Leaving Common Isolation

[Kay-Larr]

First her son brought it up and now [member="Connor Harrison"] . How much longer before others join in? Of course there was always the chance that they wouldn't. It wasn't their choice to make anyways. It was her life. Not everything had to be public.

"I'm not getting a divorce. Do you think that such a thing would make me or this government safer? No. It would open it up for the vultures out there that thirst for wealth and power. I don't want that. It'd isolate me further as I would have to second guess everyone's intentions."

Kay shook her head. "Veiere gave up his crown and title, all of his political power before his terrible act. And I had even set into motion legislation that would prevent him from trying to usurp the throne. Our bond is greater than just some marriage contract. And he may have fallen into the Dark, but the part of him that still loves me and wants me safe isn't dark at all. Taking that away from him would do more harm than good. It's bad enough that I had him arrested to face a public trial."

She lowered her head a little, staying silent for a moment before responding quietly. "I don't want to lose him..."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor stood up, hearing resignation in her voice.

"Then prepare to lose everything you’ve worked hard to build, Kay."

For the first time, he called her by her name.

"I never said divorce him, yet that’s the first conclusion you reach. What you do or do not do is, well, none of my business nor anyone else’s. You want to stay married? Stay married. But you must look at this without the rose-tinted glasses you always do."

He moved back to the map opposite from her and jabbed a finger into the hexes to the East where the Dark Side lingered like a bad omen.

"As soon as they see your desire to stand by a man willing to sacrifice everything for his own gain of power and service to the Dark Side, then you become their pawn. You cannot have this both ways, Kay. Your position is a difficult one, and either you stand by him but make sure the people know you are not supporting or protecting him, or you let him go to face justice and to get away from this system before it collapses."

With the manipulation of the Force, he toppled a few models of the soldiers around the Core hexes.

"It’ll only take a few to fall before the rest will follow. Then you will be too late."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay furrowed her brows. Lose everything? As [member="Connor Harrison"] moved back towards the table, she slowly sat herself down in a chair while she listened to his words. Perhaps she misunderstood him, but then again she was under a lot of pressure lately.

She looked to where he was pointing on the map. Out of all of the potential threats out there, it was the Sith that posed the most danger. And the last thing that she needed was to be thrir pawn. Such a move was attempted, but thankfully they didn't follow through. It was a dark chapter in her life that she never wanted to repeat.

Just as she didn't want to repeat this one.

Kay looked up to Connor. "I don't want to lose what I've built. Veiere is set to be put on trial. I'm not allowed to oversee it. A neutral and unbiased judge has been chosen. Whatever sentence is given...no matter if it upsets me, I'll have to abide by it. Veiere wants me to refrain from showing any weakness, so I won't. My only saving grace is that there is no death penalty."

She chewed the inside of her cheek a little as she reset the pieces that fell over. "However I have to worry about members of his Order either trying to rescue him or having their revenge." Veiere wouldn't see her harmed, but that didn't mean that they wouldn't. He had no control over them while he was in his cell.

 

[Connor Harrison]

The discussion was taking it's toll, and he could see that. There was no desire to push her buttons or force a reaction. He had nothing to gain by doing that, as his past had proven. So, he walked around the table slowly to stand on her side of the map as she sat.

"I will help you during the trail. I can be around here or the system, or just contact me if things develop. I am not tied anywhere currently, and this system holds a great deal of sway in the galaxy, and a rogue King and his followers doesn't deserve the right to unsettle it."

So came the balance he was after. He didn't look at the Queen.

"It's your call, of course. I can only protect you. I cannot fight a war for you. Well," he smirked a little and shrugged, "I can if needed I suppose. Worse things have happened."

Now he turned to her.

"Sorry for being so blunt."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smirked a little as [member="Connor Harrison"] said that her system held a great sway in the Galaxy. She didn't believe that at all. Her voice was often unheard in the large meetings with the biggest superpowers. If it was, then maybe there'd be less conflict.

She folded her arms on the table, leaning on them while she took in the weight of what he had said. "I hope that we won't be plunged into war. Even then, Veiere will fight alongside us. He told me as much."

Kay shrugged her shoulders a little as he apologized. "It's alright. I can't expect to be told nothing but good news all the time. I'm just...a bit stubborn."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Stubborn. Something he knew all too well. It made him smile, thinking about his past.

"I know that feeling well. Stubborn isn't always a bad thing, you just have to know when to concede."

He gave a final glance to the map. It was clear what the state of play was, but it was also clear some of the battles the Queen might face would be closer to home with emotions, decisions and words. Connor stepped over quietly and tentatively placed a reassuring hand on her shoudler. Not with a grip, to evoke control; just a little reassurance.

"Things will work out. They always do. Commenor has prevailed this far hasn't it? That's got to be worth something."

He gave a little squeeze and moved away, sitting on the edge of the map and folded his arms.

"Do you want to do anything to clear your head? Go for a walk? Or do you want some time alone, maybe have a sleep? You look tired."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Know when to concede. Well her pride tended to stop her from doing that. That was probably the same for a lot of people.

Kay didn't feel invaded this time when [member="Connor Harrison"] placed his hand on her shoulder. Instead she focused on what he said and nodded. "You're right. We've always prevailed. Commenor survives. It always has." And for the first time in history, it has become it's own little Empire.

She looked up at him as he told her that she looked tired. It had been difficult for her to sleep with everything that was going on. So much pressure coming at her from all sides. She was starting to feel the chaos within her own mind. If it got worse, it'd be maddening.

Kay got to her feet, moving from the table towards the door. "Some fresh air will do me good, I think. It could help me to sleep as well. Perhaps the beach would be a good destination. I haven't been out there for a while." Not since she went out for a swoopbike race with [member="Macoda Haberon"] . That was fun. Until she ran out of fuel, that is. She opened the door and stepped out, waiting for Connor to exit the room as well. Whether or not he was planning on going for a walk with her, she didn't know. Either way she'd have bodyguards trailing behind her like normal. "I feel...a little more at ease, now that I know some of what is going on out there. Have you heard of a new political party called Coruscant First?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor gave a small smile and nod, letting her take the lead and walk away from the map of the galaxy; of headache, worry and battle. The name she mentioned was new to him. When the door opened, two Commenor guards were waiting.

"I can't say I have," he said, ignoring the guards and following her, "but I know you're about to enlighten me."

He would walk for a while with her, but not crowd her, nor talk too much about politics and the worries of the galaxy. Everyone had them. It just depended how much you wanted to talk about them.

"My guess is, is it a unification between various powers in the galaxy donating ships to serve a unified purpose?"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smiled a little at [member="Connor Harrison"] 's lighthearted quip. She could use a good laugh, something to lift her spirits. Yet still she clung to that which she basically knew about. Politics.

She led him down the hall and up the stairs to the main hallway, the guards following in a respective distance behind. "Well your guess is off the mark. They seem to be a nationalist party, looking to try to seperate Coruscant from the Galactic Alliance. Or at least they don't want to be goverened by them. They control some of the media, even put forth a false article that said we had lost our neutrality to fight with the Sith. I'm looking to clear all of that up. Such words, if believed, could be very dangerous for us."

Of course what Kay didn't know was how extremist they were.

 

[Connor Harrison]

He was WAY off the mark. He walked beside her, thoughtfully.

"Hm. So to me it sounds like they are...what, extremists? Unhappy with the Alliance and so looking to cause uproar and start a rebellion of sorts?"

These sort of people were the reason Connor existed. Extremists and those out to shake the balance. One fire would start on Coruscant, and within days - hours - it could spread to the Core Worlds and beyond. Fools taking inspiration from others and leading blind crusades against those who have the biggest role in the galaxy - keeping it together.

It irked him.

"Do we need an audience with them? Are they a problem to your cause?"

She would know what this could imply, and what HE was implying.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

"Yeah, that's exactly the way that it sound like. It sort of reminds me of Alderaan wanting to split from the Republic. And we all know that that went badly..."

Kay led [member="Connor Harrison"] through the hallway to the westside entrance. From there they were out the door and into the shaded sunlight. "And if the Sith are moving Coreward as you say, that kind of instability is something that they'd use to their advantage."

To his questions she looked at him, taking a guess at his meaning. She shook her head a little. "Not just yet. I've got to see if they are what the rumours suggest, or if they are reasonable people." She hoped for the latter.

Time for a subject change. It was an odd question that came to mind, but one that she had never asked him before. "Have you got any children of your own?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

Stepping out into the shaded area, the fresh air was wonderful on the skin and in the lungs. It helped blow away some of the uncertainty of politics and map-talk. It was dwelling on the Queen still, but Connor wasn’t here to stir the pot.

"The Sith may not be moving in," he added, "and they may simply be looking to use bully-boy tactics to remind weaker states they are still there. Let’s not forget out to the East they have little opposition. They need to stretch their legs now and then. Reinforce their ideals. There are still many who will stand up to them should they come knocking with brute force."

At her question, he smiled and shook his head. A very simple question, and a very simple answer.

"No. No children. And no brothers and sisters. No significant other. Just me."

What a depressing answer.

"I feel it worked out me not hurting others on the recent path I took. So loneliness worked out for the best. I would have hated forging something only to risk losing it all at my own foolishness."

Internally, he hoped Kay wouldn’t take it as a dig at Veiere as it sounded like one the second he said it.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded a little. Using bullying tactics wasn't beneath the Sith. But then other governments had done the same thing. And all of them thought themselves as being righteous in their cause.

She clasped her hands behind her while she walked, taking in the filtered sun and tilting her head up slightly towards it while she listened to [member="Connor Harrison"] as he let her know that he had no family. "No wonder you're a wanderer. You've got nothing tying you down." Did she feel as though she was tied down? Perhaps. But then again, she did have a lot of people to look after. And at times she felt as though she was holding Veiere back, which was partly why she let him travel when he needed to and to help who he needed to help.

Now though, it was different. He was in trouble.

"I used to be like that once, after my first husband was murdered. I kept everyone away from me for ten years. I thought that anyone who got close to me would die or be put in grave danger." She smiled a little to herself. "It seems that there are a lot of people that don't care that I'm a magnet for trouble."

 

[Connor Harrison]

A wanderer. Never a truer word spoken, and even without a blood family as such, the Silver Jedi had been the only “family” he had known. They had found him as a young man, gave him shelter, purpose, training and a role to fill. It had been his actions and thoughts that had pushed them away and in turn lost them all, and the ones whom he had once thought of as a sister and brother – Coci and Thurion.

Now he was alone, and trying to find his way.

"You’re right," he mused, "because all I ever knew I helped destroy it. Relationships, homes, purpose." He sighed. "Funny when you look back into the past you see what a fool you were and what you lost when you had it all, and for what? Nothing."

He flexed his cybernetic arm gently – a stark reminder of how a piece of his humanity had been lost to the selfish ambition of the man inside. He was still blessed that he had retained his left eye and it hadn’t been clawed out by the same woman who took his arm.

"But it’s easy to blame yourself. Try not to. You aren’t a magnet for…trouble."

How ironic – he had been nothing but trouble to her the last few times they had been together.

"Still, it’s the error of others who try to get the better of you or manipulate your emotions for personal gain. You’ve got wealth, power, respect and confidence. Admirable attributes, so be sure to hold them close and be proud of them, not to let anyone try to make you feel weaker because of it."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded in agreement. She had made plenty of mistakes herself, ones that at times had resulted in death. Hindsight was 20/20 though. "We all make mistakes. The trick is to learn from them and try not to repeat them. Easier said than done sometimes, I know."

She smirked a little as [member="Connor Harrison"] disagreed with her. She was a magnet for trouble, she knew that. Powerful people, usually Force Users were drawn to her, always wanting to manipulate and control her. But she tended to be a magnet for those that wanted to help her as well.

Kay led him out of the Palace grounds and onto the street. She didn't have a private part of the beach that was nearby. The closest was blocks away through the Chasin City. But she didn't mind it. At times her and Veiere would eat at Plenty's or one of the tea houses.

"Wealth and power..." She sighed. "..I haven't always had them. I've been poorer than dirt before, and I very well could be again. I wasn't born into this role. There are ways that I could lose it." Although if she was to lose it, she had hoped that Commenor would be better for it. Not worse.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor wasn’t really aware of his surroundings – he was just walking, talking and listening.

"We all come from nothing, your Highness. I’m no King, but in my respect I came from a very average home on Anaxes. Little to my name, and I had a rough time growing up even into my teens. It’s nothing like from civilian to Queen, but I guess back then I’d never imagined to have experienced what I have, and survived, and yet now keep company with equally strong people to boot.”

He took a small flight of steps and shrugged.

"Everyone came from nothing and can go back to nothing. Trick is to roll with whatever happens but be so confident in your choices and your path, that if the worst DOES happen, it will not be your undoing.”

Many times over he could have given up. He could have lost a battle to end his pain. Could have taken his life. Could have slinked away to be nothing again. But he had tried hard to push out of the retaining cell that was his mind to stand a little stronger.

"You will never be nothing. Not with your reputation and legacy. If your stance with Commenor changes, then so be it, but you then have dozens more options to choose from. More systems to help, people to support and different tea to drink.” Again…easier said than done, but you had to believe somethings. "You’ll be fine.”

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

"I was meant to be a puppet. That's why I was abducted and put into this position. But probably due to my stubborness to conform, that was abandoned." And she was abandoned.

As they walked in public, she was very much careful about what she said. Her Force sensitivity was still a secret, so she made no mention of it and was careful not to.

Has she ever rolled with whatever she was given? Maybe. There were times when she had given up and broken down. But her friends would some how know, and they would search the stars to find her and help. She valued their friendship and loyalty. It was a rare thing to find.

Kay smirked as[member="Connor Harrison"] mentioned that she had some legacy that would survive her. "What legacy? That I drink a lot of tea? Honestly anyone is capable of doing it. I'm replaceable. And if someone plans on getting rid of me, they are only biding their time until the right moment comes."

The beach lay ahead of them by a block. The smell of the salt in the air was present and the wind picked up a little. "If we are attacked, however, at least I'll have the Empire to help. They have proven to be very good neighbours." Kay laughed a little. "Who'd of thought it? Imperials treating people like us with due care and attention? Never in my wildest dreams..."

 

[Connor Harrison]

For a Queen of a state, of a nation, she was very fragile.

The smell of the sea air and salt seemed to come from nowhere - he wasn't aware of how long they had been walking.

"You have to stop putting yourself down. It's something that people will prey on if it comes across there is so much self-doubt in yourself and your leadership. You've got to pull it all back and take control."

He glanced around briefly.

"I know you're hiding your aura, but don't forget it yourself. This makes your position even greater. The power you have inside isn't just limited to crowns and political meetings. The Force is at your beck and call. Make sure it doesn't feed from your emotion to the point it makes you vulnerable."

Sounding like some teacher, he looked back up and blew out a breath.

"Sorry, Kay. I just...I hear you put yourself down no matter what is said. You have allies. You have the support of a nation. Of armies. Of leaders. You can still make this work as long as YOU want it to."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Was she putting herself down? Kay furrowed her brows. She just...didn't want to put herself up on some high pedestal when it wasn't warranted. Sure she was a Queen, but that was just a title, just a job. It just came with a bit more perks than others. That was all.

She looked to [member="Connor Harrison"] as he spoke of the Force. He had to be careful, but it seemed that there was little people around outside of her guards. There were more reasons that she his the power outside of just the fact that people didn't trust Force Users in such high politucal stabding. Praz had made her kill eith it, murder other prisoners that he held. That was an abuse of power that she regretted. And ine that she's been trying to make up for ever since. She had to right the wrongs that she had done.

But to the dismay of Connor, Veiere and others; it did leave her more vulnerable. "I will...try to find some time to practice..." Maybe. Spare time was hard to get. Maybe during some nights when she was restless, she could do it.

Kay chewed the inside of her cheek a little as Connor apologized. He didn't need to. "It's alright. There's no need to be sorry. I value differences in opinion, remember? And I want to keep it working, I do. But I'm tired as well. There's just too much going on at once. There's too much that worries me."

As soon as they hit the beach, Kay sat herself down on a log and began removing her shoes. Sure it was only spring, but she wanted to feel the sand between her toes.

 

[Connor Harrison]

He understood how the most human of all feelings, tiredness, could be the worst of all. The beach opened up before them, and he stood back, checking on the guards to the rear and letting the Queen get comfortable.

"If you want someone to help you practice then I can do that. For over 20 years...20, by the Force that makes me old...for a long time rather I've been learning and teaching the Force. Some days it works, some it didn't. Mostly, it's done me alright. If you want help to understand, control or harness it, then I will. Not for any gain except helping you understand your ability to control your gift. And to protect it."

It had been years since he had taught another. And it wasn't the best track record when those often fell into harm or to the Dark Side. Yet now was a fresh chance.

"And you need to delegate. Take time off. You're no good to your people or yourself the more you work yourself down. I can only lecture you so much. But I'll keep doing it until you find a way to take some time out."

[member="Lady Kay"]