an awkward atmosphere can we."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay slowly shook her head as [member="Connor Harrison"] mentioned prison. She was being literal in her statement. "Confinement is partly what caused my ptsd. So confinement wouldn't help me cope with it. Councelling was used instead, councilling in tranquil open spaces with plenty of light." All of it the opposite of what she had endured.

She grew silent as he suggessted meeting her husband. [member="Veiere Arenais"] wouldn't want him here at all, except maybe to kill him. The Darkness that Connor seemed to draw out of him wasn't something that she wanted to see or feel again. He was her beacon of Light. No doubt he would already question the fact that she herself wasn't running Connor through with her lightsaber right now, or arresting him. In truth she couldn't figure out why she wasn't doing so either. Maybe it was the hope that everything would turn out for the best. "Sooner, yes. I just don't know how to approach the subject yet. He doesn't spend much time here right now. So...thankfully it'll give me the time that I need to figure it out."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor turned to the Queen with a very matter of fact tone to his voice.

"Well, Kay, you just contact him now and ask him to meet with you and your guest. That's it. If he accepts, then we make progress. If he declines, then I will wait."

He turned to the guards, looking at them both for a second, then turning to sit facing the viewport.

"As you can imagine, I've not got much time to sit around waiting. There are things to do. People to see, places to go."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay laughed a little as [member="Connor Harrison"] thought that regarding him as simply her guest was all that it took to get Veiere to come. "I am not going to be misleading my husband into returning to Commenor right now. That's not how it works. I don't want to give him any reason not to trust me."

She looked out the window, getting a sense of deja vu. "If I'm keeping you from tending to other matters elsewhere, then don't let me stop you. I can have the pilot return us to the Palace, unless you want to be dropped off somewhere else?" The last time that Connor did that, he didn't return until now. Perhaps history would repeat itself.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor picked up on the tone of the Queen. He cared little for what her husband felt about the past. It was only the future he wanted to sink his claws into.

"Drop me at the spaceport outside of the palace. I will leave your world. You have wasted enough of my time when I am trying to reach out, you can’t even engage your husband to represent the good of his people."

He looked to her.

"Your view is still tinged with the Dark Side. I feel it in you, and no amount of trying to hide it will work from those who draw from its power. Once you have been touched by it, you belong to it."

Then, he looked to the two guards.

"You may want to question which side of the war your Queen is really on, gentlemen."

With a fleeting glance to her, he turned and sat back, cool and collected, to watch the planet dissolve away as the craft banked back on itself.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay kept silent for a moment. [member="Connor Harrison"] just didn't understand Veiere and his reluctance to take the mantle of King. He held no desire for such a thing, nor for politics in general. So she gave him free reign to pursue his Force studies, his true calling. Ruling over a world was not.

It was his next comments that made her slowly turn her head so that she was looking at him squarely. He was so bold at revealing big hints about one of her secrets, and she didn't like that. Instead of lashing out at him or attempting to lie, she just used logic.

"The same could be said abput the Light. We're all capable of doing right and wrong. Politics also has a way of not letting one go. I've experienced that a few times so far. And as for war? We are not at war, nor are we a part of the Galaxy's conflicts. But when it comes the time to choose, I side with Commenor and I will do what's best for them."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor smiled and pointed at the Queen beside him.

"Exactly. Exactly."

He sat back, head turned to her.

"You say you are not involved in the war, but you already are. You just don't want to see. One side is going to come for this world and you will have to choose just which side you want to stand on. Commenor will not exisit in the gray area forever, Kay. It's that reason that I am here offering to help. If the wrong people push, I will help push back."

He sighed.

"I do think you have me mistaken for a vengenful, ego-driven ex-Jedi. I'm not. I'm much worse, but so much better for it."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay furrowed her brows as she thought on what [member="Connor Harrison"] said. Why did it have to be one side or the other? Why couldn't Commenor and herself have their own side? "And what if they both come? Each wanting a piece? I can see that happening too."

As for whether or not this Connor was worse remained to be seen. It all boiled down to actions. Sure he gave her the creeps, but that could be because of their violent history.

"People find hope here. And that's what oppressors find so threatening about us. Commenor survives. It always does. Even during times of occupation."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor looked at the Queen for a second, wondering what sort of person she was. Why she was so scared of what was to come.

"If they both come, your Highness, then your world will burn around you."

He stared at her.

"Hope is for those who fear the truth happening around them. It sustains them only for so long. It will not protect them from the reality of the turning tide. I suggest you wake up and see this."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay just chewed the inside of her cheek, not looking at anything in particular. If both sides came, there was a chance that Commenor could burn. But maybe it won't happen in her lifetime.

Her brows furrowed as [member="Connor Harrison"] spoke of hope and what he thought about it. Of course she disagreed. "Hope is the belief that turning tides or not, one would be able to survive against the odds. Only if I die in the hands of my enemies will I be proven wrong. And right now...I have none of those."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Lowering his head in mild frustration, he spoke down.
"Let me off this ship as soon as you can. I am tired of your inability to admit truths, I fear for your people, I really do."

He stood up and moved from the cockpit, pushing through the guards sat beside on either side and moved to the main hold, standing and waiting as long as it had.

Being around one as this Queen showed him how cowardly these neutral planets were, but how ripe they were for annihilation at the first chance. She would not take action. She would not repel a fleet at all. All that mattered to her was status and her evidently cowardly husband.

Connor shot a glance down to the figure of the Queen and focused on talking to her mind.

"Your time will come."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay frowned slightly as [member="Connor Harrison"] left the cockpit. Both sides of the conflicts have given her the same warnings about what the other would do. And both would protect her worlds from the other.

So who among them was right and who was wrong? Which side was the more righteous one? That will all become evident when one of the sides moves to strike against her citizens. That will show her who is her ally and who isn't.

His voice whispered in her mind as her ship began to descend, preparing to land at the spaceport so that Connor could disembark. Kay just stared at nothing in particular, debating on whether or not to answer him. But she couldn't just let him walk out without a word. So in the end, she let her voice whisper into his mind. ~Eventually. It always does, no matter how much we prepare. But we'll fight back.~ This time, she wanted to add, but didn't.

The Free Lady landed gently, it's hydrolics hissing as the ramp was lowered. Kay just continued to sit there. This wasn't her stop. She was going to go home.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor kept his eyes on the Queen until the ship stopped, the engines settled and the ramp lowered letting the daylight flood in.

In the blink of an eye, he was gone. Out her ship and walking away to the spaceport he had brought the former Jedi's ship.

There was a lot to take in about this planet and the relationship with the Queen.

Maybe they were a power that needed to be uprooted, or faced with a harsh taste of reality in the coming weeks or months.

He heard the craft behind take off again into the sky.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay could feel [member="Connor Harrison"] 's gaze on her while she ship landed. But she just couldn't bring herself to look. Something about the tone that he had set made it quite uncomfortable for her.

She did look as the ramp had finished lowering, giving Connor a small nod as he departed. Moments later the ramp was raised and the Free Lady was on her way back to the Palace.

How long before she saw him again? Kay didn't know. But knowing that he was out there didn't exactly fill her with comfort. Especially as he acted as a man with nothing to lose. Those kinds of people were dangerous.