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 Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 1:07 pm
Naboo - Royal Advisory Bureau
The guard on duty outside Advisory Chamber 5-C looked nervous as Kal and Assenava arrived from down the long, echoing hallway. For a brief moment, Kal thought he was going to ask for their weapons, or his weapons, most likely. A long, flat stare convinced him otherwise, and he opened the doors instead. A broad waiting room, with polished body-wood flooring, grand paintings and furniture presented itself. It was filled with waiting agents, political aides, advisors and civil servants, most deep in discussion. All fell silent as the new pair entered. Footsteps softly sounded on the broad carpet, then squeaked on the wood before the door. The door handle clacked, deafening in the sudden silence. It was drowned out, abruptly, by the harsh exchange of voices from the room beyond. Seven councilors were seated behind a long, body-wood-paneled bench. Before the councilors were seats for the accused, although, Kal though as the adjutant closed the doors behind them, they probably didn't call them that. Half of the argument stopped as they came in. The other half lingered, in forceful self-absorption.
Kal walked up the aisle through the small seating gallery and stood before the accused's benches.
Kal's CO joined him. The last argument died a surprised but fading death. Councilors, officials and agents stared at them. Kal stood at ease, and felt decidedly unimpressed with the entire situation. The head councilor, an Otollan Gungan, blinked, reorienting his brain, evidently, away from the recent argument. Several councilors regained their seats.
"Agent Rem, reporting as ordered..."
Kal's tone was flat. Most people were staring at him. To Kal and Assenava's right, Captain Ulu Eirad, the Royal Security Force's second-in-command, was scowling furiously. Another woman, tall and blonde, folded her arms, looking stonily unpleasant. Kal recalled her last name as Iksvorez. Iksvorez was the head of the Royal Advisory Bureau and she was here in her natural, political environment. Kal felt no joy at that. Then he spotted RSF Intelligence Director Udian among the other agents scattered about and felt a little better. Kal looked back at Iksvorez, waiting for any remarks. There was no hurry.
"Mr. Rem..."
"Mr. Rem, where is your guard?" Iksvorez asked, cutting off one of the councilors.
"I'm his guard," Assenava said.
"You, Lieutenant Ecir, are most certainly not a suitable guard," Iksvorez declared. "You are his partner. You have demonstrated yourself to be nearly the threat to peace and civil security tonight that he has. I have two good RAB agents in the hospital, each with severe blaster wounds to both legs, and the shooter is walking free about the corridors of power, fully armed by the look of him! He is accompanied by his partner in crime! Councilors, this is a disgraceful indication of the depths to which RSF policy regarding this particular individual have sunk... He is utterly out of control, and the RSF..."
"You grandstanding, two-faced kriffing liar...!"
Captain Eirad exploded with anger.
"...And the RSF are so completely lost and desperate in their present messed up situation that they've just given him the keyes to the palace," Iksvorez continued loudly. "This is the result..."
"Who caught the damn bomber, you nut!" Eirad retorted. "RAB's only contribution is to open fire in a public space upon the one person genuinely attempting to apprehend the suspect...!"
"After he caused a major traffic accident in which innocent civilians were needlessly injured, and refused to account for his activities when requested...!"
"So he needs to report every moment for RAB's approval, even when the RABs haven't a lucid clue what in the void is going on?" Eirad shouted.
"That's exactly right, Mr. Eirad," Iksvorez shouted back. "By order of this here panel of councilors, he does need to report his every movement to the RAB, and I've now got two good agents hospitalized who will gladly tell you why!"
"You don't get it, do you?" Captain Eirad roared. "Your agents owe their lives to this man! Any RSF agent under an unprovoked attack is fully authorized to kill in self-defense. He refrained. Does your tiny, manicured brain comprehend that much? HE shot to wound, when he was perfectly entitled to blow their kriffing heads off, and that's far more restraint that I've seen from your people whose only provocation was that he didn't ell them what he was doing, which they by all indications wouldn't have understood anyway, because all you Kesseled RABs are just too kriffing moronic!"
The room exploded with a yelling racket above the repeated hammering of a councilor's gavel. Eirad stood barely taller than Assenava, small, with a dark complexion, and compact. At that moment, he seemed much larger, as if swelling with rage. He pointed at Iksvorez with a trembling finger, although Kal couldn't understand the words he was now shouting over the rest of the furor. Assenava raised an eyebrow, as unperturbed by the commotion as Kal. Under repeated assault from a councilor's gavel, the noise began to recede. After another few whacks, it died completely. The Otollan Gungan councilor that Kal noted earlier looked angrily disapproving. Kal noticed a RAB agent's head turning in their direction, eyes curious.
"People, remember where yousa are!" the Otollan Gungan commanded.
"Mr. Rem, do you have anything to say for yourself?" another councilor asked.
This councilor was human and his name panel read as 'Teik'. He was seated two chairs to his right, facing him. The female human councilor alongside Teik, Councilor Uhza, was staring, greatly disconcerted. Well, Kal supposed, this was most likely the first time any of these Councilors had seen him at this range. He wondered if Uhza found his good looks or his mere proximity more disturbing.
"I supposed that depends upon what I'm asked," Kal replied to councilor Teik.
"Why is he even armed?" another councilor interrupted, as if reading his thoughts.
That was Councilor Leafar, an Ankulan Gungan. He was fat with dark brown skin. He sounded alarmed. He looked alarmed, eyes wide and nervous lipped. Captain Eirad opted to respond with more composure.
"This panel has no jurisdiction over internal RSF policy," Captain Eirad said. "Agent Rem's present work is invaluable, requires him to be armed, and is recognized by all relevant experts within the field..."
"At what cost, Mr. Eirad?" erupted Leafar, with great agitation. "We have here a killer on the loose... Just look! Everywhere he goes, we have blaster fire and explosions!"
"So stop shooting at him," Assenava said coldly.
"Lieutenant Ecir, I must warn you..."
"Oh what...? This man is my friend," Assenava interrupted loudly. "You've ordered the RAB to line him up in their target sights, and if he twitches, you open fire. The RAB are so incompetent at basic weaponry that this order effectively makes them a menace to civil society, which makes all of you a menace to civil society. We have legal advice looking into it right now, we'll be making a formal securities submission under Article 23 of the recently activated Security Act 91, and Judge Laajredug will arrive at this recommendation in a few days. At present, the odds look good that your present orders to the RAB are unconstitutional and unsafe. Keep at it long enough, and you'll be in jail, Ms. Iksvorez included."
Five people started shouting at once. Iksvorez overrode them all, her voice carrying above the racket.
"...have submitted our own recommendation with regards to Section Five Subsection A of Security Act 91, and have obtained a temporary suspension of duty upon this dangerous killer, taking him out of RSF active duty effective immediately. Do you understand that, Lieutenant Ecir?"
Iksvorez reached for a paper upon a nearby councilor's desk, and waved it before them. Kal looked at Eirad and saw dark frustation. There was no surprise on his face, though. So, that was what they'd been arguing about earlier. Iksvorez glared with triumphant confidence. A pair of RAB agents approached. They stood before Kal. Both looked tense. The eyes of the man on the right flicked repeatedly in Assenava's direction.
"The suspension will continue for a period of one week, while the RAB continue our investigation into Mr. Rem and his place within the present RSF structure," Iksvorez continued. "The RAB will also investigate the command and instructions from his superiors that have placed him inot this position of uncontrolled influence. This order has been signed by Justice Laajredug himself. Mr. Rem, I require you now to hand over your sidearm and your badge, immediately."
"You can't do this," Assenava said harshly, stepping forward. "He was appointed to RSF under Security Act 91. You can't just override a special powers emergency!"
"Section Five, Subsection A, Lieutenant, as was explained to Mr. Rem just earlier today, after he had recklessly disabled a government vehicle with a Sith technique, states that his continued legal status as a Naboo citizen is conditional upon his continued non-threatening good behavior," Iksvorez explained. "If sufficient evidence is compiled that this condition has, indeed, been broken by Mr. Rem, the clause allows for a suspension, of a period to be determined by Justice Laajredug himself, of that status, pending further investigation by the relevant authority, meaning the RAB. Such evidence is not now difficult to find."
Kal ignored both of the RAB agents, studying the faces of the seven councilors instead. They were watching from the safe and comforting distance of their bench. They had varying expression of concern and fear. The moment passed. They offered no dialogue.
"So nice to see I'm going to get a fair and impartial hearing..."
In Kal's peripheral vision, he could see Eirad standing silently, dark and brooding. Assenava was fuming. Kal reached into his jacket and drew the blaster from his holster. He checked the safety and handed it to one of the agents, grip first. The badge followed in a dark leather binder. Kal was surprised to feel the regret so strongly as the RAB agent checked both gun and badge, tucking them away for safekeeping. The RABs drew away, back to Iksvorez's side. Kal stood where he was, at military ease, eyeing the Advisory Panel with expressionless distaste. On the right, a councilor named Atamah looked alone and displeased. The others just watched him. They were tense, as if waiting for an explosion. Some of them appeared satisfied at his disarming. The Otollan Gungan councilor was aware, perhaps, that senior RSF were present and watching. Kal could sense Intelligence Director Udian's eyes boring into the councilor's eye stalks. His lips were pressed thin with disgust.
"Mr. Rem, yousa will now inform this panel as to the precise events that led yousa to the riverfront in Jahai District this evening," Councilor Ossar said carefully into the strained silence. "Following that, yousa will inform this panel of precisely the events of earlier today when yousa launched yousa assault upon the RAB airspeeder."
"No, I won't," Kal replied.
"I might remind you..."
"Ms. Iksvorez, please," Councilor Ossar interrupted loudly, forcing Ikzvorez to swallow her tongue. "This is an Royal Advisory Council matter. Mr. Rem, I will remind yousa that yousa, as of this moment, no longer technically a member of the RSF. Yousa benefits of Naboo citizenship are also under suspension. RSF internal operating codes can no longer protect yousa from this panel's questions. Yousa just another member of the public as far as this chamber is concerned. Now, yousa answer the questions, or yousa face legal consequences."
Kal gazed at Councilor Ossar. The Otollan Gungan stared back. Eirad looked mildly pleased, in a furious, glowering sort of way. Kal remained calm and military, whatever the discomfort it provoked on the councilors' bench. Councilor Ossar rose to his feet.
"I have nothing to say to you," Kal warned. "You are a security risk."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Councilor, whether I'm in the RSF or not, I remain an RSF resource," Kal explained. "I have an enormous quantity of classified knowledge. I think you'll find that the RSF charter has precedence here."
"Mr. Rem..."
"You're neither required nor permitted by the laws of the RSF charter to say anything to these clowns, Kal" Captain Eirad said calmly. "I'm glad to see you've done your reading."
"Yes, sir," Kal acknowledged reflexively.
"Mr. Eirad, I must say that I find the RSF's obstructive and undemocratic manner extremely disturbing," Councilor Leafar said with great exasperation. "I believe that your conduct, in particular, here today has been disgraceful."
"As has yours, Councilor... This entire panel is a disgrace, and we're going to take whatever legal action is required to put all of you back into your little box," Captain Eirad retorted.
"How dare yousa speak in such a manner in here!" Councilor Ossar erupted. "How dare yousa continue to..."
"The next time some barve blows up half a city block, we'll just let the b*****d go, okay?!" Captain Eirad yelled at the bench. "That's what you're proposing! By the Force, we have terrorists in this city blowing things up and killing people. Your only concern is to try and kill the one person who's in a decent position to stop them! Well, the next lunatic ideologue who comes along looking to blow things up, I sincerely hope he comes this way and gets this stang building first, because he'll be doing this entire forsaken planet an enormous favor! Agents, we're leaving!"
Captain Eirad turned and stormed out, Intelligence Director Udian and the other RSF staff in tow.
"Captain, yousa come back here right this very moment, or I'll see yousa held in contempt of this Council!" Ossar bellowed at their departing backs.
"There's not enough contempt in the galaxy, Mr. Ossar!" Captain Eirad yelled over his shoulder, banging out the double doors.
Kal and Assenava followed them out. As he left, Kal caught one last sight of Iksvorez, tall and blonde, arms imperiously folded in triumphant satisfaction at the departure of those unworthy heathens who ran before the might of her glorious, democratic institution.
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Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:20 pm
Naboo - Royal Advisory Bureau
They went into the parking bay, through the reinforced VIP corridor and onto the reception apron where a vehicle convoy was already waiting. It consisted of three three black government airspeeders with tinted windows. Captain Eirad's short legs strode toward the center vehicle, one escort heading for the front seat while the others dispersed to the support cruisers. The interior was large, with opposing seats. Eirad took the rear and Intelligence Director Udian sat beside him.
"Rem, Ecir, with me... We'll send someone to pick up your airspeeder later," Captain Eirad called from inside the airspeeder.
Kal and Assenava settled opposite to the pair. Doors whined closed and the repulsorlift powered up. Only when the convoy was airborne did Captain Eirad speak.
"That went badly, but we weren't left with a choice," Captain Eirad said flatly, fixing Kal with a somber gaze. "They want to fight and we can't let them screw us. They've got no more legal authority than we do under present arrangements. We had to punch back."
"Yes, sir," Kal replied calmly.
The Theed city lights were nearly as bright early in the morning as they had been the previous evening. Below and to the side, the Advisory complex fell away behind. It was composed of a sprawling splendor of red arches and central domes. The closest building was the Bureau building. The Council building was beyond the adjoining length of lawn, divided from the Bureau by the Raban, a slim, meandering off-branch of the Langua River. The Royal Advisory Council was one of the arms of power on Naboo. It held the Royal Advisory Bureau's ear. The Royal Security Forces, supposedly, answered straight to the top, which raised the question... Kal glanced at Intelligence Director Udian. His lips pursed. He looked noncommittal to dialogue. Kal didn't like that.
"Sir, where is Chief Yerg?" Kal asked. "I'd have thought he'd be present."
"It's just one attack, Kal," Captain Eirad said. "He's busy."
Eirad reached into a pocket and withdrew a card. He handed it over to Kal. Kal looked at it. It was a security pass, although it didn't look as nice as his old leather-bound badge. It was just a plastic tag to pin on his jacket.
"I'm still working with the RSF?" Kal asked.
"Of course you are," Captain Eirad answered. "They can mess about with official titles as much as they like. They can't stop you working, and they can't stop us choosing to place our authority with whomever we like. That's internal policy, and that's none of their business."
It was Nimajneb Yerg's business, and he'd been absent. As Planetary Security Chief, the RSF was directly answerable to him and he to the Queen. It was more official power than the RAB had, but the RAC, apparently, had so many political levers to pull with the Queen's cabinet that Yerg hadn't been there. The RSF and the RAB were having a screaming match that threatened to sever even cordial working relations, and Yerg had something more important to do. He spared another glance at Udian who met his eyes briefly and shook his head.
"We're going to get this sorted out, Kal," Eirad continued firmly. "This is really crazy stuff. Every stang politician is looking at the polling numbers and trying to figure out how much noise to make about you. Those morons are getting real cocky right now. They're pushing really hard. We just have to ride it out."
"Yes, sir," Kal said. "I understand that. In fact, I was kind of thinking."
This was an old idea of his, half-formed at best, one that he'd been meaning to bring up for a while now, but hadn't had the opportunity.
"Kind of thinking... Huh... What about...?"
"What if I spoke to someone?" Kal asked. "Maybe some of the Councilors, the marginal ones...?"
"Charm them, you mean..."
"What would you say?" Eirad asked.
"I don't know," Kal answered. "I just thought that if they saw me, and saw who I really am..."
"Who are you?" Eirad asked directly. "I know who you are. Assenava and Veejar know. Director Mihabri certainly does. We've spent time with you, we've seen what you've done, and we know what you're like to work with. Kal, politicians are different people. If you approach them, they'll assume it's political, which it is, and not knowing you better, they won't know you're being genuine. You can't have a nonpolitical conversation with a politician, not in this atmosphere, and certainly not coming from you. I'm sorry. It's a bad idea. It'd only cause more questions and more trouble."
Captain Eirad's face was small and round. In another life, Eirad might have looked slightly comical. In this life, no one laughed unless invited to do so. Kal fixed the Captain with a firm, unblinking stare. There was silence in the airspeeder but for the muffled whine of repulsorlift. Passing tower light threw Eirad's dark face into half-light, then angling back into darkness as they passed.
"I can't appeal to the public," Kal said flatly.
"No way... Not unless you want to become a celebrity... We have a hard enough time managing media relations right now, Kal," Eirad explained. "If you start attracting celebrity attention form this mob, it'll be a zoo. We'll get buried. Right now they're happily misdirected, and we're happy to let them be. If you make yourself the spotlight, everyone will want to target you, and that's exactly what we don't want. Don't stick your head up in a crossfire, Kal. You're a soldier. You ought to know that."
"They think I'm a killer," Kal said.
"So, we'll keep reminding them otherwise," Eirad argued.
"How...? By reminding them of the Council Massacre...? I killed twenty people there," Kal pointed out. "It's not the advertisement I'm looking for."
"You killed twenty Sith, Kal. That's different."
"Sith are people."
Captain Eirad sighed.
"I'm sorry," Eirad said. "I didn't mean it like that, but there's no easy answers here. We just have to try and survive. We have to try to do our jobs as best we can, in spite of those well-meaning morons appointed to try to stop us. We need to convince people that the RABs have taken their eye way off the ball, too, and get them focused on what really matters. Until then, we can't do anything but keep our heads now, protecting our own turf with everything we've got."
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 3:42 pm
Corruo - Bridge
The events that unfolded quickly shook Cidreau from his emotional state. The blaster bolt, instead of shattering the viewport and opening the room to the vacuum of space, paused before the transparisteel. A moment existed where all of the officers in the room froze. Visum was the only living thing moving in those few brief seconds. Then the blaster bolt was projected backward into a power junction at nearly eye-blinking speed and the power went out.
Immediately, all hell broke loose. There was an audible commotion among the assembled officers in the dark, most likely some of them diving into the crew pits for cover. Cidreau remained mostly where he was, although he took two shaky steps backward, thinking he was about to meet his end. Then power was rerouted through another junction and the red emergency lights flooded the room again. Chunks of the assembly were in disarray.
Visum was nowhere to be seen, although the lift doors were suspiciously wide open when no lift was present to board. Somehow, either through some sort of divine intervention or a miraculous turn of events, Cidreau had made it out of that confrontation breathing and intact, although his composure was another matter entirely. His breathing was heavy and erratic. The noise of the bustling assembly was overwhelming. He could see a cluster of the assembled approaching him, but his vision blurred, hindering his ability to identify them.
Dropped to his knees. Someone was shouting at him. Asking if he was okay. Needing orders. What orders could an aging man who'd nearly lost his life due to recklessness possibly cast upon others?
"unintelligible unintelligible Sir, we need orders! Sir, do you want us to go after them? Sir, what are you orders?!"
Cidreau looked up at the speaker. He blinked. It was his escort, the one that had come aboard the ship with him. The one that had failed to stand by him when he'd confronted Visum. What were his orders?
"Secure everything on this level," Cidreau said flatly, breathing in deeply. "No one leaves we've cleared it. Anyone that dissents or puts up the slightest hesitation is put into the brig."
First Lieutenant Ajadana locked eyes with him, remaining dead silent.
"Do I make myself clear, Lieutenant?" Cidreau growled, climbing to his feet.
"Sir, yes sir" Ajadana replied firmly, saluting before spinning on her heel.
"Leave no part of this ship unchecked!" Cidreau said a little more loudly as Ajadana started to leave. And to the gathering of officers at large, shouting, "Lock down all access to remote systems! Put the Corruo on full alert! We have an intruder on board! She is armed and very dangerous! Contact nearby ships and alert them to our status! Deploy full security teams and start deck sweeps!"
Cidreau surveyed the assembled officers. Some of them rushed to crew stations. Others resumed repairs. At the back of the room, Cidreau could see his escort deploying into adjacent rooms on the deck to begin clearing them. Slowly, his confidence swelled inside him, and he almost found his orders lacking. What more could be done, though? He couldn't combat Visum single-handedly and he'd just won a gamble that he thought he was sure to lose. Something else came to Cidreau.
"And lock down the hangar!"
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 5:08 pm
Naboo - Theed Royal Palace
The Royal Security Forces Intelligence department remained as busy as ever, even in these morning hours. Holo-projection charts tracked movements, unit positions and traffic flows. Kal sat in the side office above the main pit, where many eyes trained upon their screens, deciphering communication flows and encryption routines. Above and around them, on the higher walk, broader scale analysis was offered from surrounding offices. The pit was large and terminals numerous, many eyes bleary in the lingering hours of nightshift, with dawn approaching. The Central Operations department was much larger. Intelligence Operations was merely a side branch, keeping tabs. It was always analyzing. He sat on a desktop with a leg curled up for balance, an arm locked about, watching the screen. A young man behind a blank interview desk was displayed before him. Date and time scrolled by in the corner. Kal rubbed his eyes and took another sip of lukewarm caf with his free hand. The door opened and Intelligence Director Udian entered. Operations-pit noise briefly intruded the office before the door closed. The Director walked to the side of the desk, looking at the screen. Kal's eyes did not leave the screen.
"Boy, what on Naboo are you still doing here?" Udian asked.
"I don't know," Kal answered wearily. "I just wanted to see the interview tape, know what he's up to..."
Udian leaned a hand on the desk, the other thumb tucked characteristically into his belt below a moderate overhang of stomach. The young man on the screen appeared sullen, tired and disturbingly normal. His responses to questions were brief, at best. He remained determinedly uncooperative and had been for the last hour. Kal spared Udian a brief, sideways glance.
"Negruj Iksnivahc... Human Reclamation Project... You know what the HRP are?" Udian asked.
"Lunatics..."
"One of about fifty midrange lunatic groups in Theed, to be more precise... Farts, in Intelligence lingo... They just kind of float around," Udian explained.
"Oh..."
"Young Mr. Nuber had the HRP rather higher up on his alert list than I did," Udian went on. "I must admit, I really should listen to Liera more often. As the name might suggest, they're virulently xenophobic, but, unlike Marsune Vanguard, it's not for religious reasons."
"Where'd he get the bomb?" Kal wondered.
"He won't say," Udian continued. "We think he wrote the trigger code, and probably some sleeper code that Agent Nuber found. There's any number of ways to make explosives with basic materials, though. The question is why, and what was he hoping to achieve? The answer is we don't know. His friends aren't any more communicative, all ex-university students, graduated or dropped out. They were all from Theed University, too. They all volunteered for the Legislative Youth Program. Mr. Iksnivahc here graduated with honors. He had such a sterling report card that you should read it. It indicated he was headed for big things."
"They got that much right, I suppose," Kal remarked, making a face.
"Nay, young man," Udian jested as Kal sipped his caf. "Do not denigrate the grand designs of Theed higher education."
"Everyone on the boat was okay?" Kal asked, ignored Udian's grand humor.
"Very wet... Very wet, very frightened and complaining of eye irritation through an overexposure to flame-retardant foam... No one badly hurt, except for a nesting bogwing family in one of those riverside trees... The local environmentalists were quite upset," Udian began. "They're demanding we add cruelty to animals to the charges."
"Maybe the bogwings were the target," Kal murmured wryly.
"Ah, the right-wing Anti-Bogwing Alliance," Udian said, smiling. "I know them well. Anyway, there were three business committees on the boat: 'Geneering Products, Alderaan Biotics and the Alliance for the Creation of Habitable Environments. They all had plenty to talk about, of course, given how much business could change if Naboo breaks away... There's the usual civil servants there, with special invites. It was nothing serious. 'Geneering and Alderaan both have interests in biological technology. They both operate locally."
"Local... Not outlanders...?"
"No... There are thousands of leads and possibilities, of course, so we're running the usual traces," Udian rumbled with deep-throated consideration. "It could take a long time, though. Difficulties, you understand, are not from lack of leads in this game. They come from having too many. Most always there is something important directly under our noses, but to find it is like finding a teardrop in an ocean."
"Yeah..."
The locality of the companies appeared to be the obvious connection. He was coming to understand that the obvious leads weren't always the right ones, though. He stared back at the screen. Udian walked to the monitor and turned it off. Kal frowned.
"You, however, young man, should go home and go to bed," Udian said, unconcerned. "Are you alright?"
Kal was disconcerted. Udian stood before him and put both hands on his shoulders. He looked hard into his eyes at that close range. Kal blinked. Udian looked at him for a long moment.
"All right... Sure..."
Kal could see clearly the lines on his face, up this close. They were worn wrinkles on dark brown skin. His hair was peppered with gray. His eyes were deep with accumulated years, and he held Kal's gaze in a strange kind of paralysis. Kal could think of nothing more to say.
"We do appreciate you here," Udian said, finally. "You should know we appreciate what you've done and who you are. The Boss and little Nim Yerg might not always be able to stick up for you as much as they'd like. I'd like them to more, but never think they don't care. When the clouds go up, young Kal, you're one of us. Don't you forget it."
Kal stared at Udian, wondering exactly which clouds he was referring to, and why it should go up instead of down. He wondered further if he ought to be insulted at being called "young Kal." He was a combat veteran of many years' front line experience. He was accustomed to condescension, but he was more often the source of fear. However, Udian was reputedly more than one hundred years old.
"I won't forget it," Kal said. "I know the politics aren't the RSF's fault."
Udian gripped his shoulders more tightly. He leaned forward for emphasis. Kal frowned at him.
"Don't you worry about little Nim," Udian said. "No secret he doesn't like you at all, but he doesn't call the shots with the Boss... He just does the paperwork and stamps the forms."
"Why wasn't he at the Advisory Chamber?" Kal asked.
"He's in an administrative role," Udian answered. "He's in the Queen's cabinet. You understand. Nalien's got her tits in a wringer on this, Kal. Her own loyalists don't like her position where you're concerned, and now the Royal Advisory Council's putting the wind up her. The last thing she can afford is to be caught up in a furball between RSF and RAB. That might force her to take sides, and that's the last thing she wants right now. So, we're effectively on our own and to be quite frank with you, I prefer it that way."
"Shouldn't Director Mihabri have been there?" Kal asked. "He's the head. I'd have thought if we don't have Nalien entirely behind us, he'd at least put himself up there..."
"To defend you?" Udian asked, eyes gleaming. "Definitely, he would, over something like this. Never underestimate the old man, young Kal. He sent the Beetle for a reason."
"The Beetle", Kal had gathered, was Captain Eirad. He was small, black, round and very hard-shelled. He wondered what the RSF Captain thought of his nickname, assuming he knew about it.
"What reason?" Kal asked. "All he did was blow up and yell at people. I thought everyone knew he had a short fuse..."
Kal stopped as it occurred to him. He blinked at Udian. He was smiling broadly. His eyes gleamed with humor. He released Kal's shoulders with a firm whack on his arm.
"Ah... Yes, everyone does know," Udian said. "Never underestimate the old man, Kal. The RAB thinks they won that round. Instead, they are only being maneuvered into a more convenient position."
"Which is?"
"I have no idea. Trust the old man. He has more moves than a dejarik set. Now get you to bed, and get some sleep before the next day's hard toil. It's more than I'll get myself, that's for certain."
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 7:46 am
The Corruo Irella
The hallway was abandoned, save for a small droid that passed the elevator doors and kept moving until it rounded the corner, most likely heading towards its task of maintenance. A few stumbling noises came from behind the elevator doors, a mere moments after the droid had already cleared the area, following by an all too familiar humming as the elevator doors gained an orange glow. It was soon followed by a tube of bright red, as the infamous weapon of the Sith cut through the door, until the opening was big enough for Irella to jump through.
Her boots landed with surprising grace and silence on the cold, metal floor, her breathing stilled as she listened for any signs of movement or activity. Once she deemed it safe enough, for the moment at least, she stood up straight and closed her eyes. She let her senses roam across the Corruo, looking with her vision through the force for any possible escape, but she was quick to see the increased activity in all the hangars and they were not from pilots getting ready to fly out. Security was stepping up and trying to steal a ship was not a viable means of escape right now. She was stuck on the Corruo. But, before she could get worried about the situation, she sensed something else, very nearby. Something from the past.
Irella's eyes snapped open, focusing immediately on a different elevator down the hall. She tilted her head slightly and without thinking about it, slowly walked towards it. Images flashed through her mind, of her standing right there, dressed in an imperial uniform while smoke erupted from the doors and aiming a blaster pistol at an undressed and raven haired woman. She was motioning for Irella to hit her in the abdomen, while Irella mouthed the words 'thank you' and pulled the trigger. That had been five years ago, just a few minutes after she had woken up on the Corruo in some strange lab that had belonged to Darth Raven and just a few minutes before she had been rescued by Mabysyn.
Her had moved over the elevator doors as Irella stood there, thinking back on that day, until she sensed people closing in one deck above. They were sweeping each floor systematically. She quickly snapped out of it, moving her hand on the controls to summon the elevator. If she couldn't escape right now, then perhaps at least she did know of a place she could hide, rest and perhaps even find some answers. The elevators doors opened up and Irella quickly stepped in, pressing the floor for the Throne Room. "Perhaps..." She thought, thinking back hard on that one day, five years ago. "Perhaps I could find that woman again." Irella tried to think back of the I.D. card the woman had given her at the time, trying the remember the name that had been on it. "Morbella..."
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 3:29 pm
Naboo - Theed
When Kal arrived back at his apartment, it was to find that it had been searched. He dumped his day's kitbag upon the table, interfacing with his mouse droid's security recorder, and watched the search progress. It had occurred two hours beforehand. He strode around the apartment and the mouse droid followed him, holo-display active, as he checked for things missing. Some things were damaged or out of place.
The Royal Advisory Bureau, for clearly it was them, had gone through his things. Surely, they'd known they were being watched and that he'd review the security recording himself. He saw, too, on the holo, the second gearbag removed from his closet, unzipped and searched them. Then it was shouldered. Kal strode to the bedroom closet and opened it.
The kitbag was gone, along with all of his backup RSF gear, weapons included. His wireless computer interface module was missing, too. He shouldn't have left it in there. It annoyed him to no end, as did the droid that had followed them about, recording the entire scene alongside his mouse droid.
At one point they stood over Kal's artifacts, as if they could reveal some deep, dark secret of his malevolent psyche to be decoded later by specially selected RAB "experts." He strode back to the main room and scanned about, in search of suspicious traces. There were no bugs that he could find. They'd grown too wise for that, but surely he was being watched, even now. He closed the blind and curtains around all of his windows, the gleaming view of lights from the outside severely diminishing inside of his apartment.
Kal stood, in the center of the room, and thought dark thoughts for a while. He wondered if he should call his superior, but that would only get her annoyed too, disturbing her sleep. There was nothing to be done about it, and no one to contact. Obviously, if he'd been officially suspended by a court order, the RAB would have received permission to enter his apartment and remove his remaining weapons. The only weapon that still remained in his possession was one of his old lightsabers, still dangling off of his belt.
The other weapons, as well as the apartment, were both government-issued. Well, Kal interfaced with the mouse droid again and wiped the original security codes. He transplanted his own as a temporary measure. He would do better later, but, for now, it would do. He accessed the room holo-communicator and did the same there.
It was a reasonable security measure, and if the RAB complained... Well, if the RAB could get in, so could someone else. Kal then removed his clothes, showered, stretched and wen to bed. He noticed, before he closed his eyes, that the stone-carved clodhopper was slightly out of position beside the bedside computer. He turned it, so that its sharp, black beak was facing directly toward his head upon the pillow, and its dark, stone eyes gazed directly into his own.
Then Kal turned over and went to sleep, content that his apartment was newly secured, and that the clodhopper by his bedside would watch over him, protectively, guarding him while he slept.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 8:16 pm
Naboo - Kal's apartmentKal stared at the heading for a long moment, the next morning, caf temporarily forgotten in his hand. He didn't like the fact that the message hadn't been security sifted. There was no way that he knew of for anyone to reach his mailing address, otherwise, but, of course, the Empire always had to do things the difficult way. This was mysterious and clandestine. Kal decided he wouldn't jump to conclusions until he'd at least read the message.
Quote: Dear Mr. Rem, I sincerely hope that the following information may be of use to you. Please be aware that there are Alliance Intelligence personnel infiltrated through many of the visiting Coruscant delegations. Their intentions may be far from honorable. I have also recently received information through ongoing investigations currently being carried out by various apparatus appointed to the task by the Imperial government. As you are aware, the recent AI infiltration of Naboo was supported by various clandestine agencies within the Empire. Our government is attempting to root out these agencies, and determine the extent of their involvement. It now appears that certain of these Imperial agencies were in direct contact with Councilor Ilad prior to his appointment as Royal Advisor to Queen Nalien four years ago. He visited Terminus two years ago to attend an official function... His Alliance vessel returned a week late, having suffered "technical difficulties" at one of the jump points along the way. Intelligence now indicates the vessel had in fact been diverted one week off its course to a secret jump point meeting with these same Imperial agencies. During this meeting he met with military personnel and intelligence personnel, including some Sith. It now seems that the use of particular Sith forces for the now infamous operations may have been discussed. I understand that your duties will now compel you to share this information with your superiors. Please do so with my blessing, as a sign of Empire's hopes for friendly relations in the future. I did, however, want this message to reach your eyes first, as a courtesy in consideration of your special relationship with some of those involved, and a token of respect in light your many years of selfless service to the Empire... That is a debt I do not believe the Empire will ever be sufficiently able to repay. Your Sincere Admirer, Nodrog Oay Imperial Ambassador to Naboo
It took Kal at least ten whole seconds to stop being furious. From that point on, he was merely mad. How dare he? How dare anyone from that mob of murderous lunatics attempt to gain his good will from something so trivial as... He took a deep breath and calmed himself further. Lozar... That was who the ambassador meant, regarding his "special relationship." Had Lozar been at this secret meeting in deep space? Had he met with Councilor Ilad? Perhaps Ilad had needed assurance that the lead Sith for the operation could be trusted. Stang... Kal stared at the blinds, closed since the night before. There would be huge ramifications from this. They would be nothing short of enormous. Previous speculation was that Ilad was a puppet, that he hadn't known the precise scale or nature of what he was involved in. This meeting would prove otherwise, that Ilad knew well in advance and was personally involved in the planning process. This meeting would prove that he'd personally helped plan, or at least given his firsthand approval to a plan to kill the Queen, so that he could then use it as an excuse to assume power on Naboo for himself. People had wondered to what extent he'd been an AI man. This would indicate he was an AI man all the way to the bone, which in turn implied that the level of AI interference in the operation of the Alliance Grand Council was enormous, and if Ilad was tried on Naboo, under Naboo law...
If Ilad was forced to admit everything before a horrified audience of Alliance planetary representatives... Another more personal thought occurred to him. Lozar, his now-deceased brother, had told him that he was not the only member of his old associates to have survived... Yazon, Sehjenkai and Rikka... Rikka, the torturer... Yazon was another one of Kal's brothers, that he had presumed dead until Lozar's brief resurgence, but he hadn't known Sehjenkai well. Rikka... He clasped his communicator off of his desk in a flash, found the appropriate communications-codings and relayed... Back came the reply... It was from RSF Director Mihabri's office, from Mihabri's personal communicator. Beep beep. Kal waited, listening to it beep, a pulsing node in the apartment. Beep beep. It connected... There were no warnings of "this better be important."
"Hello, Kal," Mihabri greeted him.
Mihabri didn't waste time with threats. He assumed people already knew how serious matters had to be before contacting his personal connection.
"Sir, I need personal access to Councilor Ilad, with your permission," Kal requested immediately. "He and I need to have a chat."
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 11:03 am
Corruo - Command Deck
First Lieutenant Ajadana crashed explosively through the first doorway leading to one of the adjacent rooms to the bridge. The door went flying across the room, propelled by explosives. An engineer that the rebelling woman must have coerced into helping her ran for an electrics bank. She switched her blaster from stun to full-power, anticipating retribution for showing mercy against any traitors, and nailed him with a vicious burst burst of blaster fire.
"Glory for the Empire!" Ajadana yelled. "Lower your weapons and surrender!"
The man went down with a scream. There were more shouts and confusion as she ducked through through office doors into the containment wing just off of the bridge. More doors splintered off from here as the rest of her cobbled together force crashed in, yells of "For the Empire!" splitting the air. Ajadana could hear howls of protest.
"What in the void do you think you're doing?!" a bearded technician shrieked at Ajadana as she stormed past containment cells. "You can't just come in here and terrorize people..."
Several armed and armored people were barging through adjoining doors. The raging technician got right into her way, and Ajadana knocked him to the ground with the butt of her rifle. He crashed onto the grated floor and rolled, nearly coming up against the wall. Around the gear beyond the transparent wall to the side appeared to be a larger holding cell. Almost all of the engineers and technicians had obediently relinquished their sidearms and gotten down on their knees with their hands up.
"I said don't kriffing move!" Ajadana yelled at the bearded technician who was still reeling from her blow. "Are you hard of hearing?!"
One technician kept working and Ajadana shot her, too, in a convulsive burst of blaster fire and flailing limbs. As Imperial troopers grabbed those still standing and thrust them urgently against the walls, Ajadana strode into the larger holding cell, weapon leveled at the engineers there... She stopped in horror, seeing what appeared to be a corpse on the floor, skin pale and clinging to its skeleton. The skin was taught, Ajadana could make out parts of its spine.
"My Empress..."
Cidreau had approached Ajadana from behind. For several long seconds, they couldn't move, immobilized by shock. Cidreau finally moved past her. He circled the holding cell, checking the surroundings and ignoring the technicians who stood aside with forced calm. They didn't seem particularly surprised, Ajadana noted, in stunned disbelief. They stared at the gaunt mess on the floor.
"Pick her up," Cidreau ordered.
Ajadana moved to pick up the Empress.
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 12:40 pm
Naboo - Theed
Ilad was reading a datapad when Kal entered. There was an empty cup on the side table by his comfortable leather chair. Sunlight gleamed through the broad windows of his "cell," here on the 55th storey of the government-owned Theed Tower in mid-western Theed. The view behind was typically spectacular, agleam with mid-morning sunlight reflecting from tower glass. The heavy security door clacked shut behind him, and he suffered a cold chill of remembrance, recalling just such a room in which he had been kept prisoner upon his first arrival on Naboo. Ilad did not look up from his book. B'ssa nuuvu was playing on the room audio system. It sounded beautiful. He sat with long legs crossed, the datapad resting upon one cross-braced knee, a posture made easier by loose pajama pants beneath his collarless top. It was common enough attire for prisoners. Kal stopped before the opposing chair. Ilad made him wait for a full ten seconds. He was just about to take his seat anyway, when the Councilor looked up. He appeared bland and disinterested. A member of the Harch species, he possessed a large, fanged mouth.
"Mr. Rem, please have a seat," Ilad requested disdainfully. "Would you like me to request a cup of tea for you? The staff here are most obliging."
Ilad had two prominent chelicerae, which Kal found repulsive, above which rested six red eyes, arranged in a semi-circle. Kal wondered if Ilad enjoyed his species resemblance to spiders.
"No, thank you, Mr. Ilad..."
"I believe the correct form of address is Councilor Ilad, my child," the Councilor said mildly as Kal sat. "I have not been deprived of that position, whatever my present circumstance."
"Merely a matter of time, Councilor..."
"Perhaps the wheels of administration do turn, even out here in the Mid Rim," the Councilor quipped.
Ilad gave a long, deliberate shrug. It might have been bitterness, or perhaps merely defiance, belittling the system that currently held him prisoner. It mattered little to Kal, either way.
"I know about your meeting with Imperial officials out at Point Listehol," Kal said without preamble. "You were aboard the Alliance transport vessel Sagma, on your way back from Terminus two years and four standard months ago. You sidetracked to Point Listehol and called it 'technical difficulties' afterward. Sagma's logs were mysteriously damaged in transit, which prevented the unscheduled jumps from being documented. I checked. During your meeting at Point Listehol, certain Imperial officials discussed with you their plans for the infiltration mission that has landed you in this detention. I want to know who those people were and who was with them. I want to know what you discussed."
Ilad blinked at Kal in astonishment. He stared at Kal for several long moments. Then his chelicerae bristled. He deactivated his datapad and placed it carefully on the small side table beside his empty cup.
"Mr. Rem, it is clear that your front line infantry training has given you precious little preparation for the subtleties of politics and interviewing protocols," Ilad said with careful deliberation. "Even if such a fanciful tale were true, why in the galaxy should I ever choose to answer such incriminating accusations? This entire room is bugged by Royal Security Forces operatives who hang upon my every word. I am hardly obliged by my role as Councilor to say anything under such circumstances."
"What you say in here is not permissible in a court of law," Kal replied calmly. "Only official statements taken by appointed legal officers are deemed admissible. Anything else could be considered duress. I have sources, Councilor Ilad. I have Imperial sources. I have intelligence sources, things that may reach my ears, you understand, that are not available to my RSF colleagues. The Empire is trying to clean up its mess. They're discovering many very interesting things regarding operations carried out by the Empire for the infiltration of illegal biological data into Alliance corporations, particularly in relation to clandestine cooperation with Alliance Intelligence, whom I believe you know very well, Councilor Ilad."
There was no reply from Ilad and no disdainful dismissals of Kal's interviewing techniques. Certainly, strategy had grown to be Kal's strong point. He could see many angles. He was good at politics, these days, even from the removed distance of an RSF grunt. Where covert strategies were concerned, Ilad did not trouble him. He could handle Ilad. Ilad blinked repeatedly, red eyes wide in feigned disbelief. The six of them together looked like decorative beads. Kal's return stare was flat and entirely level.
"The Empire is interested in Naboo, Councilor, especially considering our potential breakaway," Kal continued. "Your little secrets are no longer safe with them."
"Young man, you would seriously believe what the Empire tells you?" Ilad asked with commendable firmness. "Surely you, of all people, would not be so foolish as to believe that the war has actually ended? Dear boy, it has merely been postponed to a more convenient date. The entire five-year conflict that began with the Gran genocide was nothing more than an opening skirmish. The Empire does not give up on its precious ideals so easily. They have no intention of remaining beholden to the interests of the Alliance. They see in the present environment nothing more than an opportunity, a chance to split the Alliance. They will lie and fabricate to their hearts' content to achieve their goals."
"A chance to split the Alliance that you gave to them on a plate..."
"I... Mr. Rem, I am but a humble servant of the Alliance," Ilad asserted. "I serve at the wishes of my masters."
"I know," Kal agreed. "That's just the problem."
The stare appeared to be having an effect. Ilad swallowed, eyes darting briefly away. One of his six arms wiped sweat from his furry brow. This often happened with people who knew what Kal was and feared it. Ilad recrossed his legs and shifted uncomfortably.
"You are wasting my time," Ilad said shortly. "I am under no obligation to respond to such blatant lies and incriminatory accusations. I have nothing more to say to you. Good day, Mr. Rem."
Ilad picked up his datapad and made to recommence reading where he'd left off. He stared determinedly at the screen.
"The deaths don't bother you, do they?" Kal asked.
"People die, Mr. Rem, in all forms of conflict," Ilad replied.
"The good guys aren't supposed to kill their own side," Kal remarked.
"Good day, Mr. Rem..."
"Do you know what the RSF's had me doing during much of my time here?" Kal asked. "I've been rechecking over this city's security protocols, particularly on network systems, but also for physical defenses, such as these. Defending this place, this entire floor... They aren't very adequate, you know. You might imagine how much experience I've had breaking through defensive security considerably more imposing than this. I'm quite sure AI's better covert operations teams could break these defenses, if they chose. I wonder how badly they'd wish to stop you from testifying? It would be interesting to know, wouldn't it? You could do them a lot of damage, if you did, and they've shown an alarming willingness to kill whoever gets in their way."
"You do not scare me, Mr. Rem," Ilad said coldly. "The Grand Council will allow no harm to come to me."
"The Grand Council controls AI?" Kal asked mildly. "How interesting... Did the Grand Council then order the Queen assassinated?"
Ilad blinked. Kal was satisfied with that reflexive response. The Councilor appeared incredulously indignant, datapad now forgotten in his lap. He glared at Kal.
"Of course not...!
"Then the Grand Council doesn't control AI?" Kal queried. "Equally upsetting news... Renegade intelligence operatives running about killing people without the supervision of knowledge of the proper democratically elected authorities... That's bad news for your own security, Councilor, since the Grand Council evidently cannot protect you from these rampaging assassins. I could order these security mechanisms that protect you upgraded, you realize, if I were sufficiently persuaded of their inadequacy, and if were given sufficient reason to care."
"You would blackmail me, with fear of my own life?" Ilad asked.
"They're your people, Councilor," Kal said mildly. "You made your bed with them, you did their bidding, and now they give you cause to fear for your life. How is this my responsibility?"
Ilad was too proud a man, Kal reckoned with cool calculation, to collapse in a heap and beg for mercy. He was so proud, in fact, that he felt obliged to defend, with great indignation, every perceived verbal slight to his dignity. It made him a very easy target.
"What, pray-tell, shall be the trade-off in this dishonorable game of quid pro quo?" Ilad asked.
"Your meeting at Point Listehol," Kal answered. "Who did you meet with and what did you discuss?"
"I admit to nothing of the kind," Ilad said shortly. "I was frequently briefly by AI operatives, because in my role as Councilor I am frequently in need of input from Alliance Intelligence. I heard speak of many covert Imperial activities. It was a friend of yours who plotted the raid to kill the Queen, was it not? Now you suspect I had something to do with the planning of the operation that set him on his course? I assure that I did not. I did hear speak, however, of others. Ensis did not kill off or exile all of its inconveniently powerful Sith, you surely realize. There were more besides your brother Lozar who survived the calamity of the war that sent you fleeing to the Alliance, Mr. Rem. Perhaps your contacts within the Imperial Embassy here have determined to make use of your emotional connection, Mr. Rem, to gain your good favor, and perhaps to make you an unwitting accomplice to their bidding. Perhaps you should consider such possibilities more closely before running off to meetings with a Royal Councilor because dear Mr. Oay of the Embassy sent you a friendly message."
Kal did not particularly admire Ilad in any way. He certainly didn't like the Councilor, but for all that, he knew that he could accuse Ilad of stupidity. He had not, Kal realized, heard of his suspension from RSF operations by the Royal Advisory Bureau. The "cell" was comfortable, yet very secure all the same. Kal had no wish to volunteer the information to him. Ilad was trembling with intensity. He smacked his datapad on the side table, cracking the screen. He rose to his feet in the same movement. He towered over Kal, trembling with dark, quivering rage. Kal blinked up at him in mild surprise.
"I assure you, Councilor Ilad, that the very last thing that I'm emotionally vulnerable to is appeals to past loyalties from the Empire," Kal said coolly.
"So you say, Mr. Rem... So you say, and yet, you came all this way to question me about meeting that involve persons to whom you had a close emotional attachment..."
"No, Councilor, I did not come here merely for personal reasons," Kal told Ilad. "I came here to blackmail you, as you put it, with the knowledge of threats to your safety. The fact that elements within the Empire sent me that message at all demonstrates that your secrets are no longer safe with them. What I can find out, Alliance member world governments will also find out, when I tell them. Momentum will be created through these revelations for your trial to take place here on Naboo. The closer that day comes, the more alarmed your friends in AI will become. They will attempt to prevent you from testifying, one way or another. You know, and I know it."
"You let them kill me, and you shall never learn the answers ot the questions you seek," Ilad said.
"Oh, I think we may, Mr. Ilad," Kal replied. "If our Imperial contacts continue to prove cooperative, and momentum among Alliance worlds continues to swing our way, I think we may. Only, it will take a little longer, and you'll be dead. An inconvenience, but not an unmanageable one, except for your, of course..."
"You cannot threaten me in this way!" Ilad snapped. "This is intolerable! This is against all conventions of civilized Alliance law! People shall hear of this outrage!"
"That AI is prepared to silence you... Surely, that would only confirm all the member worlds' greatest fears," Kal noted. "Are these ruthless assassinations a part of the civilized conventions of Alliance law of which you speak? The people of Naboo wish to be free from such civilized conventions, Mr. Ilad. They tire of them. I am not the one threatening you, Mr. Ilad. I am offering to protect you. It's your own people who are the present danger to your life. Your loyalty to them is admirable, but please tell me: How much loyalty does one owe to poeple who would kill you once you become inconvenient? I was faced with just such a decision once. I made what I believe was a civilized choice in the face of barbarity. I do not believe you can defend civilized notions through acts of barbarism. Evidently, elements of the Empire and Alliance security apparatuses disagree with me. As a man who professes to value the concept of civilization in all its moral dimensions, I would ask you to think upon this, and reconsider your position."
"I will not stand here and be lectured to on a morality and civility by a... A... Sith!,"
Kal was on his feet so fast he was in Ilad's face before he'd even registered his movement.
"I'm trying to be nice to you, you little piece of poodoo," Kal said in the deadly calm that followed. "I could kill you so fast you'd be in little pieces scattered about this room before you realized what was happening. There's a part of me that wants to, but I won't do it. I choose not to, for my own reaons, despite all that you and your sordid little plans have done to me. Birthplace doesn't give you a monopoly on civility or morality, you bigoted lunatic. I'm better than you. I don't believe any cause is worth murderous criminality to perpetuate. Your time is over. The only question is whether you're going to come out of it alive, and on the winning side. Your choice... What's it going to be?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 2:11 pm
The Corruo - Holding Cell on the BridgeEnsis
"Don't..."
Boney fingers reached out and clawed over the floor, a moment of frustration as if she wanted to rip out the floor with her bare hand. Her body slowly heaving as her breathing intensified and the ghastly figure rose up to her feet.
"If you think me so easily dead..." She started, taking a moment to look around as her eyes moved from Cidreau, to Ajadana, then back to the Admiral again. Using the pause between her sentences to stabalise herself "Then you must be very new to this ship, indeed."
Her footing seemed unsteady, almost dizzy like or as if she had too many drinks and not a meal in months. Yet, as unstable as she seemed to be on her feet, there was somehow still a deadly vibe and grace to her presence, one that slowly seemed to increase the longer she kept standing. She no longer appeared like the drained and husk form that lay on the floor a mere minute ago, her physical form slowly regaining a healthier look as the anger cropping up inside fueled her need to regain her strength. This would be, however, the first time she stood before anyone of the Empire in her true form. Not one of perfect beauty, but one with heavy scar tissue over the left side of her face and parts of her body, looking almost fractured. Old wounds corrupted by the dark side.
She turned her body away from them, glancing back a them with the right of her face, still looking beautiful and regal, in heavy contrast with the rage that she wielded inside of her, which was as ugly and vicious as she felt she looked like.
"This..." She spoke, pausing once more as she suddenly shifted her stance to keep balance. "...it has to end. I want this Visum found... tortured, until we know everything about the location of Venia and then..." She took a few step backwards as she lost her footing. "...then..." Shaking her head slightly, she tried to keep focus on standing and eventually leaned with one hand against the wall to hold herself upright. "... Find her!"
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The Corruo - Throne Room / Raven's secret alchemy laboratoryIrella
The elevator let out a soft ping as it reached the floor of the Throne Room. Irella remembered the last time she had been here, when she had literally crashed into Morbella. It was a shame it hadn't this time, by the luck of the Force, but it was nice to see enough guards had left their station during this time that she had a clear path to the Throne Room. She reached out with her senses and felt the familiar trace of her Master, lingering in a path behinf the throne itself. No. Irella shook her head, clearing her head from the voices that seeped in as she felt for the entrance of Raven's lab. He was not her Master. A place, only she, Raven and Venia knew of. It had been undisturbed when she had woken up there, years after Raven's death, she could only hope it was still as such.
The wall slid open as she came close to it, as she moved behind the throne of the Empress and out of sight. It revealed a long and dark hallway, still filled with all kinds of security measures woven by Raven's skill in the darkside, or created with his alchemy. She took a step inside and the wall closed up behind her, leaving her in darkness. She could feel a hundred other things in her presence the moment the light of the throne room left her, hundreds of spirits and presences whispering in her ears and mind. Serve Raven. Surrender. Serve. Surrender your body. Give in to me. Stay. Stay with us. Stay Forever. You are one of us. Serve and stay... serv-
With the last step she took, it was as if a blindfold was pulled from her eyes and every voice and thought was silenced, but her own. She was standing in a well lit laboratory, the glass shards still on the floor at the Bacta-like tank she had woken up in. Finally, she could figure out what happened. What had been done to her. "Thank you, Mabysyn... thank you, for giving me the strength to make it back this far."
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 2:31 pm
Naboo - Theed Elysia
She had kept watch at his house all night, but never ended up making a move. Theed was not a very crowded city at night, which meant as long as she scouted around quietly, she would go unnoticed. She feared however, that with things being so quiet, if she tried anything she would be the only one seen on the streets by attention she might pull.
She had come to Naboo to pick up a delivery for an old friend of her and by morning, it had actually been the plan to leave this world, but the bounty on that guy's head was big enough to calculate the risk in trying to get it. On Coruscant it would have been easy, simply strike and successful or not, disappear in the uncaring masses. Naboo was different, however.
For the morning, she had moved to a local café for some caf, close by his home. She had seen him leave in the morning, but chose not to follow. Instead, she was pondering to break into his home. Either to look for clues, or perhaps to plant a few bugs. Funny enough, she hadn't given it an attempt. Not yet, at least. Not because she felt as if she was being watched, but it was almost as if she wasn't the only one interested in this 'Kal Rem'.
She shifted uncomfortably in her dress, a deep red and laced with gold, as she took a sip from her cup. It wasn't so much that her outfit was uncomfortable, as was the entire situation about this. Everything felt weird about this situation and when that happened, it was usually a bad move not to wear armor.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 4:04 pm
Naboo - Theed
Kal didn't get much further, but it was enough to impress the security personnel monitoring the "cell." They told him on his way out that it was more than any interviewer had gotten from Ilad in the last week, plus they had just enjoyed seeing him sweat. Kal could tell. He took the main lift down. It was security-coded and off-limits to non-official passengers. Kal had barely stepped into the broad underground tower speeder park when an incoming transmission registered on his comlink. It only surprised him a little. Royal Security Forces Director Mihabri was evidently keeping himself up to date on Kal's activities, or at least giving someone the resources to let him receive updates. His unscheduled meeting had evidently attracted attention. He headed off along lines of sleek speeders toward the bike park.
"So, how'd the meeting with Ilad go?" Agent Liera asked Kal as he accessed the comlink. "You let me take you to lunch, and we'll discuss the latest machinations of these dastardly Imperial folk."
Kal remembered Agent Liera from yesterday. He seemed to be typically abrupt. Kal had been thinking it wise to head back home in the Spearhead neighborhood, considering the very obvious Royal Advisory Bureau vehicle that had tracked him all they way over to the prison.
"What... Now...?"
"Sure, if you insist," Agent Liera smiled.
"Liera... Well, for one thing, I'm kind of busy," Kal protested. "There's this thing called planetary security that's been on my mind, lately..."
"Oh, that," Liera acknowledged. "Look, it's a big galaxy. What's one more planet?"
"Secondly, the the RAB has me locked down pretty solidly, right now," Kal argued. "I don't know if I can get out without shooting, and that doesn't seem like a good idea at the moment."
"Now, that's... That's a big pity, because I was thinking maybe adder moss chips with with gumbol," Liera imagined. "You could get a bean shake and blumfruit ice cream. It would be fresh, not imported."
"Who in stars...? Who's been telling you all my favorite?" Kal asked, sarcastically.
"Look, you're hungry, right?" Liera asked. "Of course, you are. You've been working hard all morning. I mean, getting shot at must really work up an appetite, so I think you really ought to..."
"You have absolutely no respect for RAB surveillance, do you?" Kal asked.
"Surveillance, no," Liera affirmed. "I have equally as much respect for RAB surveillance as I do for the rest of the RAB's terrible abilities. The nicest thing that you can say about the RAB is that it's punctual. Their ability to arrive just in time to screw the pooch is admirable. I was considering taking some tips from them. You know that's how Iksvorez got where she is today? Her timing is just genius. You should see her as administrative briefings begin..."
"If I keep saying no often enough, is there any chance you'll be quiet and leave me alone?" Kal asked, losing control of a grin.
"Um... Oh, I guess there's a very small chance," Liera answered as Kal shook his head in disbelief. "I mean, if you had another spare hour to waste in conversation, you might get lucky. You know, though, I hear from your RSF team that you're not the type to play hard to get, so I'd actually thought my chances weren't all that..."
"I appreciate your compliment, Liera," Kal interrupted dryly. "Do you have a location in mind, and do you have any simple suggestions for beating a RAB tail?"
"Well, sometimes I find that if you produce a small, red rubber ball, and you throw it to them so that it bounces around, they get so mesmerized by it that you'd be able to sneak around without..."
"Sith aren't known for their patience, Liera..."
"They are known for their stealth, though," Liera pointed out. "You should be giving me lessons on how to dodge the RAB"
"I an Imperial fugitive," Kal agreed. "I can evade anything."
"Of course, you can," Liera stated flatly. "I'll send the address to your navcomp. Try not to get lost. Please be on time, and for Force's sake, wear something appropriate, okay?"
"I'm wearing what I've got on, Liera..."
"What have you got on?" Liera asked. "Describe it to me, if you please, in long and lingering detail..."
"I'll see you there," Kal said before abruptly disconnecting.
Kal felt uneasy at the overt flirtations. He and Liera were both male, and Kal just didn't swing that way. He was, at least, amusing however. As long as he could deflect Liera's advances, he felt he could keep the relationship professional.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 5:04 pm
Corruo - Holding Cell on the Bridge
Cidreau was startled to see Empress Ensis move. She looked like a corpse, and to his revulsion, her skin was so pale he could nearly make out the bones in fine detail under her skin. He knew that she was still dangerous, though. Personal experience and intelligence reports taught him that even a crippled Force-user could be lethal. Cidreau assumed the Empress was no exception to this. Still, it amazed him how vulnerable she looked.
The naval troopers around Cidreau were also visibly shaken and with good reason. Her form seemed to gain some health, rapidly and without assistance. Still unsteady on her feet, her skin was no longer see-through, and some muscle-mass seemed to grow and harden where previously there appeared to be only be ligaments. Still, much of her remained scarred and fractured. Cidreau presumed she'd been heavily tortured before the assembly had been announced over the ship comms.
The Empress was snarling orders before the crowded room could gather their wits assume the proper kneeling position before their broken, enduring leader. Her voice was at once hissing, soft and barking, the only sound in the room aside from the hum of the ship's engines. Like they'd been whipped, about half the room stiffened, saluted and trooped out. Cidreau had brought himself to attention as she spoke, but he made no motion to leave the room. He paid no attention to his First Lieutenant.
"Your Majesty... Admiral Cidreau Rice... I swear fealty to you."
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 11:52 am
Naboo - Theed
Liera's eating spot was in the what was commonly referred to as the 'Gungan Disrtict', although the area that this encompassed was actually comprised of several neighborhoods. A broad bend of river stretched away to Kal's left as he climbed the last flight of broad stone steps beneath the one of the district's numerous office towers. There were too many, Kal thought, gazing over the wide span of water as he walked. He listened to the busy noise of tourists and markets along the riverfront below. River boats lined the near bend of shore, stretching up to the bridge that spanned the river behind. Beyond the right-angled river elbow in the river's flow, the water ran directly away, its full length awash with pleasure cruisers and smaller craft until it vanished around another bend, perhaps a kilometer further along. The walk was crowded here above the riverfront, yet not so crowded as the milling hordes that spilled about the stalls, shops, ticket sellers and varied entertainers along the riverbank walk below. Many boats bobbed against their restraints in the water beyond. Kal held to the left along the railing, with a good view over those below, and soon spotted the many outdoor tables in a cordoned area ahead, set apart from the walkway pedestrians by pot plants. Liera pulled his roguish dark glasses down his nose to look him up and down as he pulled out a chair.
"Hello, you're looking well," Liera said as Kal sat.
Liera offered a genuine smile. Kal restrained a smile. He rested his chin on his hand, resting elbows and forearms on the table to contemplate the view of choppy water and passing boats. Bright sunlight glinted in a million refractions. Cooking smells wafted up form below on the breeze.
"I apologize for my clothing choices," Kal said. "I'll do better, next time."
"You look fantastic," Liera complimented. "I've had boyfriends who'd be jealous that it takes you so little effort."
"I don't make an effort," Kal placated, resting his chin on his hand. "Nice view... You come here a lot?"
Kal caught the whiff of perfume from a nearby flower box. Boat engines thrummed above a wash of churning water, dulled beneath the surrounding echo of traffic, particularly heavy here in one of Theed's most built-up commercial districts. Kal gave Liera a long, considering look. He looked quite fetching, Kal thought, by his own neophyte fashion reckoning. He'd adorned a dark, casual shirt with just a few buttons at the collar, a heavier jacket shouldered upon the back of his chair.
"This cafe?" Liera asked, gesturing around. "Never been here before in my life... Theed's like that. Seems silly to eat at the same place twice when there's so much around that's yet to be sampled..."
Liera's bare arms were lithe, with an athletic quantity of muscle that hinted at a similar build beneath. A sealed synthetic bandage encompassed the lower half of his left forearm, apparently healing as fast as medical engineering had led him to expect it would. The sunglasses were hardly regulation. Liera held up a portending finger and dug into the jacket draped over the back of his chair. Kal glanced carefully about... About half of the neighboring tables were filled. In this section of seating and the ones alongside, the air was filled with conversation and clinking cutlery. It was still really too early for lunch, but some of these business types had probably missed breakfast. It would no doubt get totally crowded in another hour. Liera placed a leather-bound binder on the table beside potted plant arrangement. It looked familiar. Kal frowned and picked it up. It flicked open to reveal his Royal Security Forces badge, including a photo. He read the seal with his own eyes... It was genuine. Kal wondered if Liera was holding his blaster.
"Happy Boonta Eve, Empire Day, Equinox Day or whatever's closest..."
"I prefer just to celebrate Naboo joining the Alliance, the Republic or whatever form the reigning dominant government presides over Coruscant is these days," Kal explained.
"That, too," Liera agreed. "I'll give you the other item, later."
Kal turned his frown upon Liera. Liera popped a complimentary aleudrupe berry into his mouth.
"Where did you get this?" Kal asked.
"Administration... Where does anyone get identification from?" Liera asked rhetorically.
"Who authorized it?" Kal asked with forced patience.
"I did," Liera answered with a shrug. "I need you. It's just for show. You understand. You're technically suspended... It's just that overriding imperatives have led me to exercise my discretionary powers to more fully utilize your abilities, in which case you'll need the badge to get you places and operate in the field, obviously."
Liera smiled, sardonically. Kal stared at him, utterly unblinking. Liera stopped chewing. He reminded Kal of a lazy nexu on a sunlit rock. Liera took another one of the berries. He leaned forward, with some deliberation.
"What if the Royal Advisory Bureau finds out?" Kal asked.
"Better that they don't..."
"What if anyone finds out?" Kal pressed, emphatically. "What if someone checks my identification, checks my status with RSF operations..."
"Can't... Emergency legislation... No one checks our operational files, not even the RAB," Liera chuckled. "Full operational security, full nondisclosure... Why'd you think the RAB was so pissed? You're an RSF agent because we say you are, and there's no evidence to contradict us."
"You won't let them have it," Kal concluded for Liera.
"Exactly..."
"This is how things work in a civilian democratic system?" Kal asked, skeptical.
"Kal, the system isn't like the military," Liera stated. "You take what it gives you, and what you can get away with when you need it. That's what Mihabri's brought us the last six years he's been in charge. We're concerned with results. The RAB is concerned with procedure. Now, like I said, I need you, and Mihabri agrees, so..."
"Mihabri approved this?" Kal asked.
"Kal, nothing that happens to you within the RSF happens without Mihabri's approval," Liera answered. "Trust me. You realize you haven't blinked in the last sixty seconds? Isn't that uncomfortable?"
Kal continued staring, not knowing whether to be relieved or wary. It felt nice to have his badge back. What he was being asked to do in return... That was another question. Kal held his gaze without a millimeter's deviation.
"It's a reflex I get when something requires my very full attention, or when I think someone's determined to get me into trouble," Kal said.
"Kal, we're all in trouble," Liera argued. "That's our job."
"I'm noticing," Kal agreed. "So, why do you need me?"
At that moment, lunch arrived, and they waited while a pair of plates were placed before them. Extra salad, bread and dip was placed alongside. It was an interesting combination of Gungan and non-Gungan food, Kal pondered, looking at the adder moss covering everything... The only thing missing was the alcohol. Liera had ordered fruit juice, instead. That was a pity... Kal liked alcohol. Liera dove his spoon into a bowl of bouillabaisse as a breeze gusted in from the river, cool in the bright sun. He took a rich, moss-smothered mouthful. Kal took a mouthful of adder moss chips.
"I need you, because I think you might be useful finding the one person I'm looking for," Liera said, swallowing.
"Who...?"
"Name's Ias Av... Miralukan name... I don't know if he is or not," Liera explained. "He's a big-time slicer, worked for a long time in illegal virtual reality, and arranged all kinds of data transfers. He's also offered virtual therapy, memory enhancement, the whole underground range... The guy's a data wizard. He's got more translation software accumulated than most law enforcement databases."
"What'd he do?" Kal asked, washing down the chips with a bite of salad.
"He broke into 'Geneering Products and stole a big chunk of mainframe data, itineraries included," Liera answered.
Kal blinked, considering that. 'Geneering Products...? They'd been on the boat last night with Negruj Iknivahc and the Human Reclamation Project had tried to blow them out of the water. Kal made the next obvious connection.
"You think Ias Av gave the HRP the schedule for 'Geneering's boating cruise?" Kal asked.
"It definitely looks that way," Liera said.
"Why..?"
"I'm not sure," Liera began, shrugging theatrically. "Word is Ias Av's latest employer was the Crown Four... They're a collective of criminal syndicates. There's six organizations involved. Don't know where they got the 'Four' from.. Good thing about Theed... You can make the most money by doing things legally, so the cream of the genius tends to avoid crime. Anyhow, as you know, crime syndicates are a big part of the Imperial infiltration network in Theed. They'll take anyone's business for enough money. You heard about the new arrivals at Theed Spaceport, the ones who took so long to get through?"
"Sure, they were still stuck out there just before the bomb went off," Kal said. "After that I wasn't paying attention to them. Who were they?"
"Imperial delegation... Big one... Word is there were Sith in the group arriving, officially registered, full documentation... Apparently, it's not illegal," Liera replied. "There's nothing in the regulations prohibiting the Empire from appointing Sith as official security under the relevant diplomatic articles that govern these things. So long as they stay at the embassy, it's all covered by diplomatic immunity. That's what the hold-up was about. Some immigration officials made a fuss, but got overruled."
Kal's cup froze halfway to his lips, his eyes locked hard onto Liera's. Liera's return gaze was calmly thoughtful. Kal would have even described it as curious. The cup then continued to Kal's lips, and he took a long sip. He wanted to swear. Just now Queen Nalien wanted to talk to him about likely positions the Empire would take regarding Ilad's impending testimony?Kal took a deep breath to cover the surge of frustration. Nalien was under no obligation to share such information with him. Nalien would have been breachign protocols to tell him precisely why now, of all times, she needed an Imperial opinion of Imperial attitudes toward the present crisis. What would Empress Ensis think? What would she want? Kal was sure it mattered now, since the Empress had sent a delegation to Theed, surely to partake in whatever they thought worth partaking in. He was no expert on what Empress Ensis would want. It all seemed like chaos over there right now. It certainly made more sense of the timing of Ambassador Nodrog Oay's message to Kal. The ambassador had just received the information himself, because that information would have been too sensitive to deliver over holo-communications.
So, was the Empire here to talk or to listen? Was it here to make "constructive headway"? Then Kal thought back, with an unpleasantly cold feeling in his gut, to Liera's initial point.
"So, what does this have to do with Ias Av and slicing into 'Geneering Products?" Kal asked. "Why would any criminal syndicate would to help get 'Geneering blown up, anyway?"
"Exactly, they don't," Liera answered, stabbing a piece of salad with his fork. "It's bad for business. They get quite a lot of work from minor pharmaceutical operations, tracking down various black market products for study. Everyone knows the corporations are the biggest buyers on the black market. Why attack your own best client? The thing is that Ias Av's a dedicated anarchist in the truest of underground traditions. He'd only take the 'Geneering job to cause trouble. The Crown Four was stupid to hire him, but then that's Crown Four for you... Too much spice, too few functioning brain cells left in the cerebral cortex... Of course, it's not the Crown Four's idea. It's just that some fool comes along from their old Imperial contacts and offers them a huge pile of credits to arrange it. Their beady little eyes light up like they're at the Boonta Eve Classic and they go searching for the most qualified person they can find with that money, without giving a second thought to their reliability."
"The Empire paid organized crime to employ Ias Av to slice 'Geneering?" Kal asked with some incredulity.
Kal realized how silly it sounded, all compressed into one sentence. Liera nodded, eyebrows raised somewhat glumly. At the salad piece off of his fork and went to work on the bouillabaisse again. He shovelled another spoonful into his mouth. Liera gazed at Kal and Kal gazed back. Liera shrugged.
"Who knows?" Liera pondered. "'Geneering's big. They're one of the most influential corporations on Naboo, pharmaceutical or otherwise. Their opinion gets listened to in the corridors of power. They lobby like a krayt dragon with a toothache, and they know everyone, along with their bank account details. So, if the Empire could get their information, find out who they're talking to, find out all kinds of thigns about where the whole corporate scene's at regarding Article 42, and therefore where the Empire's best plays lie... Where the vulnerable angles are... Who knows? Maybe there's still some unfinished business there from the whole thing you were involved in. Maybe the Empire still has contacts there."
"Only Ias Av's an anarchist lunatic who doesn't care which big organization he screws, and so a few buddies in the fellow lunatic scene ask him if he knows anyone big they could try to blow up... He offers them 'Geneering," Kal surmised.
"It's certainly the only way that bunch of amateurs could draw a bead on 'Geneering," Liera agreed, nodding. "So, now the Crown Four has put two and two together. They've made five, incidentally and they're after Ias Av. His main hideout's been ransacked. I was just there this morning, and the Crown Four might just have enough favors to call in from enoguh poeple to put him in really hot water, because, of course, they don't want to get the blame for blowing up 'Geneering... So, Ias Av's gone to ground before they can extract revenge one toe at a time."
"Now, the Empire's here, and you just know they're going to want to clean up their mess with Sith," Kal added as Liera chewed contentedly.
Liera was pleased Kal was doing so well. Kal raised his eyebrows. Liera nodded, speechless for a moment with a mouthful. Kal didn't feel at all happy about this situation. Liera smiled, finally swallowing. He nodded again.
"That's why I invited you along," Liera concluded. "Even up the odds a bit..."
"Gee, Liera, you really know how to make an invitation to lunch into such a romantic occasion," Kal remarked flatly.
"What can I say?" Liera asked, as he received Kal's dark look. "I'm just a romantic, dashing guy."
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