Was It Destiny or A Short Straw?

[Kay-Larr]

Royal Palace: Chasin City, Commenor



Kay sat in one of the comfy chairs in her office, tea in one hand and datapad in the other. It had been a productive week. She hadn't lost her influence during her months of captivity. Though that gift did nothing to help her to win anyone over so that she could escape, it did perhaps cause her captor to keep her alive. Although there were countless times when she thought that she would die. Perhaps there were some moments where she did. Some parts of her certainly did die. No longer was she intent on hiding her Force signature, nor her abilities. No longer was she allowing herself to be used or pushed around. She was stronger and her poise and stature reflected that. Confidence and determination was all that she would allow others to see. Her walls were up, hiding any doubts or signs of weakness. She was the crowned Queen of Commenor and she was not going to allow anyone to take that from her.

As she sipped her tea and went through some of the holo-messages sent and received by her old self, she could sense a shadow of Darkness. Kay got to her feet and set her cup and datapad down, furrowing her brows as she walked to the open door and started down the darkened hallway. The yellow speckles in her eyes reflected in the light that caught them, making them look almost like glowing embers in a fireplace. The Darkness that she felt was somewhat familiar, but she couldn't place it. Was it an old friend who's memory was ripped from her mind? Or was this someone new, someone curious about the Darkside that pooled around her? Kay's old self had an uncanny ability to bring powerful Force users to her as though she was a beacon. It wasn't as though she was all powerful. On the contrary, she always considered herself to be average. But before it was the hope that she held onto. Now? Who knows?

Kay stopped in the middle of the hallway and waited, listening to the silence around her. Perhaps either tonight or tomorrow she'll learn what that Darkness was. It could even just pass her by. Either way was fine for her.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

First Order Suite

A single tri-winged vessel soared over the idyllic waters of Rock Point Bay, its flanking wings occasionally skimming the water's surface as it accelerated as blistering speeds towards the city whose skyline enveloped the entirety of the distant shore. As the ship neared the city's airspace it veered up to clear the tallest buildings along the bay's edge, its speed and nimbleness allowing it to circumvent any aerial traffic that might have delayed another vessel of slower speed. Air traffic control quickly established contact with the foreign vessel, and through a short exchange between the flight officers and the ship's pilot the vessel was granted clearance to land near the Royal Palace, although some dark malignance seemed to have influenced the flight officers to allow such a landing to occur. The ship swung by the Palace grounds, slowing to an idle hover as the flanking wings retracted upwards and the landing gear descended for a smooth landing in one of the structure's many courtyards.

The shuttle's boarding ramp descended and a single robed individual emerged flanked by two warriors garbed in crimson plate with vibro-axes held rigidly in each hand, their movements almost mechanical despite their flesh-and-bone nature as they followed the lead of the shrouded man without hesitation. The Dark Side radiated off of him like the ocean's tide, his power undulating with each step as he easily made his way into the palace with a wave of his hand, barricades and men buckling before his will.

He sought the Lady of the Estate, [member="Lady Kay"], newly christened Queen of Commenor. His mind expanded, enveloping the palace as his voice echoed through every hall. "[member="Lady Kay"], reveal yourself to me. We have much to discuss."

 

[Kay-Larr]

And then there it was. Kay was informed of the oncoming vessel as soon as it gained clearance from traffic control. So someone was coming.And from what she could tell, this would be no normal visitor.

She continued down the hall, only to stop as soon as she heard [member="Darth Carnifex"] 's voice booming through the halls. It came from everywhere at once. There was no recognition in the voice. Perhaps she had never met him before.

Kay closed her eyes, focusing on the Force that flowed through her. Rather than communicating through those that worked in the Palace, this was the quickest way. She focused inward on her Force signature and made it grow and shrink as though it was pulsating, calling forth her visitor to her position.

"I'm in the south hallway."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

He melted out of the darkness like the shroud of a ghastly specter, his sulfuric eyes burning bright in the darkness cast by the brim of his hood. He extended a single hand in greeting as he spoke, his voice dark yet surprisingly melodic; "So you are [member="Lady Kay"], Queen of Commenor?" He laughed, a bubbly gargled guffaw, and proceeded to bow respectfully as one monarch to another.

"It is a great pleasure to be in your presence at last, your highness, for I have heard much about you." He drew back his hood with his left hand to reveal his scarred patrician features, a cascade of graying black hair descending as he adjusted it ever so slightly.

"I am Kaine Zambrano, Arch-King of the Pacanth Reach."

 

[Kay-Larr]

If [member="Darth Carnifex"] meant for her to shake his hand when he extended it, she made no move to do so. It wasn't as though she was trying to be rude, it's just that he was a stranger that has all of a sudden come to her home, and a strong Darksider to boot. It was hard to say just what he had come here for. Many different thoughts ran through her mind.

Kay bowed her head after he greeted her, raising a brow slightly as he was older than she had pictured when she had heard his voice. But she put on a charming smile as he introduced himself. Zambrano was a name that she had heard before, as well as Kaine. Though the details were small.

"Pleasure to meet you. To what do I owe the honour of this visit?" Kay turned to the side and gestured for him to follow her to her office. No doubt it was a private matter, otherwise she might of been informed ahead of time of this visit. It was difficult for her to say. "And I hope that your journey here was comfortable."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"I've heard much about you from associates, and what they told me piqued my interest in your new queendom."

He followed behind [member="Lady Kay"] closely as she ushered him into personal office, his presence domineering as he swept into the room with a flourish of his cape. Baleful eyes surveyed the chamber with a slight upward curl of his lip, an obvious reaction to the rather plain wooden aesthetics. "You should hire a new architect, this room would look far more appetizing cloaked in marble rather than this paltry wood." He turned, a sudden motion to face the Queen of Commenor, and the sneer that once existed had since then turned into a coy smirk. "And my journey was satisfactory, your highness, but like all interstellar travel it was still woefully dull."

He ran a gloved finger across the top of the nearby desk only to rub it against his thumb as if inspecting the dust and dirt that might have accumulated upon its surface. "Your regime is relatively new, your powers foreign to the people who have enjoyed the stagnation of democracy for many, many years, and soon enough you will face opposition to your rule. I have come to ensure that you rule remains unchallenged, that your grip on this world remains iron tight."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay raised a brow while they walked. She was being talked about? No doubt that could bring other 'guests' to her home. It was certainly something to prepare for.

As they entered her office, she was surprised at the criticism that [member="Darth Carnifex"] had given. Her eyes wandered through her office as she tried to picture it in marble. No. Marble was too much of a reminder of her captivity, especially if it was dark in colour. "I rather like the wood. It's strong in it's own way, holds a certain charm and is comforting..." This was her private space. No doubt there would be very little guests venturing in it. Perhaps there was still parts of her that still wished to keep things secret.

And now he had revealed his purpose. It was obvious that so few trusted her. That was her new normal. She had hardly ventured outdoors since she had returned, conducting all of her business in the safety of her Palace. "My people chose me. I just solidified my place as their leader. The mines are being reopened. Those that oppose will be working 30,000 feet below the surface. And if that isn't enough, they'll be executed."

She began to prepare some Sapir tea. Whether or not it was something that the Arch-King would partake in was anyone's guess. But she needed it. "Your advice would be appreciated...Would you care for some tea?"

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"A commendable initiative, and yes I wouldn't mind for some tea."

He waited patiently for her to prepare the tea, and would take whatever glass she gave him and take one cautionary sip before he continued. "But the opposition that I speak of will not entirely come from within the ranks of those you rule over. As you know the Galactic Alliance has made forays into the Core regions, and they are notorious for quashing the rules of tyrants whether or not they were chosen by the people. They have tried many times to uproot me from my own kingdom despite the fact that I, like yourself, am widely accepted by the people that I govern." He took another sip of the tea, and then sat the cup down on a nearby table as he retired to one of the plush reading chairs that dotted the chamber.

"An alliance between our two worlds would be beneficial indefinitely."

[member="Lady Kay"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay handed [member="Darth Carnifex"] his cup first before taking her own. She noted his caution, but as far as she could remember, she had never attempted to poison anyone. The only thing that he should be wary of is the temperature.

She sat down in one of the chairs, cradling her cup in her hands after having a sip while she listened to him. The Galactic Alliance. As far as she was aware, she hadn't had any dealings with them. They had no Embassy here either.

"It's good to see that they have failed. Commenor has numerous allies among the many governments in the Galaxy, both within the Core and without. I don't expect that we are on the Galactic Alliance's radar, but it pays to be prepared. What details do you propose with this alliance?" She sipped her tea. Some alliances were purely symbolic, while others came with trade.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"One of assurance."

He took another drink of his tea, savoring the flavor despite his more wine and spirit oriented tastes. "We are both monarchs, and we both wield the Dark Side of the Force. We will forever be the target of those who view the Dark Side as nefarious, especially those with extremist views such as the Jedi of the Galactic Alliance. So I would propose that whenever calamity would befall either of our people the other would immediately come to their aid and those of other similar governments throughout the galaxy."

He pondered, "A network of monarchies, perhaps."

[member="Lady Kay"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay sipped her tea. Most of what [member="Darth Carnifex"] had said was true. But Commenor was much too small for the larger governments to take notice of it. And there were still not many that knew that she was a Darksider, let alone a Force User. She had kept that well hidden during her political career. Though it didn't stop Prazutis from finding her.

On another note, the Commenori stayed at home. Just that alone had helped to protect their world from threats of hostile takeovers. They left the other worlds alone, so they were never deemed a threat.

She cleared her throat a little after taking another sip of her tea. "I'm afraid that at this time, we do not have the ships, nor a fleet to travel such vast distances and still keep Commenor protected. There was a fleet at our disposal, but....no more. So at this time, such a proposal would be one sided. However we would share intelligence and offer you an Embassy. Your people would of course be protected while on our soil."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"A fair compromise for now, but how long do you imagine it will take for a new naval force to be constructed and assembled?" There was not much one system could do without the aid of a competent and expansive starfleet to patrol its domain and protect it from vile corsairs and other ghastly ruffians of the stars. The fleets of the Reach were quite mighty, simultaneously bolstered by the larger Imperial government that both housed and sponsored the Epicanthix dominion, and featured many remnants of the old Imperial starfleet that served the One Sith Empire.

"And yes, an embassy would be marvelous. I'll be sure to prepare some of my best delegates for the task."

[member="Lady Kay"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

A fair compromise.

For now.

[member="Darth Carnifex"] was probably being generous. To reveal that they didn't have enough defence to protect themselves from large hostile forces could have been a mistake. But she was the honest sort, especially when it came to her Master's family. Commenor had a defensive shield, but it more than likely wouldn't hold out against an enormous fleet for long.

"For that, I'm uncertain. I'm working with our other allies in getting our shipbuilding factories up and running again. That will take time."

Of course they could perhaps buy some ships, but that would be more expensive in the long run. She didn't want to be fully reliant on others, for there was no guarantee that they would get what they needed when they needed it. Contracts can be broken just as easily as they can be made. Kay was no beginner to the political game.

At least he was keen on having an Embassy. "When your delegates arrive, we can have a building picked out for your liking."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"I have a better proposal for the embassy, your majesty." He tapped one finger against his chin in contemplation, his brow knit in thought as he momentarily closed his eyes and exhaled slowly with measured breaths. He remained in that contemplative state for several more seconds before he slowly opened his eyes, the glow of his sulfuric pupils shining through as his eye lids retreated.

"We will not simply repurpose an already existing structure, that is too mundane and unworthy of such a monumental task. We shall create a new structure, one modeled after the architecture of my people to serve as the embassy between our two worlds." He could already envision it now, modeled after their temples and places of worship to solidify Panatha's ties to Commenor.

It would be grand.

[member="Lady Kay"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay tilted her head to the side slightly while [member="Darth Carnifex"] seemed to be deep in thought. His silence was keeping her on the edge of her seat, so to speak, and no doubt that was exactly what he wanted. He was far more seasoned in the game of politics than she was.

His idea was not an uncommon one. The Red Ravens had made a similar request, even building a temple and hospital on the outskirts of Chasin City. So far it had all gone well. The First Order had their own Embassy constructed as well. It was not uncommon for people wanting to take a part of their home planet with them.

Kay sipped her tea and nodded. "Permission granted. I can show you various plots of land available and we can go over plans. Any of your workers that arrive will have to bide by our laws of course. The Commenori are my priority and I cannot give others special treatment. There are many other Embassies here and I would hate for their to be a conflict among them. You understand, of course. I'm sure that you have the same agreements on your own world."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Indeed, your majesty. I will abide by your rules in your house."

He crossed one arm over his chest, his hand clasped into a fist, and bowed generously for the Queen. "If there isn't anything more for us to discuss, I will return to my homeworld and make preparations for the embassy."

[member="Lady Kay"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay closed her eyes momentarily as she bowed her head to [member="Darth Carnifex"] . Then she got to her feet, setting her tea on the coffee table. "I'll have a contract drawn up for you and will give your representatives the utmost care upon their arrival. Shall I escort you out?"

This had been easy. Maybe too easy. Did she get the King onto her side already? She had an uncanny ability to do that with most. Only with Prazutis and those that tortured her in Vain Hollow did she fail. But her access to the Force was taken from her then, blocked by a collar. This was different.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"No, that will be quite alright."

He rose, smoothing out the ruffles in his robe. "I am sure we will meet again, your majesty. May Commenor prosper under your rule." He bowed again, and turned on his heels to leave the chamber and thus the entire palace as well. He had much to think about, much to do.

He would send his servants to Commenor to oversee the construction of their new embassy, ensuring the establishment of another contact within the Zambrano's vast network.

[member="Lady Kay"]​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay bowed her head again and watched [member="Darth Carnifex"] as he left. He seemed to have lots on his mind.

The construction of the Embassy would go along smoothly. No doubt it would be some time before she would ever see any of them again. But that was all right with her. It bided her more time to build up their forces and secret bases to give the appearance of vulnerability. Eventually everyone's motives would become clear.