The Trial Of Kei Raxis

[Josh Dragovalor]

[member="Kei Raxis"] - [member="Celeste Rigel"] - [member="Junko Ike"] - [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] - [member="Valkren Calderon"]​

Silver Assembly Chambers​

Kei Raxis had attempted to murder his fellow Jedi, a Padawan. While the circumstances of the whole thing were still a bit up in the air, the Silver Assembly had called Mr. Raxis to the Rest in order to explain himself. And if necessary, face judgement. One by one, the Silver Assembly would fill into the chambers until each one that intended to attend the Trial was present. Next came the defendant, Mr. Raxis. With the Assembly seated, it became time to hear his account, and decide what was to be done with the situation.

One face missing from the group was the Grandmaster, Jyoti Nooran. Wherever Master Nooran's travels had taken her, she was unable to attend. Presiding in her stead was the Master of the Order, Josh DragonsFlame. The Jedi Master had been a part of trials before, none of which were happy memories for him. It was an inevitable part of the job that he dreaded having to deal with again. Especially for something like this, the attempted murder of a fellow Jedi. But he kept his thoughts to himself for the time being, as he would take his spot in the front-facing chair. When he placed a hand on it, he recoiled a little bit as memories flooded through him. The realization of what was to be done. What he would have to do. Closing his eyes, he would let out an exhale as he would hoist himself up... Steeling himself for what was to come.

When Kei Raxis arrived, Josh noted he resembled a man that he had given a few lessons at one point, but didn't give it much thought past that. Once everyone was ready, he cleared his throat before speaking up. His tone was firm, his voice resounding throughout the room... But it kept a level of calm as well, as at every moment he consistently met the defendant's eyes.

"Kei Raxis. You stand in front of your peers charged with attempting to murder your fellow Jedi. Here for your trial are the Jedi Masters amongst the Silver Assembly. In Master Nooran's absence... I will be presiding over the proceedings.

You have our permission to speak. Please explain what happened."

 

[Noriko Ike]

Noriko was unsure about some things..... mainly why she had been asked here.... Junko was given a spot with the Assembly but they had invited her.... she hoped it wasn't because they thought all Ike's looked alike.... that would just something until she just sat there. Skylar bodysuit with vine silk straps. Heeled boots with utility... her small spiked heels were made to ground her and make it harder to be moved with the little barbed spikes. Her saber staff on her hip and hair short with bangs over her eyes. She was leaning a little to the side in the seat and the idea of seeing Kei again.. well it was a welcoming one if only because how many times can you ay an ex gets to offer judgement over you.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

He was almost used to it.

He was used to being judged by groups of people. He was used to being told he was wrong. Normally he would argue his case, argue that he wasn't wrong even if he knew he was. Normally he would ignore any judgement from groups of people, most of them didn't know him and therefore didn't have the right to judge him for anything.

In this situation they were right to judge him, right to tell him that he was wrong.

He offered a weak smile towards Josh. The charge was correct, Asaraa must have filled him in. Zavii had been shot by Kei during his leave from Kashyyyk. Kei only assumed that Asaraa had neglected to mention that the duo were trying to stop him from leaving the planet but Kei wouldn't hold it against them, didn't have the energy to hold it against them.

He recognised Noriko Ike. She wouldn't recognise him, though she would probably recognise his force signature. He disliked that she was one of those judging him, the personal connection would cloud her judgement. He trusted in the Jedi enough to know that they had made fair judgement though, they wouldn't have put Noriko there if they didn;t trust her.

"Is this the bit where I plead guilty?"

He offered a small grin.

"I'm guilty. I shot Zavii during my escape from Kashyyyk. She was trying to keep me here, I don't blame her. She wanted to protect a friend from the darkside and I shot her in the stomach"

He looked up at those judging him.

"The darkside is a powerful tool, it fuels you. The suit of armour I was locked in only fueled my connection to the darkside. It lead me to do more than you would ever know. I murdered a number of people to fuel my power, I comitted treason, I lead soldiers to their deaths knowing they would never return. I comitted terrorism across countless planets"

He blinked.

"The darkside is powerful. The suit of armour, the memories of Darth Krayt are more powerful than you would ever understand"

[member="Noriko Ike"] | [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] | [member="Celeste Rigel"] | [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Celeste Rigel]

Celeste sat back in her seat, posture straight, almost to the point of being rigid. This meeting of the Assembly was out of the ordinary. So rare was it to have a trial here in the Order of the Silver Jedi. Of course, when large groups came together, some amount of conflict was expected. However, an attempted murder... here at Silver Rest, that was unheard of. It had been news Celeste had been most uneasy to learn about, and reading through the case notes today brought it all back.

While she had not been the one to treat the injured padawan, she'd certainly heard about the case.

With hands folded in her lap, she watched Kei Raxis, the accused. He openly admitted guilt. The healer's eyes grew narrow as she listened to him, one obviously seduced by the power of the dark side. She could not deny that the dark side held power, but one had to be weak to give in to such a selfish temptation. Celeste shook her head.

He admitted fault, but not regret.

Such acts of violence should not be taken lightly. In her own mind, this person did not belong here at Silver Rest, but she would wait to voice this opinion until called upon to give her opinion. For now, she would simply listen.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"], [member="Kei Raxis"], [member="Jessica Med-Beq"], [member="Valkren Calderon"], [member="John Locke"]

Spoiler

Just a note: [member="Noriko Ike"] was tagged by mistake, [member="Junko Ike"] should be present at the Assembly meeting. As we do not wish to interrupt the flow of the thread, Noriko can observe, but may not have a say in the actual ruling.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

It was one of the more unpleasant parts of even holding a seat in the Assembly: high-profile criminal trials. Civil cases typically escaped Jedi attention, and, even if the losing party could, in fact appeal, the Assembly held no appellate power over civil cases. [member="Kei Raxis"] did, in fact, commit more crimes than simply assassinating [member="Zavii"], and, given the confessions to other crimes committed after that specific crime he made, a life sentence in prison at the Prism was a possibility. And all equipment he still possessed that was associated with Darth Krayt would need to be seized and then placed under lock and key. And not just about any security measure would do, since anything related to Darth Krayt was at least as coveted as anything related to Yoda, and possibly stored in the same vault as Yoda's lightsaber. But she would, in fact, not be too hasty in speaking her mind, and neither were [member="Celeste Rigel"], [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] or [member="Noriko Ike"]. And yet his lack of remorse would likely cost him: he pinned blame on Darth Krayt's armor, but, even without Darth Krayt's armor, he definitely wasn't the same as he was when she met him in the wake of the Korriban bombing. Speaking of that suit, she had a few questions for him regarding the topic.

"You said that Darth Krayt's armor and the memories contained inside were more powerful than we could understand. Yet, you also confessed to committing acts of terrorism as well as an attempt on Zavii's life. I may be led to think Darth Krayt's armor may possess the ability to at least temporarily render its wearer insane, mad with bloodlust even. First question: were you wearing Darth Krayt's armor when these crimes you are charged with were committed?"

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Well, this is different... For Calderon, in his past days in the Galactic Republic, it was his own team and himself that was quite often found in front of the Republic's military court. This would either be for the trouble they caused in the local pubs, or for a few over-dramatic methods they did to complete some mission objectives.

Standing on the other side now, being in the position of judgment... It was strange to say the least. In fact, it made the thirty-year-old officer uneasy to be in a sort of group like this. However, Valkren knew that it came with the job.

Valkren would most likely stand out like a sore thumb among the others, sporting the Antarian Ranger's BDU, with the dark blue and grey pattern to complement the unit he was serving with. Nonetheless, even if his area of expertise was on the battlefield and not at the home front, he still approached the situation with the same seriousness he'd have in the field.

The statements that came forward wasn't exactly what he was hoping to hear. Although he didn't know much about the powers of the force and the dark side, he had seen the results and power of it in his experience on the battlefield. It was a nasty bit, really. He had witnessed only a few Jed fall during his time fighting alongside them, but those that he had seen had all ended the same way.

Dead: either by the lightsaber of another Jedi, or by the many commandos he had run with in the past.

He knew a bit about madness too. He had seen how darkness could overtake warriors, fueled by war and adrenaline..and bloodshed. He knew them so well because he had seen many like it in his own units. It was easy if your entire life, day-in day-out, was putting your life out on the line for others. Add that to the constant crucible of a fire that is war and combat and you get war-junkies.

Kei Raxis sounded no different to him..Madness and rage seemed prevalent in the briefing of him, and it seemed only more acceptable of an answer now that he heard him speak. He had also heard about items that the dark side could surge from..The armor's past didn't really matter to soldier.

Again, he didn't know the 'things' behind the force and the dark side, but he assumed well enough that whatever it was sunk its fangs deep into Kei.

Even then the colonel chose to save his words for later in the trial, there were still details that were fuzzy to him that might be made clear later on. However, at the moment he felt as if the result of the trial was clear as day..


[member="Kei Raxis"] | [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Celeste Rigel"] | [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] | [member="Noriko Ike"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He pled guilty. Not that Josh was really surprised at all. Reports had indicated that he had not resisted heavily, and it had been his friend that had turned him in. Which would explain why John Locke had chosen not to attend this evening. But he didn't just admit to that, he admitted to many other things too that would make Josh quirk a brow in surprise and horror. Though he kept his emotions in check despite this revelation as he closed his eyes a moment, mulling it all over. This man had done monstrous things, betrayed the Silver Jedi Order and had hurt many for seemingly no reason except for apparently the influence of a dark suit of armor which he seemed to already know belonged to Darth Krayt.

But the thing that stuck out the most to Josh was that the man didn't seem to regret his actions. Not one bit. He had to wonder if the armor did all this... Or if it only amplified his own feelings and what was already inside. This was quite the debacle, he had to admit. He could almost feel his hair graying prematurely as he scratched his head. Josh was always going to be hesitant to deliver any sort of harsh judgement in these cases, it was the way that he was. But it might be necessary. He needed more information, he decided.

Once the other questions were asked, he had some of his own.

"First up" He spoke calmly as he looked [member="Kei Raxis"] in the eyes once again. "Why were you wearing the armor of Darth Krayt to begin with? You are clearly quite aware that it was a dark side item, yet you seem to shift at least some of the blame to it seeing as you've brought it up.

Second... Do you not regret your actions? Because something I'm not hearing in your words or in your voice is regret. You killed many, you led many who trusted you to their deaths. The seeming lack of remorse sort of surprises me."

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"] - [member="Celeste Rigel"] - [member="Junko Ike"] - [member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Kei looked up at Josh.

"The armour was buried with it's previous owner. I found it accidently, fell into it's tomb to be exact. I fought my way out of that tomb, but that tomb changed me. They cloned me while I travelled through that tomb, made me face myself. The shard of the armour I kept was a reminder of what I had been through and what I had seen. That armour saved my life"

Kei kept his eyes on Josh.

"I never willingly entered the armour, the armour grew around me. All it takes is a single crystal. I was trapped in it from that point, unable to leave. I was attacked by the memories of Krayt, of everyone who had ever worn that armour. It took my own death to free me from it, death being just a minor inconvience in this galaxy, of course"

He flicked his eyes to Jessica, she too was questioning him.

"When I shot Zavii, I was under the influence of the darkside. I wasn't locked in the armour, I was trying to impress a man who had fallen. Have you ever grown up without a father figure? When he. my father, revealed himself to me, the Sith Lord he had become I knew I needed to impress him. Asaraa and Zavii both felt me slipping and attempted to stop me leaving Kashyyyk. I shot Zavii so I could be free"

He flicked his eyes around the room.

"Do I regret what I did?"

He offered a slight smile.

"I regret being a pawn to the darkside, the memories and voices that clouded my mind. I regret that I believed the Darkside to be the only way to connect with my father. I regret shooting Zavii, but I justify it"

He looked around.

He sigh.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"] | [member="Valkren Calderon"] |[member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Celeste Rigel"] | [member="Noriko Ike"]

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

I could have understood if it was in self-defense, but it doesn't sound like self-defense at all at this point. Furthermore, he may have been reeling in mentally from the effects of either resurrection or the side effects of the armor. Especially since committing those crimes as a trial of adoption reflects poorly to my eyes. However, now that there are two components to the suit, the armor proper and the crystal, locking it up inside the vault holding Yoda's lightsaber would be best handled by droids, Jessica thought, after listening to both how [member="Kei Raxis"] got a hold of the armor in the first place and whether it was worn when the crimes were committed. [member="Valkren Calderon"] knew as well that hot-headed veterans sometimes committed the irreparable in the heat of battle, much like one Draven Dursden on Jakku, but what was clear to her was that guy had to be imprisoned for some time, at the Prism or on Belsavis (if the First Order hasn't captured it by now), while simultaneously following a rehabilitation treatment behind bars. Now, she would not assume to know how [member="Celeste Rigel"] and [member="Noriko Ike"], or even [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] would react to the deposition.

"It seems rather... disturbing for a justification. Did you make previous legal attempts, before picking up the crystal, to have someone else serve as a father figure to you?"

 

[Noriko Ike]

Noriko listened to it, her voice silent but her mind was working and thinking about it. Kei had changed mostly... somewhat... either way she still cared what happened to him even if he had written her off and forgotten her... but she was finding certain things to be a little too conveinent as it were. It is easy to blame something that can't talk back..... even with nullification resin to seal it away something liek that armor could be dangerous. Krayt's crab armor was a living thing though and usually the older it got the more it could become a danger.... Bah she leaned back in the seat and didn't speak yet. Saddened but focused and besides she was a jedi. Her judgement would reside in the evidence and facts more then what she wanted to do.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Well, apparently the guy had daddy issues. That was a start. His justification felt incredibly weak, Josh noted. But then again, he wasn't him, he couldn't fathom what would possess him, even under the influence of the dark side... To go to those lengths to "impress" his... Father? Father figure? Something of the sort. The story really didn't seem to add up. But what bothered him the most was that smile he gave before he stated he "regretted" this and that in a matter that just... He wasn't sure. Didn't seem like he genuinely cared all that much about the lives he had snuffed out.

The Master of the Order decided to retain his silence for the time being, allowing the others to give their questions while he formulated a proper opinion.

[member="Junko Ike"] - [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] - [member="Kei Raxis"] - [member="Valkren Calderon"] - [member="Celeste Rigel"]

 

[Celeste Rigel]

The line of Celeste's frown seemed only to grow deeper as the trial continued. A slow sigh escaped the Jedi healer as Kei stated that he had shot Zavii so that he could be free. Delusion. As far as she was concerned, one could never truly be free when corrupted by the influence of the dark side, they would always be a slave to its will – the evidence was sitting before them.

He continued to state that he justified shooting their padawan.

In her own eyes, this was simply unacceptable. Lifting her gaze, she looked at the accused.

“My only question is...” She started, “Are you prepared to accept the consequences of your actions?”


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"], [member="Noriko Ike"] (... Junko), [member="Jessica Med-Beq"], [member="Kei Raxis"], [member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Junko Ike]

Noriko's image shifted, Junko had wanted to see if there was a reaction but there wasn't much of one... in truth as she appeared sitting there. THe atrisian jedi princess mostly.... had no real opinion. She doubted Kei would change and suddenly show remorse at doing it and Zavii wasn't here to really talk about it which sadly went a long way. You needed a victim to really push a crime at times. She may have wanted to se justice done but they weren't supposed to execute prisoners. Regardless of their crimes the jedi don't kill their prisoners or are supposed to exhaust every option. She shrugged to herself though more curious to see the answers to the other questions. She doubted from looking at track records imprisonment would last for a long time and most darksiders knew how to jump bodies. It was almost a beginners lessons she guessed.