Webs of Deception

[Faith Organa]

Ana was handing Faith her itinerary as they walked towards the platform where the transport waited to take her to the ship, The Eternal Light.

"Now Minister Agent [member="Fixx Kearney"] will be waiting when you arrive, he will ensure the Senator [member="Lady Kay"] is there to greet you." Faith nodded, "And Minister I've arranged for the Jedi [member="Mantic Dorn"] to be part of your security detail until you can meet up with Fixx and Lady Kay" Faith nodded again, taking in each detail and knowing that Ana could be counted on for each and every detail.

"Velusia is right on the Sith Republic border are you certain that the summit on intelligence gathering couldn't be moved?"

Faith paused she could see the concern, "I think the reports are bogus meant to scare us into nor proceeding, if any new chatter comes up I'll receive it quickly. In the meantime, I'm refuse not to perform my duties because of a rumor"

As they walked across the landing zone Faith started to pull away from Ana she looked for Mantic she had not seen him since visiting him on his recovery from the attack from @Darth Ferus . The Republic was looking actively for the Sith and so far nothing had been turned over, nothing concrete to where they could pull him in for capture.

Ana stopped she had done and said everything she could there was no deterring the Minister once she had decided to do something.

 

[Mantic Dorn]

These were extraordinary circumstances. A senator had been found force sensitive and thus decieved the republic. Mantic could not get it straight in his own head if [member="Lady Kay"] was a sith spy or simply a victim to powers greater then she could control. The sith lord they had encountered and who seemed to be behind it all was one of the most powerful entities he had ever encountered. The senator might very well be unaware of him subtly influencing her mind into doing his bidding.
But none of this was decided upon and now they all had to trust in the machinery that was the Republics last line of defence, the intelligence.

Lead by [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] these brave men and women often were the ones who truly brought peace or war to the people because of their actions. While Mantic himself had no such skills he was fully aware of the game that was played in the shadows with agents from both sides attempting to gain an upper hand. They were unsung heroes however and perhaps this affair was not meant to become a public scandal either. Why else would they have the summit here and not in public display?

It mattered not however, he was here to escort the minister so that she can perform her duties. As she approached the shuttle on the platform he took a step forward and made a formal bow.

"Minister, it warms my heart to see you again despite the dire circumstances." he greeted and stepped aside to allow her board the ship.

[member="Fixx Kearney"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

A Summit on Intelligence. On Velusia, no less. Kay had never been to this planet before and as she was detained with GRIM and under strict rules governed by the Prime Minister, she had to go where she was told. At least she got her satchel back. It hung from it's usual place over her shoulder as she stood next to [member="Fixx Kearney"] and waited for [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] to arrive. She didn't quite know what she was doing here, but maybe that was for the best. It was certainly better than facing a trial and her possible execution.

Kay glanced over to Fixx while they waited and spoke quietly. "Thank you for sticking up for me earlier. You didn't have to, but I think that it helped keep me from being locked away." She hated losing her freedom again. And still the Prime Minister's whispered words echoed in her mind. "..I own you now.." It was enough to draw just about anyone into a rage. But she couldn't do that, couldn't hate the woman for doing her job, just as she couldn't hate [member="Mantic Dorn"] for arresting her in the first place. Hopefully he was recovering okay. She had been kept out of the loop and only had Fixx to talk to. He had a habit of being cryptic at times and that was annoying, as well as his habit of watching and questioning everything that she did in the day. Her only peace was during her sleep.

What a mess she had gotten herself into...

 

[Faith Organa]

"Hello Master Jedi, good to see you up and about the galaxy is most certainly a more welcoming place with you in it. I'm really glad you are here, and going with me." She smiled warmly and continued forward knowing that he would in his usual manner fall easily in step beside her. "This summit that we are going it, it is designed to draw together resources from across the galaxy, find out what assets we can share."

Faith exhaled softly there were some things she did not know how to talk about, and certainly recently within the ten top of the list, [member="Lady Kay"] . Currently she fell under GRIM's responsibility, if she did anything wrong while in their care most certainly the PM would have all their heads lined up quite neatly on a platter. A place Faith did not want to end up.

Up the ramp and into the ship to settle in, as she looked across to [member="Mantic Dorn"] she could see much still weighed upon him. "[member="Fixx Kearney"] has reported so far that all is peaceful and quiet. Being so close to the Sith border might lure Darth Ferus out"

The look in her eyes there was more to this summit.

[member="Illaudata Renovare"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Things had certainly progressed, but for the better. Even through the difficult strains the group had had placed on them, strong bonds were being formed. [member="Mantic Dorn"] was recovering and thankfully making good progress. Now, he stood beside [member="Lady Kay"] opposite the ever faithful [member="Faith Balor-Organa"].

”Don’t thank me yet, Senator. I have a feeling we will have the chance for that when we both come out the other end in one piece. Hopefully. He smiled at her.

He had his instructions; partly to be the watchful eye for G.R.I.M and partly to give Kay the support she needed from the likes of those like @Darth Ferus – the snakes waiting to strike in the shadows.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded. "I trust that you're probably right." She chewed the inside of her cheek while they waited for others to arrive. She knew that [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] would be there, but not [member="Mantic Dorn"] . She had no idea how well his recovery was going.

A question had been burning in her mind for a while now. Kay turned to look at [member="Fixx Kearney"] . "Can I ask you something hypothetical? Earlier, if Mantic wasn't there and I had asked you for help, would you have had me arrested? Or was that all just because Mantic got mad at me?" Even in this place she didn't feel comfortable with naming details.

[member="Illaudata Renovare"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic gave [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] a feint smile at the mentioning of Lord Ferus.
Mantic had been duped not once but twice from this man and in his eagerness to investigate the Emperor of Atris he had totally missed to connect the dots in the grander picture.

He just hoped he would not fail them once more.

"That is good to hear minister." he replied as they found their seats in the shuttle.

"From my own perspective I do not believe we are in immideate danger either. But this whole affair has left scars in many. I still advice caution since this particular sith has tricked my abilitiesin the past." turning his head to the shuttle window he gazed off for a while...

"... he can do it again..." he continued murmuring, his thoughts going over different angles on what mistakes he had made. Maybe he could learn to avoid ending up in the same position again.
He soon shook himself free of these thoughts though, his mind needed to rest on the present and matters at hand.

[member="Illaudata Renovare"] [member="Fixx Kearney"] [member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Faith Organa]

One thing Faith had gained from her office, and sitting in the Senate reading people, their faces, their bodies. "Master Jedi , Mantic have you ever fallen out of a tree?" She smiled at him, "I have, broke my arm I landed on it." She took a gentle breath, "I fell out of the tree because I didn't take the time or have the patience to test the strength of the limb I was using to climb higher, it gave way and well, Tia Rianna and my Mother yelled for two days"

He was possibly wondering why she was telling him this, perhaps something to pass the time as they made their way. "The next time I climbed the tree I tested each branch before I moved upwards, I didn't fall out that time." What she was trying to say to him, live and learn and it will be ok.

"I'm not going to let the shadow of Darth Ferus stop us from our work. Otherwise he wins cause we let him" She sat back, ever faithful Ana was soon there with a pot of tea and two cups in case Mantic wanted to join her. Faith mouthed to her assistant thank you.

"Master Jedi, am I not always cautious?" She smiled brightly at him.

[member="Mantic Dorn"] [member="Lady Kay"] [member="Fixx Kearney"] [member="Illaudata Renovare"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic listened intently in the ministers attempt to teach him. She had used just the sortif metaphor that he could relate to and thus he reurned her smile.

"I beg my pardon if I bring tension minister." he replied and inclined his head from his seated position. He knew very well what she meant and that she was right. He was however human and not without flaws, he would try to remove his doubts thiugh. He knew they were what had defeated him in the encounter with Lord Ferus, if he could control that aspect the minister would be correct and the light would triumph.

Naturally, that was easier said then done, but never the less something Mantic slowly was preparing himself for.

"And may I add that your words echo only the wisest of jedi masters. Well put." he finished and leaned back awaiting the shuttle to dock with its destination.


[member="Illaudata Renovare"] [member="Fixx Kearney"] [member="Lady Kay"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Clasping his hands behind his back as the others started to arrive, he could hear the ambient noise rising. As [member="Lady Kay"] asked the question, he did a soft double take looking at her.

”No, I wouldn’t.”

The corner of his mouth turned upwards a little, the events they had both experienced in such a short time flashing through his mind.

”It’s not my place to arrest anyone. However, you’ve certainly pushed all the right buttons to make this a testing little…relationship. You’d be more of a target in custody I feel – we don’t know who is working for who anymore.”

His eyes flicked up to the others for a second.

”Do your best to trust me and I’ll do the same to you.”


[member="Mantic Dorn"] | [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] |

 

[Kay-Larr]

So he wouldn't of arrested her? Maybe then she'd of got the advice that she had sought, instead of being taken into custody by [member="Mantic Dorn"] . Maybe then she'd be in less of a mess than she was now, and Mantic wouldn't of gotten hurt. Regardless they were her decisions that led her into this mess, so she couldn't blame anyone but herself.

As for being more of a target while being in custody? She didn't quite believe that. In custody she'd be under constant guard by multiple soldiers, as opposed to being out in the open. So there must be something more to it than that.

For the last comment, Kay responded to [member="Fixx Kearney"] quietly. "I do trust you..." Just as she trusted both Mantic and [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] as well. As the transport docked in front of them, she held her breath. Time to face the music again.

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Mantic Dorn"] | [member="Lady Kay"] | [member="Fixx Kearney"] | [member="Fortuna"]

Faith smiled at Mantic, "Well my brother Garith is a Jedi, my brother Theo is a Kashi mystic, Tia Rianna is a Jedi Healer" Faith laughed, "I guess you could say you hang out long enough with them you begin to sound them" She just shook her head wouldn't D be surprised to hear her.

She sat back, "Thanks for coming" She looked to her datapad.

Time passed and they were soon landing. Faith once again in a gown from her cousin Claire this one was..ok. The dress thing was beginning to wear her out and her complaints became fewer. She was going to make it a policy that women wear boots and jeans one day a week in the Senate, let's see how that goes over.

The ramp was lowering and Faith stood with her hands neatly folded as she waited, once the light peered through Faith could see Lady Kay and Fixx waiting for them. How nice she glanced over to Mantic.

"Here we go Master Jedi" Faith strode down the ramp and moved towards them.

 

[Mantic Dorn]

[member="Fixx Kearney"] - [member="Lady Kay"] - [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] - [member="Fortuna"]

Mantic moved alongside Faith as they left the shuttle.

"Yes indeed, here we go." he smiled at her as they walked down the ramp and stepped closer to the waiting senator and the agent.

He was not fully recovered yet but there was no obvious signs of wounds and as far as he could tell, this meeting shouldbe able to pass without interference. He sensed no danger and as far as security goes he supsected that the minister of intelligence had enough reasources to pull of a meeting in the sith capital without drawing unnecessary attention.

Unless, that was something she wanted.

As they approached Mantic bowed to the waiting couple.

"Senator Kay, Agent." he said and folded his hands in front of him. He was focused on the ministers security and parts of his sparse wording was due to the fact that he kept trying to sense any disturbances that could come as a surprise.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Here we go. Kay bowed her head to [member="Mantic Dorn"] and [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] as they approached. Being that they weren't exactly in a safe location, she had her Force signature shrunk down to the size of a small tree nut again. It wasn't as though she was showing off to the Jedi Master, it was just that she didn't trust anyone else that could be around them.

"You both look well, which I'm glad to see. I hope that you can forgive me for my mistakes in time. I just have such high hopes that there are moments in which I can be naive towards the motives of some. I'm sorry."

Of course she was a bit afraid to. Not sure why they were here or what her future would bring. If she lost her seat, then she'd have to figure out where to go to next, where to live and how to earn credits to pay for it all. Fresh starts weren't always easy, especially with so many unknowns.

[member="Fixx Kearney"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Fixx offered a general smile to both [member="Mantic Dorn"] and [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] – it was good seeing them again, especially the Jedi active once more after the mess with the Sith. He turned casually, as if scoping the area, but looked at [member="Lady Kay"].

”Speak your mind but don’t let them force your hand.”

He returned his gaze and extended his hand for them to lead the way.

”Jedi, Minister. If you are ready, let’s get inside and out of ear-shot and out of the open.”

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic returned the smile with a light bow, a thin smile playing at the corner of his lips as well.

He looked around, although his senses were foremost focused inward and at reaching out for hidden threats in the force it would appear as he was looking for followers or the like.
Having "swept" the platform he looked up at [member="Fixx Kearney"]

"Yes, we should proceed." he confirmed and held out an open palm to allow the minister to walk ahead.


[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith watched as everyone went through their routines to ensure that all was safe, she looked at [member="Lady Kay"] ," Are you being a good girl?" she teased the Senator from Comenor. she looked at Fixx, she had a comment set but instead nodded.

"Good to see you Agent [member="Fixx Kearney"] " She then walked past [member="Mantic Dorn"] and entered platform.

"So since your arrival here," she looked back making sure everyone was inside and following "Has there been any sitings of the Sith [member="Fortuna"] or whispers of his location" She was the Intelligence Minister and her latest reports all said no, but perhaps that had changed within the hour.

She walked keeping her head up and sweeping from left to right with her eyes watchful for anything she felt odd about.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay had to smirk as [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] teased her. "Yes, I've been keeping my nose clean." Well that certainly eased tensions a little.

Kay followed in behind her, knowing that [member="Fixx Kearney"] and [member="Mantic Dorn"] would follow in behind. What Fixx ad said to her was puzzling, but being cryptic was his way.

"Nothing from what I've seen. It's all been....quiet."