Private You again

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kardek Alpha

"Let us know if you need anything, Master Noble."

Valery dipped her head and stepped away from the shuttle that had brought her down to Denon. Normally, any trip she took was very official and a lot more people would be aware of it. But after someone had tried to assassinate her here on Denon, Valery was a lot more careful. Still, it wasn't entirely unknown that Jedi, herself included, were looking into not just the attack targeting her life, but all the chaos that followed right after. The Jedi held no political power and couldn't change anything directly, but they were authorized to conduct investigations as long as the law wasn't being broken.

That's why she was here today.

Geared up like she usually would as Jedi, Valery walked down the streets that had been closed by law enforcement for investigation. Remains of the blown-up train were still there, as well as a lot of damaged buildings and infrastructure. But Valery wasn't looking at anything overly physical — she was following her senses to find clues about who caused it all.

Because no matter what she did, something was pulling her here, and she couldn't quite place it yet.

"You're not getting away with this..." Valery muttered to herself, as she looked around at all the destruction.

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Denon​

Denon Senator Dominique Vexx sat comfortably in one of the seats around the board room table. One of many. The DireX were discussing the current state of planetary security with regard to Darkwire, and whatever progress various elements had made toward that end. Recent events and the need for public relations seem to have provided the Senate a seat at the table; at the far end, but it was better than being treated as a secretary informed of what 'The Betters' had decided.

Her aide, Kardek Alpha , had to wear a visor that screened the identities of those present though. The man was also allowed to stand to one side near the Senator. It was the best they would accommodate as he was a new face and especially under the circumstances no one not extremely well vetted could be trusted. Anyone could be a Darkwire informant -- as idiotic as such a thing would be to stability and peace on Denon, according to the DireX.

Vexx slowly rotated the glass of win in her hand. Some wondered why she could be found in many places holding alcoholic drink. Part of it was a complete lack of respect for people that thought themselves better than her. The truth, however, was in the signals she passed to those in her inner circle. A language to communicate her thoughts without anyone else realizing what she was doing, or if they did what any signals meant. How she held the chalice, what movements she made with it, where it was positioned... It took someone with very good eye sight to catch the nuances, but hand-signals were hardly better nor as discrete.

At that moment, Vexx wasn't terribly taken with the proposals put before the DireX. The usual overzealous pursuit of their enemies in the streets. The sort of thing that made work for the Senator and for arguably little to no gain.

A few minutes later the meeting was adjourned and Vexx stood to her feet. She turned and strode out of the room without a word. It wasn't until they were outside and well away from the door that she finally said anything to Kardek as she expected him to follow. Without the visor at this point. "Always the broadsword," the Senator breathed. Vexx enjoyed crushing her enemies as well, but she didn't wage open war where the entire galaxy could see it to do it. "Too old. Too simple. Too predictable. How most of them managed to rise to their position is beyond me. Subtle manuevering of your enemy provides the greatest gain for the least expenditure." Surprising Darkwire didn't take more advantage of just how predictable the DireX were. Then again, until recently they'd been a quaint annoyance. Now, Vexx began to question whether they were crossing the line -- from useful, misguided fools to genuine disruptive presence. The situation needed resolved quickly. Quietly. "Things may yet spiral out of our control." And they would be lucky to live through it.

A sharp tsk followed her thoughts as a message scroll along the inside of her colored lenses.

"Some people enjoy putting themselves in danger, it seems. A tireless pursuit of 'The Truth.' Perhaps..." A frown touched the corner of Vexx' lips. "Master Jedi Valery Noble has returned to the scene of the crime. If you could extend an... invitation for the good Jedi to join us in my office, perhaps we can see how far down into the abyss we've fallen. Which current has us in its grasp." And whether they could find an oar to alter their trajectory.

 

[Kardek Alpha]

The rogue stood at Dominique Vexx 's side, unable to fully determine the identities of those seated around the table due to the visor he was required to wear, however there were still ways for him to obtain valuable information. He listened intently to the conversations occurring around him, his implants recording and processing the audio of each voice. Such information could later be compared in parallel to known business leaders and associates that operated within Denon, and hopefully some matches would be made. This was not a nefarious endeavor, and Kardek meant no ill will towards the DireX or towards Vexx, however information was power, and the more that Kardek could learn, the better spot he and his syndicate would be in to take appropriate action.

Kardek followed closely behind the Senator as they exited the room, finally able to take the visor off as he held it under his arm and cracked his neck in relief for its removal. He nodded in agreement with Vexx's assessment of the conversation. Those without tact and subtlety would not be able to accomplish much in this galaxy, he pondered. "We are in agreement." He offered in response, typing out some personal notes on his data pad as they walked.

As the Senator commented a concern for things getting too out of hand, He paused his typing and looked over at the Senator. Perhaps things had become too out of pocket for even her reach. This was not a good sign. They needed to control the narrative… to control the story, and to remain, above all, in control. His brow furrowed as he processed her concerns, "We can't let that happen." He finally responded with quiet resolution. This was his big opportunity to prove himself to the Family… to Ivory Stroud … She had tasked him with leading the most deadly and resourced squad throughout the galaxy, and along with that came a clear expectation of securing the Families interests and ability to operate freely. He would not allow for them to fail… it was not an option.

He listened as Vexx seemed to speak along a different vein of thought, but his skin prickled at the mention of Valery Noble … of all the Jedi, it had to be her. unbelievable. A roll of the eyes hopefully went unnoticed as he followed behind Vexx. He had hoped to never cross her path ever again. It seemed fate had other plans. Unwilling to show any sign of weakness to the Senator, he simply nodded stoically and stopped at the elevator, "I'll let you know when we are approaching. And Dominique…" He hoped to get her to pause and look back at him in the eyes, to which he would look intently at her with a fierce gaze of his own, "We cannot afford to loose control." It wasn't a warning, or a threat… it was simply the truth… for both of them.

As he stepped into the elevator and the doors closed. He shook his head with utter disbelief….

"KRIFF." He said loudly and with irritation as he slammed his fist into the door. This would likely not go well, and he had no plans on going to meet with Valery unless he was fully prepared for battle. And so he made a stop in his accommodations and put on his full set of mandalorian armor, including the helmet to disguise his face. He then loaded up all of his weaponry, possibly overkill but one could not be too careful after attempting to kiss a Jedi who was already in a relationship. He stood in front of the mirror, looking at himself as all the systems turned on in his armor. His head shook in disbelief once more…. "KRIFF."

The fully-adorned and rather intimidating mandalorian stepped out onto the street and headed in the direction where The Jedi had been spotted. As he approached the marked-off streets, he could see Valery in the distance. He let out a deep sigh as he approached her, his weapons undrawn as he made his presence known.

"Valery Noble!" He called out through his helmets vocal projector, which added some distortion and darker timbre to his voice, "The Senator of Denon would be honored to meet with you, and is grateful for your safety after such horrific events." He finally stood there, his feet spread apart in the middle of the street, both hands resting on the hilts of his weapons just in case his presence was not received well despite his hidden appearance.

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kardek Alpha

Valery Noble!"

Valery stopped, blinked, and turned to look at the source. Neither the voice she heard nor the figure she saw approaching were familiar to her at all, so how did they know who she was? And how were they able to find her? As far as she knew, her presence here was only known to a handful of people, so either one of them had shared information they shouldn't have, or he had tracked her down somehow.

This immediately put Valery on edge and got her to inch her hand closer to the hilt of her lightsaber. But for now, she decided against drawing it, as that likely meant escalating the situation instantly.

The man in full Mandalorian armor then made his way over, stopping in the middle of the street, only several feet away from her. Even from up close, she couldn't tell who he was, and she knew a lot of Mandalorians. Even his presence in the Force wasn't something she could distinguish, even though there was some tension to it.

Had they met before?

"Why would the Senator of Denon send someone armed to the teeth and so on edge to come find me?" Valery asked, her eyes shifting down to the hands that rested on pistol hilts.

"Is something wrong?"

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Vexx's Office, Denon
​

Vexx looked over at Kardek, her features smooth and outwardly calm despite what she'd been saying moments ago. There was not a shadow of a smile on her lips as per usual, however. A slight cock of the head signaled she heard the man's sentiment that they could not afford to loose control of the situation. If he wanted her to say everything would be fine, however, Dominique was not one for blowing smoke up other peoples' arseholes. Not unless it was to keep the karking Senate from trying to de-legitimize their entire governing body.

Once the elevator doors closed, the lilac Senator continued on her way back to her Office. She had a secure hover transport awaiting on a nearby pad. Best not to keep her place of business in the same as that of the DireX. Gave people the wrong impression. Besides, she expected -- at least before -- they'd been happy to keep her separate and powerless among their own number. It had worked mostly to Dominique's benefit. Though with events of late and the constant heavy-handedness of the Board, she wondered.

The empty glass was set down in a holder as the transport lifted off. Her golden eyes turned out toward the city as it rose up and sped by the vehicle on its way to her own center of power. Much as it was. That the Senate had proposed overthrowing the DireX... yes, despite all her maneuvering Dominique had been afraid of being assassinated. She wasn't that powerful alone. Though the Family were a recent addition that would help tilt the balance of power bit in her direction. More would be required, however, if she was to do anything openly in opposition to the corporate overlords of Denon.

Dare she? To what end? What were her ambitions? When she'd first ascended to Senator it had been to be the unquestioned governor of the planet. To bask in the wealth and do whatever she desired. The DireX did allow a great deal of that, but their actions of late... they were putting the stability of Denon in jeopardy. Much as Dominique looked after herself first, the planet was her home. Allowing everything to fall apart from neglect just wasn't acceptable.

Once the transport touched down, Vexx rose from the leather accommodations and strode into the building. A few reports and messages were passed to her along the way. An absent ascent or comment made to others in passing. It was only when the doors to her office closed and she tossed the datapad of information onto her desk that Dominique felt as though she could breathe freely again.

She crossed over to the expansive viewport along the back of her office atop a raised platform. Hands clasped behind her back, Dominique looked out over the city. All the lights. The hovercars. The People. Few of them understood the machinations behind the scenes that kept their city-planet flourishing (or running). Fewer still cared to do anything for or against them. Yet so many of those that did seemed to be on the verge of toppling the house of cards.

While Kardek was out trying to secure Valery's presence, Senator Dominique Vexx stood contemplating the future of Denon, and what she would need to do to see it fulfilled.

Kardek Alpha | Valery Noble

 

[Kardek Alpha]

Valery Noble Dominique Vexx​

The Mandalorian tilted his head at her remarks, a bit of a tired sigh escaping his lips. It was good that she had not immediately recognized his presence in the force. Such could have been catastrophic for his intended purpose. His hand raised and motioned to the devastation that surrounded them.

"Yes, I would say something is wrong, Master Noble. You were almost killed, and such nefarious elements are still in play, therefore…" He motioned to himself with both hands, "The good Senator has sent her most deadly and reliable asset to escort you to her office… if you are so inclined to take her up on her offer, that is."

He chuckled a bit at his own words, offering a shrug with his next comment. "Not that you need protecting." It was true. She was more than capable of handling herself, she had proven that during their first encounter with the slaver who had turned out to be a powerful dark force user. Still, it was the only viable justification for the heavy armament he carried.

There was also the inherent risk that, whenever he wore his old armor, someone might recognize the deadly and infamous bounty hunter known only by the moniker "Red", which had been associated with the rage and fury of his intensity during combat as well as the splatters of blood from his enemies that stained his armor. Kardek had removed most of these red stains, but some remnants remained…

Red was also wanted within many star systems within the Alliance, But Denon was a safe harbor for the Bounty Hunter. Needless to say, Kardek used the armor sparingly and only when necessary… such as when he desired to shield his identity… such as now.

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kardek Alpha Dominique Vexx

"You know what I meant," Valery said bluntly.

Nobody had to tell her that something was wrong here on Denon. The evidence for that lay scattered around them, and Valery herself had almost become part of that evidence. No, this was about something being wrong specifically with her being here. There was too much tension, and the way he kept his hands so close to his weapons was not helping either. Jedi weren't exactly known to just be aggressive for no reason.

So why so defensive?

"But I'm sure the senator is well-aware of what happened here, and that it's not in my interest to blindly trust someone on Denon. Especially not when they show up like they're expecting a fight." She visibly glanced down at his pistols again, before looking up at the vizor of his helmet.

Was he going to crack?

"I'd like you to take off the helmet and show me something that convinces me that you were actually sent by the senator. If you don't, then I will continue my investigation here, hopefully undisturbed." Her fiery eyes narrowed at him now, as she tried to not just get the reassurance she needed before trusting someone, but also tried to figure him out. Gauge his response, both in terms of body language and emotion.

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Vexx's Office, Denon​

Men and women swept in and out of the Senator's office in a flurry of activity rarely seen before except in preparing for a State visit from another, well-to-do planet. Pads full of information were brought in for review, and orders were carted out to spin a web over Denon. Most threads were to lay the foundation of things far into the future, or designed to cover Vexx's true objective. It was precisely because of her position that she presumed others were watching. The sort of people that would not appreciate what she had in mind if they even began to suspect.

Even the directly related orders could easily pass as normal matters for a Senator to investigate, even if they were not, perhaps, normal for Dominique Vexx. A request to meet with some of the planet's largest Union Leaders, for instance. Oh, unions were far and few between with many little more than puppets, but if you knew where to look... there were communities of people of a mind about their working conditions even if they lacked the power to change them. Well, Denon of late was under assault from within; who better to get the pulse from to ensure the Great Corporations of Denon were well in hand -- stable, productive, and ready to weather the storm?

Others -- celebrities, media sensations, local leaders, industry leaders, nefarious yet reputable business men and women, and countless experts of various fields -- were also of a feather. The world was many of a diversity of people. It had many needs that needed fulfilled; often times overlooked in favor of manufacturing and distribution. The Senator had little power among the DireX at present, so they should find it adorable she sought to be useful by engaging in the tedium and muck of such every day matters. Never mind that the terrorism and heavy-handed response might shake confidence in buyer or merchant alike. No, everything was fine from those standing at the height of wealth; all problems could be solved with a few credits sprinkled on those below.

There were quite a few names Vexx would have liked to set up meetings to gauge their involvement, but they were either too close to the DireX or comfortably under the thumb of the Authorities. Such people were beyond dangerous to even hint at what she intended. They might be inclined to whisper to their masters for a treat. The Senator would make do with what was at hand... which happened to be the overwhelming majority of the planet even if they weren't at the foremost of everyone's minds.

One order in particular for a plot of land might draw an eyebrow, but there was no accompanying information as to how or why. Merely that it be suitably large for an expansive facility. Of note, but not of alarm. Any interested would merely need await whatever would follow. Such a site could not be built upon without a great deal of personnel and resources; the intended facility would be known long before it finished its foundations.

Kardek Alpha | Valery Noble

 

[Kardek Alpha]

Valery Noble Dominique Vexx
​

He audible chuckled at the audacity of the Jedi to expect for him to remove his helmet, regardless of the reason. Such possibilities were out of the question. He had worked too hard over the years to separate his identity from that of Red, and the mere request from a Jedi would not be enough to undo such a legacy. He tilted his head and if the Jedi could have seen his expression under the visor, it would of been a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

"So you thought I'd just take off my helmet because you asked?" He shook his head and crossed his arms in front of him, "How many Mandalorian's have you come across, dear Jedi? And how many have been so accommodating?"

Instead he extended his arm out in front of his visor and hit a few commands on his vambrace. "My identity does not matter. I would be happy to allow for you to talk to Senator Vexx yourself, however, in order to secure your insecurities regarding the matter…"

He made a holo call to Dominique Vexx . Once her image flashed before him, he would speak to her about the situation, "Dominique. It appears my presence alone is not enough to convince the Jedi that I am here on your behalf. Perhaps you could speak to her yourself."

He would then extend his arm out, allowing for Vexx to speak directly to Valery Noble who stood in front of him. This was getting wearisome, and he now desired for this day to end as soon as possible.

 

[Dominique Vexx]

The translucent image of the Senator appeared. Her lips were thinned and eyes narrowed; from being contacted suddenly and for something she'd expected to be handled without her involvement, surely. "Master Jedi Noble," Dominique began, the tightness in her features softening before she'd begun to speak, "I would be honored if you would join me at my Office. I extend my personal protection here and back again. This... gentleman here will prevent any further incidents. This may be sudden," seeing as how Dominique hadn't contacted Valery through any official channels, "but once we have the chance to speak in person, I think you will understand."

She awaited Valery's response, of course, but in the event the conversation seemed to move on with the same suddenness as it had begun, the Senator rounded on the Mandalorian before the transmission ended. "In the future, I expect you to address me as Senator, Senator Vexx, or an equally flattering title befitting my office. I am entrusting the future of Denon into your hands, Mandalorian. Do not let this opportunity pass us by." Kardek would understand those words all too well. Presuming it was him behind all that beskar. Any imposter would have known better than to act so familiar in public to someone known to demanding other Senators to recognize her position -- well, she'd been quite young when she'd assumed the station. If he was attempting to conceal his identity, Dominique hoped the man would take her dressing down to heart.

Kardek Alpha | Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kardek Alpha Dominique Vexx

Somehow, Valery's eyes seemed to narrow even more.

He found her request amusing and mockingly made it clear that he had no intentions to reveal who he was. Paired with an already familiar feeling from him, Valery's suspicions were starting to grow. "I've met plenty of Mandalorians, and none of them hid their faces as you do." She knew that some Mandalorians had their own code that involved not taking it off, but she doubted that was the reason here.

Or was she just getting paranoid?

But before she could say anything more on the matter, the armored man stepped forward and projected an image of the senator, who addressed her. She took her worries about this being another attempt at her life away, but the tension she felt in her chest did not fade. "Very well, I'll be with you soon, Senator," Valery told the woman before she waited for the call to end. When it did, she turned to him again and gritted her teeth.

Now that she stood closer, that feeling from before was even more intense and-

"Wait," Valery said as she brought up a hand and pointed her finger into his chest plate. "It's you," Valery's eyes widened a little from surprise, but there was a flash of anger burning within them as well.

"That's why you're hiding your face. You... you coward." She tried to shove him back with her hand and felt her whole body tense up. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused? And now you show your face again?"

 

[Kardek Alpha]

Valery Noble Dominique Vexx​

He could tell that the Senator was annoyed that he had contacted her. His own irritation continued to grow because of this. Under normal circumstances such a small task would have been easily within his realm of control, and it didn't reflect positively on him that he had been unable to bring in the Jedi on his own. But this was not just any Jedi… and despite his best attempts to shield his true identity from Valery, it seemed that everything was coming undone.

In truth he knew that his presence would set the Master on edge due to their last interaction, and he had thought that shielding his identity would help, in turn, to shield any personal misgivings from getting in the way of their true and important objective. But now, in hindsight, it seemed that all of his decisions were mounting up unfavorable against him. Perhaps he should have been more transparent with Vexx about his conflict with Valery. Perhaps he should have simply presented himself without his armor and hoped for the best. Regardless, he needed to clean up this mess and do it quick.

When the Senator turned back towards him and began to rebuke him, his blood subtly began to boil. He knew better, and yet Valery's presence was seemingly pulling him off his game. He gritted his teeth behind the visor, "Understood, Senator. My apologies."

He quickly deactivated the projection and turned his attention back to Valery. "If you are satisfied, perhaps we can…"

His sentence was interrupted by Valery as she poked her finger at his chest. He had been aware of her abilities to sense his own emotions from their first encounter, and it seemed that his worst fears were realized. She had finally put the pieces together. She remembered who he was through the force.

Valery Noble said:

"That's why you're hiding your face. You... you coward."

The rogue balled both hands into fists as rage pulsed through him. COWARD? How dare she call him that! If he was just representing his own purposes, Kardek would have given into his rage right then and attacked the woman. However, he had a family that needed protecting… he had a bigger purpose than himself. And he could not risk such things over some petty name calling and personal strife. She tried shoving him backward, causing him to take a step back just to create a little more distance between them. He retorted with a raised voice, rage evident in his tone,

"Coward?! How dare you!" He then raised his own finger and pushed it against Valery's shoulder blade, "Collect yourself, Jedi! Realize that this is bigger than both of us! I hid my identity for the sake of a higher cause, knowing it might upset you! And this is too important for us to let something so stupid and trivial get in the way!"

The Mandalorian shook his head and let out an irritated sigh, finally addressing the last night they had met, "You want to blame me?? Fine! Blame me! That's the easy path, isn't it! Don't take any responsibility for anything!" He leaned in a bit closer to Valery, tilting his visor slightly as a bit of a menacing tone expressed itself against his better judgement,

"But deep down you know the truth, don't you… The truth… that YOU are the coward... unable to face your own demons... And so you make ME the demon."

He then pushed his finger slightly harder into her shoulder, the rage beginning to overshadow his better judgment for the sake of making his own valid argument. He leaned in a little closer and whispered his final word to the insufferable Jedi…

"Coward."

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kardek Alpha Dominique Vexx

With his finger pushing into her shoulder blade, Valery's own hands clenched into fists, and every part of her body language made it seem like she was about to snap "A higher cause? Is that what you called it when you were the boot bringing people down? Don't make me laugh," Valery hissed with venom. "You've never done anything to help others." Deep down, she knew that her words were only escalating the problem, but emotions were high, and she still blamed a lot of her recent problems on him. Even though she knew that it wasn't just on him alone.

Kardek, however, wasn't having any of it either and stepped closer to speak with a more menacing tone. Valery wasn't intimidated though and shot him a death glare in response.

Her body was shaking from anger as he shoved his finger further into her shoulder, and all kinds of insults and jabs at his past were running through her mind. But in the moment, she just snapped and raised her hand to slap him against the side of his armored face. The Force pulsed through the back of her hand on impact, making sure she wouldn't hurt her hand at all, but it also added an abnormal amount of power behind the blow.

Never enough to damage a Beskar helmet, but the Force that was transferred to knock his head back could still be highly unpleasant or even painful.

"Don't you touch me, you criminal scumbag," Valery hissed with her fiery eyes burning. "And get the hell out of here."

 

[Kardek Alpha]

Valery Noble Dominique Vexx​

Her words made no sense… they were just an attempt to jab at a man that she didn't know, ultimately. There was no logic, just accusations and personal attacks that didn't hit their mark, because they didn't relate to him anymore.

Finally she escalated the assault to that of a physical nature, slapping him with augmented power from the force and causing his head to react by being forced to the side. He did not react to the strike, simply turning his head back towards her and taking a step backward to give both of them a little bit of needed space. It did hurt a little bit, but it seemed that she had realized that her verbal attacks were not affecting him very much, and so it felt to Kardek like a desperate attempt to get a further rise out of the man.

Valery said:

"Don't you touch me, you criminal scumbag," Valery hissed with her fiery eyes burning. "And get the hell out of here."

He rolled his eyes under the visor. Of coarse, leave it to a Jedi to relegate people into categories that they could better understand. She knew that the words she levied against him weren't true… she had been there when he had literally save hundreds of slaves lives. But it was easier for her to make him the enemy and demonize him than it was to realize that she was just as much at fault as he was. She was just another self righteous Jedi who could never admit that they were just as flawed as everyone else.

But he could not afford any form of retaliation, nor did he feel the need for such. He had already gone too far in continuing to provoke the situation, and he really needed for her to cooperate with him… for the sake of Denon… For the sake of his Family… for Vexx.

And so he decided to take a different approach, attempting to deescalate the situation. The man reached up and snapped his helmet loose, pulling it off slowly and then placing it under his arm. His eyes now locked onto Valery's and his expression was one of weariness more than anything.

"Listen…" He spoke in a more calm and soft voice, "I know we have history. Don't let the people of Denon suffer because of it. Please… just come and talk to Senator Vexx. This has nothing to do with me, I'm just a messenger. I'm sorry it had to be me, ok?" He let out a labored sigh and shook his head in a bit of frustration, "Honestly I never wanted to see you again either. But here we are, and people are depending on us."

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kardek Alpha Dominique Vexx

After lashing out at him, Valery felt an instant wave of regret — she had let emotions get the better of her again, but the anger she still felt kept her from apologizing or recognizing it. She just wanted to get away from him. She wanted him to leave and never cross paths with her again.

She wanted to be home with her family.

But as he pulled off his helmet and tried to diffuse the situation, he said something that got her to grit her teeth again. He was right — the people of Denon did need help, and while she held no political power, she still had enough weight to get things to change. The least she could do was talk to people and try to find a path forward.

"I'm... sorry I hit you," Valery frowned. "I shouldn't have but... let's just focus on what matters. Take me to the senator and I'll talk to her." While she agreed to all of it, her eyes still made it very clear that nothing changed between them. Once all of this was over, she hoped to never see him again.

"Come on. Let's go."

 

[Kardek Alpha]

Valery Noble Dominique Vexx​

Valery said:

"I'm... sorry I hit you,"

Kardek's face immediately softened, a bit taken aback. He had not expecting any form of an apology from her. He wasn't sure what she had meant by him causing a lot of trouble. That hadn't been his intention… sure, she had hurt him, and so there had likely been a bit of a stinging edge present with his actions at the end of their last encounter.

He looked into her eyes, and for the briefest of moments, remembered what had drawn him so intensely to her in the first place. His expression was a mixture of deep contemplation, sadness, and frustration. He furrowed his eyebrows, his gaze falling downward as he started to turn, but paused to speak,

"I'm sorry, Valery…" the phrase was simple, but it meant many things in this moment. He was sorry he had caused her trouble. Sorry he had tried to kiss her. Sorry that, in some ways, they had ever met at all.

Kardek led her over to where his speeder was waiting, a very luxurious and sporty ride that he had recently acquired with his new found prosperity within the Family. He communicated via his implants to the vehicle, and it immediately started up and both side doors slide up vertically, allowing both of them access to sit. He set his helmet down in between the seats and once Valery was situated, lowered the doors.

The trip wasn't terribly long, but it felt like forever. Kardek did not look at Valery at all, keeping his stoic gaze forward. He ascended down onto the landing pad near the top of the Senators building. As they got out of the speeder, they made their way inside. Kardek quietly sent a brief message to Vexx via his implants, announcing their arrival. Soon they were outside of her office, and Kardek did the honors of pressing the buzzer, notifying Vexx that they had arrived.

 

[Dominique Vexx]

The Senator had busied herself with preparations until the moment Kardek announced they'd arrived. It coincided with one of the aides tasked with monitoring for their return. At that point, she shooed all the men and women scurrying about out of her office with their mountains of data pads clutched in their arms. So far as the two might be concerned Dominique had been lounging in her chair the entire time sipping wine.

With the doors shut, Dominique stood behind her task with a single finger lightly tapping the polished wood.

A moment later she forced her finger to stop before she turned her back to the door again. The cityscape outside her panoramic window occupied her eyes, if not her thoughts. They were the impetus to what would soon occur, but at that very moment the Senator's thoughts were on all possible outcomes. Most of them... unpleasant. Vexx was no fool; she knew well enough what the Jedi must think of her.

When the chimes sounded, Dominique drew inhaled and exhaled smoothly. "Enter." The Senator turned back around to face them from behind her desk, still standing and with a welcoming smile on her face. Despite her outburst earlier, Dominique wasn't truly angry nor did she want to begin with such a cloud over them.

Though she'd soon find a dark cloud was a second, uninvited guest that'd accompanied the pair regardless.

Kardek Alpha | Valery Noble​

 

[Kardek Alpha]

Dominique Vexx Valery Noble

As the door opened, Kardek would walk in with Valery Noble and give a curt bow to Vexx,

"Senator." Making sure to use the proper title that she had corrected him in earlier, "Jedi Master Noble." His hand gestured towards the Jedi, and he quickly stepped to the side, allowing for the two women to take the center stage. As much as he would have preferred to make an exit, he knew he should stay for the sake of being informed of developments.

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique smiled as the pair entered. One hand reached up slowly to pull the purple shades from her face and calmly set them down off to the side atop her desk. It wasn't often the Senator went without her spectacles. Not that she required them to see, but few ever learned their true purpose. "Master Noble, a pleasure to have you here -- safely -- at last. Please," she extended a hand out toward one of the chairs that sat before the desk. "Would you care for a drink? I could have something non-alcoholic brought in, if you prefer." Would Valery forgo alcohol under the circumstances? Did she want it above all others because of other circumstances? Well, Dominique wouldn't judge in either case.

Normally, Dominique expected people to come to her. Practically begging for her help. Given how matters had gone largely unaddressed and countless distractions kept certain parties away, however, it was obvious a different approach was needed. Especially given her audience.

Kardek Alpha | Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kardek Alpha Dominique Vexx

Valery spent the ride to the senator in silence despite his own apology, as she felt conflicted about what happened. She had apologized for hitting him, but only because she felt that lashing out in anger and frustration wasn't the right thing to do. Especially not as a Jedi. But the way she felt about him hadn't changed much, and as emotions began to settle, even more questions came to mind.

Why was a senator working with someone like him? Was she simply unaware of who he was, or did Denon's corruption and problems run even deeper than she believed? Whatever it was, she set aside her thoughts and closed her eyes to meditate until they arrived.

Eventually, the speeder slowed down as they approached their destination, pulling Valery out of her meditation. She let out a soft sigh and waited for the doors to open before she stepped outside and followed Kardek. They were allowed entrance after a quick call was made, and she stepped into the room.

Dominique Vexx greeted them with a smile when they entered, and while Valery was usually equally polite in greeting, she couldn't find it in herself to muster a smile. She just dipped her head and spent a second or two looking around to analyze the room she was in. Not because she was interested in how it was decorated, but because of her own training and desire to know all possible ways to get in or out, among other things.

"The pleasure is mine, senator," Valery said politely before she walked over to take a seat in the chair on the opposite side of her desk. When the offer for a drink followed quickly, Valery nodded "A glass of water would be lovely, please." A soft breath was taken and she pushed aside lingering emotions the best she could.

As polite and kind as they all seemed to be, there was tension revolving around this meeting.