Commoner on Commenor

[GhostOfProtocol]

Kei felt the force flow from his body, his entire mind at rest. The force was something Kei had been learning to control, making sure he could always tap into it if he ever needed it. He was starting to learn to manipulate this force, he could now push T3 across the bridge of the Hawk if he needed to, if he wanted to. In some ways he owed [member="Lady Kay"] for the force, she was the one who had sensed it within him and taught him the basics of how to push something, or someone, with this force. Noriko had shown him some of what the force could do, but it was very much still a mystery to him. It was like controlling a lion if the lion was hungry and wanted to get out.

Tempremental.

He opened his eyes slowly, Commenor in front of him. The transport hub of the galaxy, Commenor was vast. It was also home to an old friend, [member="Lady Kay"] herself was president of the planet. Kei shook his head, hoping that the rumors he'd been hearing were lies. He'd been told countless times that [member="Lady Kay"] was working with Clan Raxis, his family. Normally his friends working with his family wouldn't bother him, but Clan Raxis was the root of all evil. Clan Raxis was the reason Kei had been sent on a wild goose chase across the galaxy after [member="Jack Raxis"], Clan Raxis was the reason Kei and his Cousin [member="Gray Raxis"] would never be able to patch up the wounds between them. Clan Raxis had torn the Raxis family apart.

If Lady Kay was part of it then she was nothing but a traitor to her planet and to her friends. The Clans couldn't be trusted, Jack had taught him that. They were The Death Watch all over again, no ifs, no buts and no space coconuts. The Death Watch were violent, they liked seeing people dead or in pain. The Mandolorians were being returned to that, they were no longer honourable warriors who could be trusted.

He'd sent a message prior asking [member="Lady Kay"] if she would mind seeing him in her office on Commenor, and like expected she'd agreed. She wasn't aware anything was off, Kei hadn't let anything on. He was stressed, antsy and confused, but he hadn't let anything on at all. He guided the Ebon Hawk down onto the planet, docking slowly at a small hanger a few blocks away from the office of [member="Lady Kay"]. He stepped from the ship quickly, T3 behind him. He would of prefered Noriko backing him up, but she was off on Silver business so T3 would have to do.

He set off towards the home of the president.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Kei Garnik"] would be stopped by security, his credentials checked. Kay had informed them of the intended visit, so this came as no surprise to them. He'd soon be led through the Presidential Palace towards her office. Each room that he passed was slightly different in style, suiting the different tastes of past Presidents and Prime Ministers.

Kay's office was decked in dark woods, a fireplace, comfy chairs surrounding a coffee table, a spiral staircase by the little library and of course her desk. She had tea prepared and a few snacks. The purpose for this visit, as far as she could tell, was just a catch up between old friends.

When Kei arrived to her office, she went to the door and smiled, greeting him with a bow of her head. "Afternoon, Kei. It's good to see you. Would you like to come in and have some tea? It's freshly brewed."

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Kei smiled slowly to [member="Lady Kay"], T3 giving a small beep to an old friend. He wasn't a tea drinker, not really, but he couldn't turn down a drink at all. He smiled again to Kay, stepping into the office slowly. He expected something like what he saw, it was very much in her style to do something that made the office feel homely, he didn't expect anything else from her. He remained polite, accepting the tea when offered, sitting when given permission and overall just remaining a polite person. He wasn't angry at her, he didn't want her to believe he was because he really wasn't. He was angry at the heads of Clan Raxis, not the pawns.

"Miss Kay, it's been too long" he paused slowly, smiling. "How have you been doing since we last spoke? Seems to me you've done well for yourself, miss president now, huh? Always knew you were politcally savy but this has slightly blown my mind"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay bowed her head to T3 as well. She had a little fondness for droids, but ever since the destruction if her own, she hadn't had it replaced just yet. But maybe soon. She sat down and handed [member="Kei Garnik"] his tea before picking up her own and having a sip. She had to laugh at bit at his comment, for it had blown her mind as well. "It certainly wasn't in my plans. I was...sort of pushed into it by many. I think that they wanted to tie me down a bit, in hopes that I wouldn't be so much of a magnet for trouble. I knew this planet well, after serving as their Senator for a time, and the corruption in it's leadership needed to be fixed. If I didn't win the election, then I would have still tried to help out. But...I did win. And I must say that there is a lot of paperwork, yet I'm learning to delegate my tasks and not try to do everything myself, as I am prone to do."

She had another sip of tea. It was soothing, and she had a feeling that this wasn't just a cordial visit among friends. "How have you been, as of late?"

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

How had he been as of late? It was a tough question, he'd been a mess. He was stressed out, his family infighting like little children, his quest to understand the force taking him no-where and his lightsaber being the only thing worth anything, and even then he kept it aboard the Hawk. He was annoyed that he was having to visit friends to make sure they knew where he stood on the Clan Raxis issue and to be sure that he wasn't about to lose some good friends. He was sstressed because his ship couldn't stay together for more than five minutes and he was confused on his love for Noriko. He really was a mess, and he'd gained a few new extra scars.

He grinned.

"I've been busy. Stressed, shot at and busy. My family are in fighting like little three year olds and this Clan Raxis thing has kicked off"

Nice segway. He remained calm as he spoke, he needed to convice her that he wasn't angry.

"A little birdy tells me you've been having some involvement with Clan Raxis, huh?"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay stiffened up as [member="Kei Garnik"] mentioned the troubles with Clan Raxis. She knew about some of it. Yet when he asked about her having involvement with the clan, she cleared her throat a bit as she nodded. "Yes. Gray has considered me his sister for a long time now. After I was elected and I asked him if he wanted an Embassy here, he agreed and given the danger that I was in just for being a former Republic Senator, he felt it was best if I formally joined the clan. So I did.

She placed her cup down on the coffee table and folded her hands on her lap. "I don't agree with everything that they do, but thankfully Gray isn't going to force me to do anything that I don't want to. And there are many other Embassies here being constructed, like the Jedi, the Red Ravens and the First Order. I am hoping that there will be more, so that e could show the Galaxy that peace is possible, without having to bow down to anyone."

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Spoiler

Sorry about the varying post lengths, I normally aim for like five lines but swapping from tiny laptop to massive PC and back is making that hard

"Damn Politicians"

Kei grinned from ear to ear. Gray was as manipulative as they come, but Kay would fight it because she was the strongest woman he knew, she was the strongest person he knew. He was concerned about a first order embassy, that seemed like a bad move, but he was sure she had her motives, like he did. He was annoyed, in a way. He was annoyed that his cousin had twisted her into joining the clan, making her the enemy. He was torn, it was like being destroyed from the inside out but the war inside his head could have no victors.

"Joining Clan Raxis puts you in more danger than just existing, surely you as a former senator know that. I can name numerous people who would happily finish off Clan Raxis, myself included in that. I can't class you as an enemy, you taught me more about myself than anyone else, so you know"

He shrugged.

"Also, First Order? Lemme know how that goes"

He grinned again, clearly joking about the second part.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay shifted a little in her seat. Even though [member="Kei Garnik"] was smiling, his words were not so merry. "So what you are telling me is that these people would act like the Mandalorians and finish off good people that are only guilty of association, in order to claim to be in the right? I did what I needed to to protect Commenor. The Commenori stay home. We do not go off to war. We protect our home."

She held his gaze, trying to pick up anything that might indicate a threat to her personally. "Clan Raxis is not filled with bad people. They are good people, with good intentions that have been put in bad situations. They have more honour than all the others combined. You shouldn't look so much at the fact that they support the stupid Crusades, but perhaps try to discover why...."

She picked up her tea again and had a sip. Not every group that claimed to be good were wholly so. And the same could be said in vice versa.

"The First Order are only interested in the economic benefits to trade. Nothing more. We are too far out of their space for any invading force." And having them there allowed her to keep an eye on them. It was the same with having a Commenori Embassy in their Capital city on Dosuun. Each choice she made had good reasons behind it.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Kei laughed, politicians always had a way with words, and for a moment the room was full of an eerie silenc, the only noise made was T3's internal bits. Kei wasn't actually sure where to go, because he hated that she was right. He sipped his tea angrilly, a stupid sight but he needed cheering up. He hated loosing arguments and he had to admit that he'd just been delievered a backhand by the queen of politicians herself. He hated that she was good with words, she could win any argument by being peaceful, because peace won every war. In a way, peace did win every war but that was besides the point.

He wasn't a threat, he was unarmed and honestly, he was calm. Calmish

"Clan Raxis tried to have my cousin killed. Yeah, I know why but do I think signing him up for a death sentance was the right way to go about it? I don't, I really don't. Yet the question remains my dear friend, who are they guilty of association to, Gray or Ra Vizsla?"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay just sipped her tea in the silence. [member="Kei Garnik"] was processing her words. It was good that she was making him think. Made her believe to have the upper hand.

And then he spoke. It was a bad situation for sure. She had a similar argument with Gray not long ago, and wow how the tables have turned slightly.

She lowered her tea to the coffee table again. "Jack was to face a trial, not a death sentence. If he was set to die than that would have happened on the battlefield. But it didn't. And instead of facing his enemy, he ran and left a handful of us to take his place. Jack sold us out and Gray had his hand ripped off. They still called for Jack to get punished too. That's why he was being hunted down.

Now to answer your question, according to the people that you know that want to finish us off, we are guilty of both. Though I associate with Gray, not Ra. I am sure that the others share the same sentiment. If we had a choice, we would always choose Gray."

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Kei shook his head lightly. He couldn't blame Gray, no matter how hard he tried. The problem was Ra, the problem was the man who was turning the Mandolorians into the Death Watch, he was the problem, tbe enemy. He sipped his tea slightly, watching Kay. He was thinking, perhaps he was in the wrong blaming Clan Raxis, perhaps he needed to think longer about the current situation, about who the problem was. Lady Kay had done nothing but make him think, and he was proud of her for being so good with words that she could make him think. He sigh lightly, crossing his arms carefully, watching her again.

"Jack is a backstabbing little traitor, I know. He blames Gray for following the orders of Ra, he blames Gray for making Clan Raxis into pure evil warriors, not honourable warriors. I blame Gray for listening to Ra, but I blame Ra because he's making the Mandalorians into the Death Watch. I can't stand having to sit here and argue with friends, with family, but they're setting themselves up to become brain washed warriors for Ra. You were peaceful last I heard, what changed? What changed to make you sit back and let the Mandalorians do everything they're doing and not intervine? The Mandalorians will cause a war in this galaxy, and I know what side I stand on"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Now it was her time to think. [member="Kei Garnik"] had it wrong again. She wanted to laugh, laugh at Clan Raxis being called pure evil warriors. It was far from the truth, very far. Most especially about her.

"Kei...Gray is doing what he is doing to keep us safe from the other Clans. You didn't see or feel the hate. We are vastly outnumbered. But neither of us are doing what they do and are not slaughtering children and innocent people.

The Crusades have to be stopped, Ra has to be stopped, I know this. But charging after them and getting yourselves and innocents killed isn't the way to do it. You have to be smarter than that, especially with the odds stacked so highly against you. War is a game just like politics, it's just that the board is different.

If you think that I'm just sitting around in luxury while parts of the Galaxy is is under attack, then that's good. It means that others believe the same and that I can continue my work in secret."

She picked up her tea and sipped, watching him.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

Did he mention he hated politicians? She was outsmarting him, she had inside experience with the Clans that he didn't have. He didn't doubt Gray was keeping back, keeping calm. Gray wouldn't lead his friends on some stupid quest that would result in their deaths, though if he cared about innocents was a different matter. He cracked his knuckles lightly, not angry, more just annoyed at himself. He very much hadn't thought this through, and he knew that. He knew he hadn't thought this through and he hated that.

"Then why stiil follow Ra? Rise up against him!"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay sighed. Clearly he wasn't listening to everything that she had said. In a way that was good, for it meant that he was thinking. But also it caused her to have to repeat herself. But she didn't mind so much, at least not when it came to her friends.

"I'm not following Ra. I haven't done anything with regards to him outside of maintaining my pledge that Commenori soldiers won't be taking up arms against him. That'd change if he attacked us, but I don't anticipate that happening yet. Gray and a few others are....keeping up appearances. Do you think that they enjoy it? Of course not. But we are outnumbered by thousands to one. The Galaxy may be huge, but should they decide to hunt us down, we can't hide forever. Just as we can't hide from your other friends that are blinded by their hatred of others..."

Kay took another sip of her tea, leaning back in her chair while she watched [member="Kei Garnik"] . "Would you like me to speak with these friends of yours and try to make them understand?"

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

"I wouldn't be able to get them here if I wanted to, Jack is long gone and I haven't seen the others for a while"

He shook his head, admitting defeat. He couldn't argue with Kay, she was a politician at heart. She'd outmatched him easily, and he admitted to her that she'd bested him with words. He would make up with Gray and Stardust someday, just like he'd finally witness the end of the Clans, the end of the Death Watch Mark II. He apologized slowly, he didn't want to tear his friendships to shreads. Kay was innocent, she was a pawn, so was Gray. Ra was the controller who was causing all this, and what he'd learned is that the clans were all to scared to stand up for themselves. They were outnumbered, Kei understood that.

They'd have backup of course.

"If they ever hunt you down I won't just come personally to stop them. I will bring an army"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded. So [member="Kei Garnik"] was on his own. No one was threatening herself or Commenor. And those of course were good things.

She sipped her tea as Kei pledged an army to protect her and hopefully the world she governed as well. Kay bowed her head. "Thank you. They would be welcome here. We are not in Ra's crosshairs at the moment. We are too small and insignificant for him, thankfully. As I'm no warrior, they view me as weak and not worth their time....That's just fine with me. But if you hear any whispers of the contrary, please let me know. And I must advise you to not follow in Jack's footsteps. Other opportunities for change will present themselves later."

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

He didn't stab his friends in the back, but he couldn't promise that he wouldn't shoot to kill if he ever saw Ra. He wasn't Jack Raxis, not really. His friends were more important than him, he knew that. He didn't stab them in the back, he knew the line on how to protect people. He cracked his knuckles again, sipping his tea. He would build an army if anyone threatened his friends, he wouuld bring that army to protect them. He had promised, and he always kept his promises, mostly. Okay, he occasionally kept his promises.

"Of course. I wouldn't stab my friends in the back"

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"I missed you, I hate that we have to recconect over such a stupid thing with me being stroppy"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded to [member="Kei Garnik"] with a small smile. "Oh don't worry. I won't hold it against you. Just as you don't hold the fact that I'm stubborn against me. We might not always agree, but that doesn't mean that we should care any less. It's good to hear different viewpoints. That's why my Ministers and advisers come from all over. I want to be able to see things from many different angles so that I can try to make the best decisions."

She had another sip of her tea, leaning back in her chair again. "You'd be surprised at how many Darksiders that I've stopped from trying to harm me, by just having a conversation like this over tea. I think that perhaps some of them have grown weary of battle. Although I have yet to apply that trick to some of the Mandalorians...."

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

He chuckled lightly, sipping his tea. She got one thhing right, she really was stubborn. He watched Lady Kay with sad eyes, she was doing so well for herself and he'd made no progress in anything. She was a president, he was a lowly smuggler who had nothing in the world but a droid with an attitude problem and a girlfriend who was only around fifteen percent of the time. She had friends, he had none, other than probably her. She had an entire planet, he had a ship. She had a house, he had a ship. He looked away slowly, gulping before turning back to the president. He smiled slowly to himself, watching her again.

"You ever regret running for president? I don't think I could stand being called Lord or M'lady or whatever"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay cradled the cup in both of her hands. She had started from the bottom a few times over, so she knew the value in hard work, sacrifice and making friends. There were times when she had nothing.

"I don't regret it in the way that I can help a lot of people and stop conflicts. But I do in the way that it has taken away some of my freedom. And a lot of what I do or say affects a lot of people. So I have to watch myself. But at least it's not a position that I can keep forever, and I can't be married off or anything as that would do nothing for anyone trying to gain something out of it."

Yes she was glad that Commenor wasn't a monarchy.

[member="Kei Garnik"]