Dominion Wedlocked and Loaded | GA Dominion of Ukatis

[Dominik Borra]

Valery Noble | Kahlil Noble | Jasper Kai'el | Corazona von Ascania | Starlin Rand | Horace von Cholmondeley III

"We need to leave," he sighed. "Cora's distress has brought out the worst in us. Much as the stripping of her freedom... upsets me, I can't imagine what one of us lashing out would inevitably cause..."

Dominik was happily surprised that Jasper had thought the same thing he was thinking. And one of them lashing out would be terrible. For the Jedi, for politics, and for the Jedi's image as a whole. This whole affair was terrible for them. "It's hardly my place, but she's not dying. It's not pleasant, but she can choose to remain on this path or get off it. It's her life. Not everyone walks the perfect road of the Jedi." He directed his words to Jasper and Valery and her husband.

A gentle hand placed on his broad shoulder. "Agent, would you mind accompanying me?"

He glanced behind and saw her, and nodded. Turning to follow her he stopped a moment to say to the three, "If a Jedi you know of is about to step off that path, aggressively, let me know. Better for me to do it than let one of you fall." And all three of them with their contacts, and even the limited time they had worked with him in the past, would know how effective he could be.

He followed Corazona von Ascania back into the main ballroom to find Starlin Rand getting arrested. And even worse, a confession. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. These Jedi getting all worked up they were lashing out in their own ways... But The Princess was trying to reason for her friend, give him a way out. He hoped he took it.

 

[BB-610]

A ROYAL ENGAGEMENT

| LOCATION: Ukatis |
| TAG: Jasper Kai'el | Valery Noble |


As the droid lunged towards one of the surrounding guards, his reach fell short, momentum halted by arms wrapped around his chassis and an organic canvas to take the guard's stead. The tip of his electro-shock prod plunged itself right into Jasper's abdomen, static crackling and electricity discharged within an instant. BB-610 glanced up, optic staring in abject confusion, and yet his attack never ceased. Anger, bitterness, whatever protocol that had claimed the astromech simply urged him on forward regardless of his victim, shock prod twisting and twirling as veins of energy consumed the man's being. With the much smaller of the two completely enveloped by the other's grasp, a scan was initiated, curious as to what had driven this human to take the blow.

[ _PERFORMING SCAN. JEDI DETECTED. ]
[ _JEDI MUST BE PURGED. ]
[ _LONG LIVE THE FIRST ORDER. ]

BB-610 paused for a split second, central photoreceptor wide in bewilderment. And yet, that foolish selflessness was all but explained by the presence of Jedi filth in front of him. Rather than retract his weapon, the droid's efforts only doubled, power redirected to his shock prod for an overwhelming build-up of electricity, roaring against Jasper's clothes, burning and sizzling from such concentrated energy before plunging into the Jedi's flesh. Any record of his friend had been completely lost on him; replaced by that mindless hatred he'd been programmed with, that visceral determination to eradicate any Jedi he saw without thought or hesitation for his own well-being. If Jasper succumbed to his wounds, BB-610 would be hailed a hero - a Jedi killer, ranking far above what an astromech should. If BB-610 died, then he would die doing what he lived for: ridding the galaxy of its vermin.

At the sound of Valery's voice, however, everything stopped. Faltering, his static fizzled away, weapon whirring idly as something within the droid pulsed. His protocols deemed it an anomaly, a brief instance of error that wouldn't happen again once firm correction had been administered, pushing past whatever irrational thought screamed at him to stop as he ignored his droidbrain's bizarre impulse. Before he could restart his shock prod again, BB-610's various photoreceptors caught sight of her: Valery Noble, Sword of the Jedi. Instantly, the astromech's head twirled around to face her, optic narrowing with vicious intent. The lesser Jedi could wait; this was a far more important kill, and The First Order would repay him incredibly for such a victory. And yet, his weapon never primed. It never buzzed to life, never charged with electricity, his body not bothering to squirm out of Jasper's grasp.

Blue.
It flickered.
Red. Blue. An internal battle against his programming, his chassis twitching.
Red. Blue. Red. Blue. Red.

Blue.

In a heartbeat, BB-610 jolted awake, blissfully unaware of the events that had just transpired. A gentleness washed over him, his prior malice completely gone as his sense of self returned, peering up at Valery. He bweeped happily, eager to see her, chassis wobbling like a dog's wagging tail as he chirped for her as though he were a child in need of picking up, and as he went to rush to her, it dawned on him that two arms held him close. Glancing down at them, the droid turned his head, glancing at Jasper, before noting the scorch marks stretching along the Jedi's body, inches before his electro-shock prod. Acting as if he'd just touched fire, the weapon was hastily pulled away, locked into his tool-bay disk as a mechanical gasp met the air, startled by the sight.

No -
No, no, nonononono. It had happened-- He'd turned, it had happened again, no, he'd been doing so well--

A flurry of warbled cries left his voicebox, the droid squirming as he tried to distance himself from Jasper, afraid that he'd hurt the man again, cracking binary ushering frantically as apology after apology was spouted out on top of each other, unable to regulate his droidspeak from the suffocating guilt that tugged at his core. Finally, the astromech forced his weight outside of Jasper's hold, body meeting the floor and rolling up to Valery- only to pause, staring up at her with the same horror he'd shown Jasper, and out of fear of hurting her as well, BB-610 ignored the urge to run to her and instead took a turn to speed down the ballroom's hall, rolling past the doors and never once looking back.

He had done enough damage for one night.

 

[Valery Noble]

Ukatis

Outfit: dress
Appearance: Link
Tag: Kahlil Noble Jasper Kai'el BB-610 Dominik Borra

"I know," Valery said in response to Kahlil Noble 's comment regarding politics. Time and time again, it proved to be a pain in the ass, but this was definitely rock bottom, as far as she was concerned. It had been a long time since she had felt so tense, and Kahlil especially felt very... different. He was usually far less emotional than she was, but certain things made that shell crack a little.

So in an attempt to start removing some of that tension, she took his hand and interlaced fingers. As difficult as this was, they could still help Cora, and she still had the power to control her own destiny. No matter how long it would take, Valery would be there to guide her into a future that she wanted, whenever she chose to embrace that it was okay.

"Please don't beat him up, and let's just leave. We can talk to Cora later when we've had some rest and time to calm down." She shot him a pleading smile and finally turned to Jasper, as he carried over Bee and explained what happened. It brought a frown to her face, both because people had gotten hurt, and because Jasper insisted on covering the damages.

She'd have some words with him about that in private later.

"It didn't go well and I agree - we should leave," Valery said before she spotted Corazona von Ascania , who requested the agent to escort her. Valery flashed her Padawan a brief smile and was about to turn back to Jasper when Dominik Borra addressed the three. Valery raised an eyebrow in response and shook her head.

"We don't fall that easily, Agent, and we're certainly not calling a hitman on a Jedi who struggles and needs our help." She wasn't quite sure why it had to come up in this conversation but decided to focus on who she knew had been involved in some trouble.

As she looked at Bee, his optics flickered between blue and red. She knew how much that darker side of his programming would want to take over and have him attack her, but she knew that her close friend would always come out on top. He'd never allow himself to hurt her, and she was proven right, as Bee's optics settled on the familiar blue. At first, he seemed excited to see her, but there was an abrupt change in his behavior when he realized what happened.

So instead of rolling her way for affection, he turned around and rolled away as fast as possible.

"Bee, wait!" Valery called out, but he was already gone, and she couldn't easily chase after him on heels. Hurt showed in her eyes, and she turned to look at her husband for help and some support. "We have to go after him. I'm not leaving this place without him," she told Kahlil, while she squeezed his hand.

 

[Horace von Cholmondeley III]

ɪ. ᴀ ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ

Horace stood in front of the condemned sentient, chin up and arms crossed, fully validated by the confession.

And yet.

"Your middling mind trick didn't work on me, you fool," the Price said, as he leaned forward. "I was unaffected by it, but told by the Seer here through telepathy to exit the hall, due to the potential danger I might have been under. Your message was not even heard, let alone reacted to."

Then, with a roll of the eyes, Horace flitted his hand toward the guards.

"The guards will find out the truth. I do not believe for a second that you were capable of any kind of cyber attack... I mean... look at you. No, we will know who helped you, believe that. Whether you share it willing or not is up to you."

It should have ended there, yet it didn't.

Corazona was then at Horace's side, as well she should have been, however not in support of his royal - and just - decision. It was quite the opposite, in fact, and the Princess-to-be had the audacity to question Horace's punishment; and not only that, in front of the entirety of those present in the hall, those around who took time to listen amid the mayhem.

"How dare you," Horace hissed as he stepped close to Corazona and leaned to within inches of her face. "You have the impertinence to question my ruling on this matter? To try and appeal for leniency, over the illegal - and frankly immoral - use of a Jedi's powers against the heir of a world?"

The Prince seethed.

"And for what? To lure me away from the hall so that--" Horace paused, but only for a second, as his blue stare shifted to Makko. The prince became deathly silent, all emotion fell from his face, as he continued in a hoarse whisper. "--your friend's friend will not escape justice. The attempt to influence anyone's mind, let alone royalty, is an offense that I personally would deem suitable for death. What if this ingrate had tried to compel the King to leap from a balcony? Or worse, tried to make me do it?"

There would be no further discussion, Horace decided.

"That is quite enough, fiancée. My decision is made. The court will determine the time this fool spends in prison, and consider my mercy at your request being that the Jedi lives. Guards, remove the confessor.

"I have had quite enough of this mess, I require a refreshment. Good day."

Without another word, Horace turned away from Corazona and stormed past the injured and those assisting. He growled to himself at having to dodge around them, the sentients moaning and in the way, before he walked into a more private alcove - away from the larger group - and sought a nearby server...

Corazona von Ascania | Starlin Rand | Dominik Borra | Makko Vyres​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil paused as he saw the state the whole room was in. Guards everywhere. People hurt, though minor. People being arrested? One of the Jedi being arrested. His expression stilled. They were all feeling it. A silent rage or at least an uncomfortableness over everything that was happening with Cora. He'd even let himself slip into those emotions. There was no real backpedaling after that, but there was also no ignoring the situation at hand, either.

"You get Bee. I'm going to gather the others."

He wasn't going to let any of them remain here. Not even the one currently being arrested. He strode forward, his gaze shifting towards the guards as they moved to apprehend Starlin, then to the Prince who'd started to storm off.

"You are correct, Prince Horace. A Jedi should never use the Force to influence others for personal gain."

He turned his gaze towards Starlin.

"The Order will take him into custody. A Jedi who breaks the rules must face the judgement of the Council. You are, of course, welcome to come to Coruscant and oversee the trial, your Majesty."

Horace von Cholmondeley III | Starlin Rand | Dominik Borra | Valery Noble | Corazona von Ascania

 

[Starlin Rand]

Starlin was content to just take his punishment and get it over with, but suddenly Cora came to his defense. As a result, she was yelled at by Horace, who continued to seethe over the situation. Finally, Master Kahlil swooped in. Starlin gave him a sheepish look of gratitude before he was led away by the guards.

bye y'all Horace von Cholmondeley III Corazona von Ascania Kahlil Noble​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Obj I: A Royal Engagement
Kahlil Noble | Dominik Borra | Starlin Rand ​

Had it been anyone else, Cora wouldn't have stood for being berated. The Padawan was not a shrinking violet, but keenly aware of where she stood in the social hierarchy of Ukatis. The words you spoke, the body language you projected, right down to the way you dressed and interacted with others—it was all on display for the judgement of a hundred pairs of scrutinizing eyes. It could raise you aloft, or cast you aside.

So when Horace leaned in to her personal space, face seething with anger and ire on his tongue, Cora averted her gaze demurely to the side. Ukatis had become wrapped in political turmoil with the Alliance over the course of a scant few hours, and pushing the Prince when he was in such a state would likely backfire even worse.

Cora's gaze lingered on the retreating form of Horace as he stalked away. A heavy sigh nearly deflated her body, but she straightened and place a gentle hand on Kahlil's arm.

"Master Noble, please. Allow them to take Knight Rand for one night. Negotiations can be made in the morning. Starlin has committed a serious offense against the Prince—and by extension, against the people of Ukatis."

Her head turned, casting an apologetic glance to the Jedi Knight as he was cuffed by the Royal guard. She looked back to Kahlil, then to Dom with a softened gaze.

"I will do what I can to see that he's treated well."

She could bear the pain of being struck, of being belittled and shamed. She couldn't bear to see the same fate, or worse, befall her family or her people. Ukatis' once fertile soil was rapidly becoming unworkable, and they required outside aid. Cora had been so excited and proud to witness the union of her home and the Galactic Alliance—but that dream had shattered in a matter of minutes, like crystal dust across the banquet hall floor.

Her own troubles were placed aside for a moment as the long, winding path of damage control began to reveal itself.

Several hours after the event's conclusion
At a private room in the royal palace
Horace von Cholmondeley III

"Had I known how poorly behaved these Jedi were, I'd of thought twice before sending you to Coruscant."

In between lengthly meetings to discuss how tonight's events would pave the future between Ukatis and the Galactic Alliance, Marcel had pulled his daughter aside. Cora's discovered force sensitivity had been leveraged as a political tool, but it appeared to have the exact opposite effect on negotiations.

Despite the ruined engagement party, Ukatis still required aid from the Galactic Alliance.

For her part, Cora was well aware of her role as a pawn. Marcel had never made any attempts to disguise it as otherwise. His daughter had been happy to comply, to which he attributed to a pleasant coincidence and their shared dedication to serving their people.

"I am surprised, too." Cora agreed softly, eyes cast down and glancing idly at the door that sat ajar. This wing of the palace was quiet at night, nary a servant drifted past to hear their argument. "I believe that they were just caught off guard. Jedi come from all over the galaxy, and arraigned marriages are not the norm for many of them. They only wanted to protect me—their hearts were in the right place."

Marcel scoffed at his daughter's flowery words.

"It does not matter where their hearts were, Corazona. Did you see how they disrespected me? Our family? The Royal line? Our people? Yourself, Corazona?"

"They saw it fit to strike a nobleman, to let loose untamed beasts that have harmed our guests, to use their magic to control Prince Horace. It will take nothing short of a miracle to convince King Cholmondeley to overlook these grievous offenses."

Cora bit her lower lip, searching for the words that weren't there. She was exhausted from the shock of the engagement, from trying to manage not only her own distress, but that of those around her. The angry mark that bloomed across her father's cheek, given to him by Kahlil, seemed to throb as he spoke.

"What's more, you appear to have furnished them with our private family business."

The Viscount looked down at his daughter, disappointment evident in the cold blue steel of his eyes. He was referring to the smattering of bruises he'd left along her back in the aftermath of the Life Day event, given as punishment for tripping the Prince into a table during a dance.

"This nonsense will end. I would've preferred to keep you on Ukatis indefinitely, but you will continue to work as a Jedi until the wedding as an attempt to smooth over this transition. After your are married, you will return home to attend to your duties."

Cora's head jerked upward, almost startlingly so.

"Father, you can't mean that! Would it not be better for me to remain on Coruscant, acting as a representative of Ukatis?"

As a Jedi, she meant. And the freedom, experiences and interactions that came with it.

Marcel tapped his cane heavily against the ground and lifted one hand into the air. He reeled it back, palm open.

"That is enough, Corazona."

 

[Horace von Cholmondeley III]

ɪ. ᴀ ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ

Several hours after the event's conclusion
At a private room in the royal palace

The evening had been a shambles, a disaster, an insult to everything Horace knew; to his people, his planet, his monarchy.

King von Cholmondeley II would hear about it all, in detail, more likely than not. And not from Horace specifically. Guards, servants, Seers would all share the word, it would spread, and the King would be forced to address the behavior of the supposed civil and altruistic Galactic Alliance. The entire affair was fraught with red flags and concerns, as Horace doubted the Alliance would even be capable of doing half of what they claimed to help the people of Ukatis.

And their Jedi...

What a joke.

Irrational, foolish wizards with emotional issues and a collective lack of self control.

So much for the Jedi Order being a peaceful group dedicated to serving the galaxy. It was the height of hypocrisy, to claim such with a straight face, but then act like uncivilized and petulant children. And for what, to prove some point, because they couldn't accept tradition that wasn't their own? So much for a democracy composed of many different cultures - apparently it was really cultures they agreed with.

Abysmal.

Horace had half a mind to storm into his father's chambers, lay out the reality of the situation, and demand that Ukatis be removed from any further discussion with the Alliance. The government might span a portion of the galaxy, and hold influence in the sector and planets around Ukatis, but that didn't mean they had to join... and were it not for the need the planet, and people, required then the Prince might well have done exactly that.

Yet, I have my own reign to consider, and I cannot rule over ruins.

Nonetheless, finally done with the evening, Horace stalked the halls and muttered to himself. He would return to his rooms, bathe and refresh, then seek the solitude and comfort of his bed. He could scarcely face more of the day, ever thankful it was over, and couldn't even consider the problems that would - undoubtedly - arise on the morrow.

"Gods help Ukatis with this Alliance..."

And as he rounded a corner, Horace heard voices from down the hallway, ahead of him.

Familiar ones.

"Hmm."

The Prince walked quietly, as he approached a door that was slightly ajar. He caught sight of Marcel von Ascania's back, the old man increasingly familiar to Horace as of late; and before him, Corazona, who seemed to have finally stopped talking back, with that disagreeable demeanor finally tempered by her father... or at least it had been, when Corazona suddenly spoke up.

"Tsk." Horace then saw - and heard - Marcel thump his cane, before he reached back with a hand. "Will she never learn?"

In an instant, the Prince burst through the door, as he reached out and caught Marcel's raised forearm--

"No, that simply will not do..."

--and with a glare at the older man, blue eyes piercing, the Prince gave a shove and caused Marcel to stumble toward the doorway.

"M-my Prince?" Marcel looked stunned.

"You may cease, von Ascania," Horace said, as he stepped closer to Corazona, and raised his chin. "You will not lay another hand on my fiancée..."

Horace turned to Corazona, as he smiled.

"...that is now my responsibility. You have my leave, sir."

Marcel bowed his head and retreated out the door, closing it, to leave the newly engaged couple alone in the room...

THREAD EXIT​

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Makko Vyres]

Starlin was content to just take his punishment and get it over with, but suddenly Cora came to his defense. As a result, she was yelled at by Horace, who continued to seethe over the situation. Finally, Master Kahlil swooped in. Starlin gave him a sheepish look of gratitude before he was led away by the guards.

Her head turned, casting an apologetic glance to the Jedi Knight as he was cuffed by the Royal guard. She looked back to Kahlil, then to Dom with a softened gaze.

"I will do what I can to see that he's treated well."

She could bear the pain of being struck, of being belittled and shamed. She couldn't bear to see the same fate, or worse, befall her family or her people.

Makko stood in the center of the room. His hands were balled into fists by his sides. His knuckles were white and the fist droplet of blood seeped down between his knuckles. A single line of fresh crimson over the pale white of scars from his own physical punishments.

There were just two people who Makko had made a connection with since leaving his home. Just two.

The first of them had just been marched out of the hall by the guards. Starlin Rand was almost entirely responsible for Makko staying the course. A street smart jedi who had offered Makko honest, real advice without being asked. Having taken rash action on Makko's behalf he was being locked away. If the Prince got his way, it would be for some time.

The second of those, his girlfriend, had crumpled like a delicate flower under the heat of her new fiancé's anger. Without a glance in his direction, she would be led away by her father.

The worst part was that he stood there, digging sharp nails into the soft palms of his hands and did nothing. Makko was lost. The two people he actually gave a shit about were lost too, possibly permanently beyond him. The young hacker had spent his short life rebelling against authority for taking everything from him. It was happening again and he had not one single idea how to even lash out, let alone make this better.

His gaze slowly turned from the door. The opulent space of the hall suddenly felt too small. It was suffocating. He needed to breathe.

Head down, he marched for the door. One of the royal guards stepped into his path.

"Fuck off," he spat.

He pushed past and slipped through the door. He kept walking with no sense of where he was going, until he was out into the city.

He walked and walked until his feet blistered inside the fresh, unbroken formal boots. Makko found an empty alley, pressed his back into the wall and let his weight fall to the floor.

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Ukatis
Tags: BB-610 , Valery Noble , Kahlil Noble , Dominik Borra , Corazona von Ascania

​

Bee had rolled off in shame. There was absolutely nothing he could do for Cora. Even Valery Noble, the person he looked to with the highest respect, was in a state of distress. It was almost a joke, then, that Jasper thought he would've been capable of doing anything. After all, he was a bum mechanic that was borderline homeless, and not even notable skill wise as far as Jedi went. So why had he come? A faint sliver of hope that wormed into the back of his mind? A sense of duty to protect his own? Like that meant anything now.

Jasper hadn't wasted his time. His wasn't worth a damn. All he had wound up achieving was wasting the time of everyone else around him. He tried to dig into the back of his mind for any other emotion. For once in his life, Jasper even prayed for blind rage to consume him. Anger was surely better than this. It never came. All that filled his body was an empty pit of shame.

Everything else seemed to fade away. Dominic's suggestion, the sudden arrest of Starlin Rand , the settling dust of the tense situation... Why did it matter what he did? Jasper was on a chess board of a scale he clearly didn't comprehend, and he was the smallest piece. There were no words exchanged. No goodbyes, or even quick check-ins with his close friends. His wounds were an after thought now, a numb stinging overshadowed by the weight of everything else. It was time to go home. There was nobody else here that needed him. With a stagger in his step, the Jedi Knight stepped out the door, returned to his ship, and set off.

It was all there was left to do.

EXIT​

 

[Dominik Borra]

Dominik certainly didn't like Horace von Cholmondeley III getting into Corazona von Ascania 's face, but it wasn't his place to step in. Though he did lower his eyelids, and slow his breathing, ready to move if a strike would be attempted. But there wasn't. And then the prince stormed off.

Kahlil Noble was nearby and after Cora spoke to him, urging to let Ukatis have the Jedi for a single night, Dominik would lean over to him. "The Jedi have made a bad enough impression, you can't steal justice from Ukatis as well. Oh, and could you tell your wife that that wasn't what I meant before, on the stairs?" He would give the man a quick smile before turning back to Cora.

"Party is over, I'll take you back to your room if you want." As he made his offer he heard a curse from the side of the room and turned to see Makko Vyres storm off. Blood on his fist. He memorized his face and profile, making a mental note to look into him more later.

Once Corazona was back into her room, the Galactic Alliance members were either heading to their ships or for accommodations for the night. He was being called back to Coruscant but, if nothing more than for Cora's sake to have someone friendly nearby, he'd stay for another day before heading home.

THREAD EXIT​

 

[Desric Terassi]

Obj I: A Royal Engagement
FINAL POST​

It seemed the day had one last twist - a Jedi had tried to mind-control the Prince.

It couldn't have happened to a more likeable man.

Curiously observing the scene as he was, Desric was caught off guard by a comment from Cadence. 'Beamed' directly into his brain, as usual. <Reckless use of telepathic trickery and a TERRIBLE taste in music. What's not to love?>

What was she - ah, the karaoke night? Starlin Rand had been rather upfront about his distaste for her music, but Desric was surprised she still carried a grudge. Then again, it had been one of the first and indeed only times she'd looked to anyone other than him for recognition. Even AI could be vulnerable, at times.

<I'm NOT planning to cause any problems, by the way. I'm much nicer than him. Plus he's digging that hole just fine on his own. Maybe the Jedi should hire some lawyers?> A reasonable suggestion, all things considered.