Private Altiria Motives

[Arken Dobson]

En route to Altiria capital spaceport, capital city.

Arken Dobson did his absolute best to keep from complaining as the Freestar Transport plummeted roughly through the air, shedding speed and flames as the atmosphere clawed at the small ship. Like any Dobson, complaining was his forte, but unlike his children (with the exception of Viken Dobson, who didn’t talk much at all) he had learned that there was a time and a place to be heard. Today, he would not let himself be in the wrong mindset. He needed this day to work out. Badly.

He reflected on recent events. Amongst many setbacks to his plans, his greatest irritation came from his own daughter, who had basically sworn allegiance to his greatest rival and was helping her subvert the very essence of his schemes. He needed a new ally, and with the right application of bribery and hired subterfuge, he felt like he had found a potential ace in the hole.

His pilot landed the uncomfortable little military transport with all the gracelessness of a fighter jock. He decwould see about commissioning proper diplomatic vessels for the Elysium Elite after this. It was truly preposterous that no one thought about Elysium upper class when they were building logistical transportation. Heads would roll for this negligence.

His ship opened up and he stepped out to where a speeder cab was already waiting for him. He got in quickly, striding towards the little vehicle with purpose. He instructed the driver to take him to a certain tea shop in the city.

The driver showed apprehension at the request and Arken felt anger mixed with curiosity. “I’ll pay you double. Just take me there! And don’t waste my time!”

NPC Treasury

 

[NPC Treasury]

Well who could say no to extra credits? Not the driver of the speeder cab, that was for sure. And despite the bad feeling in his gut in regards to the passenger, he drove him to the requested destination.

The driver kept quiet during the trip, not really wanting to engage Arken Dobson to conversation at all. The tea shop in question was known for selling Spice infused drinks, as well as others that gave people abilities or made them fully compliant. Or so the rumours go. He'd never gone himself. But with the crimelord look that Arken had about him, he was certain that whatever his business with the shop, it wasn't very good.

The trip itself didn't take long, and the tea shop's little building and warehouse was visible at the treeline. It looked quaint and newer than one would think. But it wasn't long ago that the original building was blown up, so a new one was built in much the same manner, wood, stone and rustic.

Coming to a stop near the front of the shop, he held out his hand for the credits.





Inside, Kay was prepping more tea bags, as she usually did during a lull in customers. Most of her orders were done through the holonet and she was grateful for that. Right now she wasn't quite comfortable in being out in the public. Nor did she want the public to know that she was around. All of her online interactions weren't answered with her name, but the company's name itself. And fortunately Altiria/Anarris wasn't a popular world.

 

[Arken Dobson]

NPC Treasury

Arken growled as he almost threw the credits at the entitled little driver. People were always sticking their hands out for his money. It irritated him, but he said nothing, paid the man what was promised and strode briskly to the door.

Stepping inside, he gazed upon a woman of average height, wearing an apron playing with some tea bags. Clearly she was trying to look busy.

He didn’t bother introducing himself, but instead stepped to the woman and asked, “you there! Yes, you! You don’t look all that busy. I’d like to speak to your manager at once.”

 

[NPC Treasury]

Kay glanced up at Arken Dobson as he walked into her shop. His attitude caused her to raise a brow as she sealed together another tea bag and placed it in the appropriate box on the shelf. Clearly the man had some issue or saw himself as being someone of importance.

With an inward sigh, she dusted off her hands on her apron and put on a well practiced smile. Years of politics had it's benefits, afterall.

"Is there some sort of problem? Have you made an order and were unsatisfied?" Kay didn't recognize him at all, but it wasn't as though she had seen the faces of everyone that placed orders from her company.

 

[Arken Dobson]

Arken huffed and fumed at the ignorance of the woman before him. He ran his eyes over the humbly attired woman before him before proceeding to give her “what-for”, just in case she was more dangerous than he could handle. He opened his mouth to begin speaking and sputtered the moment his eyes fixed on her smile.

Being a man in his mid-seventies, he probably had more experience in politics and commerce than this woman had been alive. Still, he knew a well-practiced political smile when he saw one and his own well-honed instincts caught him before he “stepped in it”.

This woman was dressed as a menial laborer, and was doing a task that “the help” should be doing, but in her smile, she was anything but common. Before Arken stood a woman of power. Responsibility. Severe consequence. Not even a humble store owner of this scale could have mastered such a smile. This was a woman of galactic proportions, and he knew he had found what he was looking for. He ran his eyes over her once more and noticed her resemblance to his greatest enemy. Cross-referencing that with what he already knew, a single name formed in his mouth and he simply spoke it, “Arenais”

He did not bow, but he tilted his head in genuine respect.

NPC Treasury

 

[NPC Treasury]

Kay nodded her head in acknowledgement as it appeared that Arken Dobson recognized her. Whether he knew that going in or not, there was at least some surprise written in his eyes. How far news had travelled of her 'death', she wasn't aware of. Many different types of people came to her shop with various motivations. Only some were political in nature.

"Can I help you with something?"

Obviously the man had bursted into her store for some reason or another. It was clear that whatever that reason was, it didn't aid his temper at all, which certainly appeared to be a short one. She crossed her arms across her chest while she waited for him to answer her.

 

[Arken Dobson]

Arken crossed his arms over his chest and straighten himself to his full height. As a father, he knew a parent when he saw one and it was easy to deduce that this woman was @Loreena Arenais-Valhoun’s mother based on what he’d seen so far. He took in her question, and figured out the best way to answer it while seeing what he could
learn about her.

“I am Arken Dobson, a councilman from the Elysium Empire. I represent the Empire, my King, Heath Valhoun , and my King’s family. A new member has married into the Royal family. As far as I’m concerned, she is as under my protection as anyone else in the Royal family, and I have reasons to believe she is in great danger.”

He decided to let her take those words in and see how she responded. There were many things that he needed to figure out about this woman before he could decide how to use her. A million scenarios had played in his mind on the way here, so sifting through those situations and deciding which plan of action to take was his ultimate goal today.

 

[NPC Treasury]

"Being in a Royal family itself poses risks." She knew of that first hand. Although she wasn't born into it, or even married into it; the monarchy of Commenor began with her. At least it was that way in her old life. Now that was all gone.

She glanced over at the various tea products that she had on the shelves, before turning her attention back to Arken Dobson . "So what is it that you're shopping for that'll help you with this? I have some brews that can give one special abilities, or take them away. I have truth serums, toxins and cures..." Boy it made her sound like a witch. But truly, she wasn't. Kay was always a big lover of tea and when things went sour for her, she turned her knowledge into a profitable business.

As far as she was aware, all that Dobson was there at her shop was just to do a bit of shopping, much like post politicians.

 

[Arken Dobson]

Arken looked at the selections of tea around him grunted approval. He had done some cursory research on the little tea shop before embarking to come here. He had even concocted a custom product that he could order if he needed a way to segway a conversation. He might place an order anyways depending on how this conversation went. He liked the business model… especially the more surreptitious side it seemed to have.

But this woman was playing coy. He would need to address her lack of respect towards his intelligence if he was to make any deals of any kind with her, “You know who I’m talking about, Mrs. Arenais. I have done my homework on this company. You’ve been keeping an eye on her as any parent does with their children. I even have the paper trail to prove it.” His eyes bored into hers, “my question is, are you a threat to my empire? Or do you just have an expensive curiosity?”

 

[NPC Treasury]

If Kay didn't have her arms crossed already, then she'd of done so now as Arken Dobson spoke to her. Instead she added to her posture by raising a skeptical brow. The man wasn't kidding about doing his research. Either that or it was just a lucky guess. And here he was trying to gauge whether or not she was a threat to him.

It was true. She was keeping a quiet eye on both of her children, Caedyn Arenais included. There were numerous contacts that she had across the Galaxy, and knowing their behaviour helped her to pinpoint them easily enough for her contacts. Motjer's instincts helped in that regard as well. Though she kept herself hidden from them. The timing wasn't right and she wasn't sure if they'd approve of her existance anyways. But, here she was, alive after death.

"Your Empire? Do you claim ownership of it? Are you it's King?" She tilted her head to the side a little as she awaited his answer.

 

[Arken Dobson]

Arken’s eyes smiled at that question, as his mouth rarely smiled. She had a diplomatic talent for not answering questions it seemed. Alright. I did come here, and I wasn’t invited.

He began to uncross his arms and step backwards towards a workbench and lean back against it. It was an awkward attempt to appear relaxed, but this simply wasn’t his environment, “Somehow, I don’t think you are really interested in ‘who rules the empire.’ If you are, then it’s time for you to put this hobby of yours aside.” He joked darkly. He attempted a calming smile, but it didn’t fit his mouth very well, “My line of questioning is simply intended to deduce your intentions regarding a new member of the Royal family. My sources can see that the investigations that have been performed at the expense of this company have been done so in such a way that protects the identity of the one doing the investigating. We have been in control of what information is available regarding our royalty, even information acquired by ‘clandestine means’. It’s curious that you would keep your identity a secret from Loreena Arenais-Valhoun , so I’m wondering if you are her enemy, or her friend? Do you have genuine concern for her, or are you keeping an eye on her as a threat to you? Whatever you are to her is whatever you are to the empire which I love and serve.”

He sighed as he decided he should probably give her more, “I do have other things to discuss, but the safety of my royal family is the first thing I need to establish before moving forward.”

 

[NPC Treasury]

Kay listened to Arken Dobson carefully. He was poking about, clearly wanting information and perhaps even just reaching blindly in the dark for for anything that he gave her to hold weight.

Whether Lori's safety was paramount to him or not, she wasn't sure. But the Royal family sure seemed to be. It was hard to say what Lori was up to within it or what private conversations she had been having. It was obvious that Arken wasn't sure of that either. So it could be that he was just seeing if Kay had any kind of interest in the Elysium Empire and it's politics.

But her only interest right now was Lori.

"I am her mother. My reasons for not revealing myself to her right now is my own and have nothing to do with anyone else. I will protect my children the best that I can. However they are adults and do not need me coddling them....I am no threat to her."

 

[Arken Dobson]

Arken heard the woman’s words and pretended to nod in understanding. In reality he didn’t really care, but she had essentially confirmed his most likely scenario that he had formed in his mind. There were other scenarios, like he thought maybe Loreena was a threat to Kay’s own ambitions, or the rest of her family. Or perhaps NPC Treasury was not even her real mother, but was investigating Loreena Arenais-Valhoun for her own ambitions. But his instincts had been right from the very beginning, and he had prepared accordingly. Whether or not the woman was telling the truth wouldn’t matter too much, he hoped. He was still desperate for some kind of advantage over Lori and he’d take anything that was offered.

“I understand a parent’s motivations better than you will probably give me credit for,” his said in a gravelly tone, perhaps a little melodramatic, “and if you want to keep tabs on your children I will not stop you. I’m only here out of duty to my king. But as a fellow parent, I think you should have access to the truth. Even if what I am about to show you could be considered treason on my part. But I think you need to know something about your daughter so you can help me help her.”

He reached inside his coat pocket and was careful not to grab the wrong holo-pad. He had a few made up for different scenarios, just in case. He produced it in his hand and stood up and furtively walked over to Kay. He activated it, and laid it on the work table beside her to play the holo recorded files, “our intelligence services are still fledgling at best, but we have been able to restrict what information is available on our royal family. These recordings are highly confidential and could be devastating to our empire if they ever got out.”

“Observe, here, you see Lori with Rex Valhoun in the forests of Mnemosyne. She is physically assaulting him in an effort to bully him into marrying her.” He let the drone recording of their sparring match play just long enough at the right timing before he keyed the holo-pad again, “here, she is using the Elysium fleet to steal Beskar for a project we cannot yet determine. The people she stole the Beskar from tried to take it back with hired mercenary help, but her own forces were too strong and she got away. We still cannot find the beskar she stole.” He keyed the holo-pad again, “here, she is using the Elysium fleet to intimidate the Children of the Protectors as they debate their leadership. The leader has not yet been determined, but her methods in ‘appealing’ her own validity for the title raise many concerns as to her mental health. We are still struggling to cover this one up, but there is an investigation ongoing regarding sabotage of the Mandalorian fleet which complicates things. We are hopeful that the investigation will distract from Loreena’s actions, but it’s also possible that she is hoping for the same thing. We fear the worst of what this implies. The official story is that this was a training exercise.” he let the recording play a minute longer before keying the holo-pad one last time, “and here, we have our greatest concern regarding her mental health. Using her wealth and resources, she has commissioned a ludicrous warship which is designed to hide - and I am not making this up, Mrs. Arenais - under water from her enemies. It is heavily armed, very expensive, and the architecture has the appearance of a wild animal. It suggest in an aesthetic way that she craves protection from the demons in her own mind. The name of this vessel? The HMS Kay Arenais.”

 

[NPC Treasury]

Help Arken Dobson help Lori? The strange choice of words gave her a bit of a chill. The entire shop itself started to feel smaller, as though the walls had decided to move themselves closer to her and make their presence known. It almost gave her the sensation of experiencing claustrophobia.

And she didn't like it one bit.

Her eyes were then drawn to the holopad and what was being shown. The first part with Rex Valhoun seemed to appear to almost be a sparring match. Had her daughter turned into a bully? That was hard to believe. Yes she was very stubborn and liked to play tricks on people, but a bully? Especially into a marriage? That was....strange.

Next came the space battles; one after the other. The first appeared rather deadly, while the other seemed a little less so. Yet just what the motivations were behind them and whether or not Arken was telling the truth, she wasn't entirely sure.

Yet when the last video appeared, one about a ship that almost looked like a monster, Kay clenched her jaw. An underwater vessel was highly unusual for a spacer to invest in and have built. The thing was massive. And when Arken spoke of it's name, her blood ran cold.

A well known laugh permeated through the shop then, heard only in Kay's ears. She looked up from the datapad to an adjacent table and saw Lord Mayhem sitting cross-legged on top in his usual fashion. <She's a real chip off the ol' block, isn't she Kay-Kay. The nut really doesn't fall far from the tree.>

Her jaw tightened even more then. This had been the first time that she had seen him since she was plucked from the Netherworld by an old friend. Kay had hoped that Lord Mayhem had been left behind, but now here he was...

She did her best to ignore him, as futile as that was, and cleared her throat as she responded to Arken. "This is...very concerning. I know that her rebel activity had made her enemies, yet I had no idea that she'd be going to this level. Trauma can really mess with somone's mind....Has she seen a doctor at all?"

<I can be her doctor, Kay-Kay. I am a scientist and have plenty of experience with your mental health, don't I? So really, I am the best qualified.> Lord Mayhem stood up on the table and then jumped down, his plack trenchcoat falling along with him like a cape. He approached Kay in a flash and placed his lips next to her ear, causing her to flinch. <Let me help her, Kay-Kay> He then took a step back and laughed. <Or don't and watch her get a whole lot.....worse.>

 

[Arken Dobson]

Every instinct in Arken’s body told him not to react as he watched NPC Treasury react to everything he showed her. As she spoke, he could explain the feeling that filled the room. In his seventy-plus years in the galaxy, he had met many individuals in high places due to his profession. Many. But only on a couple other occasions had he ever met someone that could make him feel what he was experiencing now.

There was a coldness in the room. An energy that filled it as if this room were a cave and a wild animal had just awoken with hunger for living flesh. The first time he had experienced this feeling before, there had been no explanation and the individual had visibly calmed themselves. The second time, he had accidentally angered a dark-force user. At the time he had been forced to retract his deal with the man and quickly explain himself. It was another time when the Dobson Logistical Consulting Firm had been chased off a world.

Arken heard the woman’s question and shook his head, trying to look somber and sympathetic, which also didn’t quite fit his face, especially since he was trying to hide how rattled he was, “The situation requires discretion. Loreena is both powerful and dangerous. We need a way to get her under control before disaster befalls our empire and we cannot afford to antagonize her before we get her the help she needs.” He forced himself to look NPC Treasury in the eyes and tried to keep a sympathetic demeanour, “I too am a parent, so I know that what I ask is too much, but I’m asking anyways. An empire and its subjects could pay the price. Can you think of anything that can get her to step down for a few months so that we can get her the help she needs? Anything at all?”

He carefully clenched his fist so that it wouldn’t shake. Both the fear and anticipation inside him were running rampant inside and he couldn’t afford to let it show. Not now. Not when he was so close to getting what he needed. And not when she seemed so dangerous…

 

[NPC Treasury]

Powerful and dangerous.

Those two words combined were never what she had ever thought could describe her daughter. Stubborn was usually the most negative thing about her. Maybe even reckless.

Kay took in Mayhem's words, knowing that to not accept even a part of them would only make things worse. And make him worse too. Yet she also took in what Arken Dobson had to say. The man appeared to show genuine concern, however she could tell that it was moreso to do with protecting his Empire than with helping Lori.

"Have they been on a honeymoon yet? Perhaps Lori and Rex could go on some kind of couple's retreat? They wouldn't have to be together constantly and can have their own separate counselling to help them make their arranged marriage work. You can even fill it with training exercises and battle simulations as a way to pretend that it's for them to prepare for the future that they will inherit. Don't give them access to ships or the holonet until after those few months have past. And then one can hope that it is enough time for her to have the help that she needs." Would Heath Valhoun allow his heir to be away for a few months? That remained to be seen. But it was worth it to suggest it to him anyways, if Arken would agree.

 

[Arken Dobson]

Arken struggled to keep the twinkle out of his eyes as it seemed that the woman before him was taking him seriously. He had her. She even indicated a way to "help" her daughter. Now he just needed the final piece to his puzzle to take Loreena Arenais-Valhoun down. He needed a weapon.

"She has not yet gone on a honeymoon with her newly betrothed, but I am, of course, concerned for Rex Valhoun 's safety in being alone with Loreena. Therefore, they have been deterred from doing so until now, and may not be able to be convinced to do indulge any more. She is simply too unpredictable, and while I want to help her, I can't allow for the two of them to cause each other harm should she lose control of herself. There is also the matter of convincing her to go on a retreat. I am not personally in a position to convince her of anything, so I need your help with two things. I need a way to keep them safe from each other while they are away, and I need a way to persuade her to go." He looked down to the floor between them as if in sorrowful thought, then looked up at her, showing desperation in his eyes, "The royal family is so very important to me, Mrs. Arenias. They will never know the lengths I will go through to protect them, and your direct assistance would help me to do that with minimal collateral to the people we both care about."

NPC Treasury

 

[NPC Treasury]

Kay let out a breath as she took a seat, her brows furrowing as the memories of being locked up in Thraxis' insane asylum came to mind. Of course she was completely innocent through that ordeal which was brought on by a real nutcase. However she couldn't help but think that trauma was taking it's toll on her daughter.

Mayhem's laughter rang through her ears again, causing her to lift up her eyebrows and look to the Atrisian scientist. <And just where do you think they'll send her? Clearly seeing a doctor didn't work for you, now did it, Kay-Kay? And just look at this poor man with such desperation....> He began to pace around Arken Dobson , with a glint in his own white eyes as he studied him. Mayhem moved real close, almost breathing down the old man's neck. And then he burst out in laughter as he stepped back, clapping his hands in a loud applause. <....Oh he's desperate alright, Kay-Kay and desperately devious. Oh how I can't wait for this story to end. My prediction?> He clasped his hands behind his back like a professor. <You'll both end up where you belong, crying foul at how the Galaxy has wronged you, when really you brought it onto yourselves...>

"Enough!" Kay cleared her throat, rubbing her temples before looking up to Arken. "I'm sorry. This is just...a lot to take in. Find a place for them to go to, and ince you do, let me know. I have a tea that may help in regards to convincing them to go. But in the meantime, what does Rex Valhoun and his father have to say about all of this? Are they just as worried about her as you are?"

 

[Arken Dobson]

Arken blinked as NPC Treasury appeared to be having troubles coping. The coldness in the room was still present and it created an atmosphere that Arken found it very hard to focus in. Her reaction was also quite peculiar and he could tell there was something wrong with her.

He struggled to collect himself once more and decided not to antagonize her. He was already careful, but there was something dangerous about this woman. He had experienced this feeling only once before.

“I would like more details about this tea, if you please. I think it would be a big help if it has the ability to help Loreena cope in her current state and help her to get away from the stresses of the empire for a bit.” He sighed melodramatically, “@Rex Valhoun is not speaking too much as to how he truly feels about the marriage. He is rather quite embarrassed as to the nature he was bullied into his matrimony by both his adopted father and Loreena himself, so he wishes not to draw too much attention to his own embarrassment. As for the King, well, I fear he is blinded by the MandalArms contract that came with the marriage and is a little more willing to sweep things under the rug than he should be. It is up to me, then, to take action and protect the royal family from itself. I will see to it that Loreena takes a vacation with Rex and gets the help she needs and I will attempt to stabilize the Elysium Empire and my king while they are away.”

He sighed relief and stepped back a pace to put the woman at ease. This was the best he was going to get, but at least he could see that NPC Treasury was not well. This alone was a weapon, and he had a strategy to remove Loreena for a short while. He would have to consider his strategies moving forward.

 

[NPC Treasury]

"There is the Jeru Tea. It is a cold brew, sweet and has a distinct calming effect. If too much is consumed, it can make one drowzy. Think of it acting very much like a sedative. That could help you in getting Lori to be more open to suggestion." And it might decrease her stubborness a bit too. At least for a little while.

Upon hearing how Rex felt about being bullied into marriage, she really couldn't blame him. However she was still finding it a bit difficult to believe that Lori was even capable of such a thing. She wasn't exactly the greedy sort. Yet when Dobson relayed the part of Heath being blinded by the contract with MandalArms, the whole marriage began to make sense. It was all just a business contract.

"And how will you stabilize it while they are away?" Kay was curious even though it wasn't quite her business to ask.

Mayhem on the otherhand just watched with utter amusement. He sat cross-legged on the floor this time, with steepled fingers just below his chin while his eyes watched the pair. Or at least that was how he appeared to Kay.

Arken Dobson