Liberty And Justice For All

[Connor Harrison]

Lady Kay's Throne Room
Commenor

The whelp Einon had brought Connor a message – Lady Kay had summoned him to her throne room.

That was all that was said.

He had had and seen Kay’s…safe?....return to Commenor and there was something very different about her since her, that much was clear from the holomessage looped across the news networks. She didn’t seem as patient or as mild-meandered as she had standing with Connor in her chambers weeks ago.

Connor walked slowly through from his embassy under escort to the opulent throne room behind large double doors. He waited for a while before they opened.

Illuminated from behind by a marvellous single window, Kay sat on what looked like a marble throne in a room that simply bore her throne and nothing else. Grand arches held up the roof which domed at the top. Taking a second to appreciate the grandeur of the room itself, Connor walked up the crimson trail to the throne, not really knowing what to expect.

There was a new aura around her, one she wasn’t hiding. He kept his head down as he boots made the noise that filled the room, one foot over the other to reach the throne.

When he did, he looked up at her and noticed straight away the corruption in her eyes. It was rather wonderful.

"Madame president," he said, charmingly, "it is so good to have you back."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay watched as [member="Connor Harrison"] approached. There wasn't much light that touched her features. Perhaps in some way, she was still hiding, yet the speckles of yellow in her eyes sparkled. For those with little knowledge in the Force, they might believe her to be wearing fancy contacts to accent her eyes with the shimmering black gown that she wore with gold embroidery.

A brow was raised as Connor had called her by the wrong title. It was her old one, though the memories of the election and a large handful of people were torn out of her mind during her capture and re-education. Still, she didn't hold in against him. She remembered Connor. They were always at odds with one another, never trusting eachother and he always got into her personal space. Kay always hid her abilities from him for fear of him growing angry like others had done as soon as thry found out. This time however, she didn't care who knew or who didn't.

"Thank you, Connor. And I must correct you. I am no longer the President, but Commenor's Queen.....On another note I called ypu here to assure you that your Embassy is still welcome here. Nothing has changed on that front. Things are changing for Commenor as a whole, and I'll not want anyone to interfere with that. Commenor needs to grow strong, just like I had to."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Another slight lowering of the head – always best keeping royalty on side, and that way you would keep that head on your shoulders that you lowered in respect.

"Of course, my Queen," he said again.

Standing upright, he stayed still, processing her words. They were far more confident and decisive than he’d heard her use before. Granted, their history was a little bumpy but recently they were making a good alliance between the Silver Jedi and Commenor. It was only now he wouldn’t mind severing said alliance to keep it for himself.

"Thank you, your Highness. However, forgive my ignorance, but a few things have changed in your absence and, if you permit, I’d like to explain the current standing with the Silver Jedi Order and your interests on Commenor. And, your interests on a more personal level."

He looked at the shadowy figure of Kay sat there, the light around her making it hard to see her directly. How ironic for someone bathing in darkness to be surrounded by light.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Did she just hear him right? Did he say that she was his Queen? Perhaps it was just a slip of the tongue.

What [member="Connor Harrison"] said next caught her by surprise. What had happened during her capture, she had no idea. There were some that made a little bit of an effort in finding her, but they failed. They didn't try hard enough and she was made to suffer for it.

Kay leaned forward a little so that she could better hear what he had to say. "Please continue..."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Another little nod of the head. And he started to walk forward, pacing across her line of sight.

"Well, all I can say is that the Silver Jedi Order is crumbling, your Highness. After the fallout from Korriban, I can say that only I have been trying to work to build bridges with others, such as yourself. Where was the Grandmaster at that time? Shacked up with his wife and fobbing you off with excuses."

He cleared his throat.

"Excuse me, slip of the tongue. Your Highness, can I ask a personal question?"

Connor looked at her, rubbing his thumb and finger together as he thought carefully and spoke with a great level of calm.

"What happened to you during captivity? I only ask because I think…no, I know…the Silver Jedi will want to sever ties with your and brand you a traitor. I don’t want that. I want to help you, if you will permit me the honour and give me your trust."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay raised a brow as [member="Connor Harrison"] spoke of the Silver Jedi Order falling apart. No doubt it was because they were weak, weak as ahe had been. They probably aren't trying hard enough to defend themselves and ensure their protection. Instead they probably bicker amongst themselves like the Republic's Jedi Order. Perhaps that is the constant destiny for the Light. Forever doomed to fail.

What Connor said next had caught her by surprise. Not so much the inquiry into what she had gone through, but the fact that she could be branded a traitor on her own soil by outsiders.

"Brand me a traitor, will they? They haven't the authority. To try to remove me or do anything against Commenor would be an act of war, and I don't think that they would want the bad reputation of attacking those that had never lifted a finger against them. They would brand themselves as a traitor to their ideals and ensure their own downfall. Tell them that and maybe they'll see the error of their ways."

She got to her feet and walked down the steps to the floor. Even as she approached Connor, she still felt of higher stature, even though he was taller than she was. Kay looked up into his eyes so that she could read him a little better. "You want to know what happened to me? I was forced to grow up and live in reality. The Galaxy is a cold and uncaring place. I was a fool to think otherwise."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor said or did nothing as she spoke, and even she moved to stand before him, although smaller, that was not a case to cast judgement across. She held herself higher than she had all the time he had known her.

"I only mean I can imagine they will be watching this planet a little closer, and if certain things look be going a way they don’t like, they may feel the need to…get involved. But, then, they may not. We all remember Korriban, right."

His face neutral, but the corners of his mouth were ever so slightly raised at her attitude.

He glanced around the throne room, and behind him to the door. Nobody else was in the room, so Connor looked back at the Queen, his tone hushed.

"The Dark Side is strong in you, your Highness. It will be a wonderful ally to you. And so can I be. Who took you away? Which Sith was it?"

There was a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

If the Silver Jedi Order wanted to act on her, then they were welcome to try. That's the look that Kay's features gave [member="Connor Harrison"] . There was no need for her to say it.

Her head tilted to the side a little as he spoke of the Darkside and inquired on who her captor was. "Yes, I was reborn. My Master took great effort in finding me. I hid myself well, but not well enough to remain hidden from one so powerful as him. But why would you want to know his name? Do you wish for the same to happen to you?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

"No, not quite, as I have my own…plans, shall we say, coming to fruition. I simply am intrigued to know the name of the one who broke you."

He walked past her now, in a circle around her, hands behind his back.

"I can’t be sure what you remember, but before you left you said I would have a place here on Commenor with the Silver Jedi embassy in return for helping your people learn and expand their abilities and knowledge of the Force and other areas. I may be wrong, but I assume that ideal has since changed."

Connor made it full circle around her.

"So what I want to know now, your Highness, is what your view is on the Jedi, and the Force itself. And I also want to know what I can offer you in terms of your new mandate you set out before to your people."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay narrowed her eyes slightly and clenched her jaw. She wasn't broken like some slave. It was her choice to make. She wasn't some puppet nor slave to anyone. But [member="Connor Harrison"] would learn that in time. They all would...

She stood still as he paced around her. Even now he was still throwing out a sense of superiority over her. New Queens always had that problem throughout history. Now was not the time to fix that, though part of what she was thinking was probably written on her face.

"If your asking me whether or not I seek to destroy the Lightside and those that use it, then you would be wrong. There are some that wish to remain weak while others long to be strong. As long as neither of them get in my way or try to remove me from power, they can stay."

 

[Connor Harrison]

He narrowed his eye a little, curious to her answer. She wasn't as expected.

"You're a servant of the Dark Side, are you not, your Highness? Last time we met you were someone different, and full of hope and light. Now I sense...a dark cloud over you."

In defence, he held up his hand and sniggered.

"Not that I'm judging of course, I myself find a similar thing over my head. But you don't want to eradicate the Light, let you're clearly alligned to the Dark. So, what DO you want? Your Highness."

That was just a formality now, and he was talking to her in a way many unknown to her ever probably would.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Was [member="Connor Harrison"] trying to tell her what she should and should not want? Was he trying to tell her how she should live and treat others? She already gave him her answer, but it wasn't enough for him. Yet this was her home, her planet, she didn't have to answer to him or to anyone but her Master.

Kay stepped forward, getting into Connor's personal space, much like he had always done to her. The yellow speckles in her eyes sparkled again as she glared at him."I think the question is, what do you want, Connor? I don't need to live up to your expectations, only mine. So what is it that you plan to do?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor knew what had happened. He wasn't backing down when they were on the same page. Almost.

"Alright. You've been corrupted by the Sith and now are fueled by the Dark Side of the Force. You're not the Kay who stood before me in the embassy, and I'm glad. She was weak and empathic to all other weaklings. Now you speak with conviction and power, and I want it."

He didn't move and just looked at her.

"My time with the Silver Jedi is nearly at and end, and I think you could use someone of my skill and who has my connection and knowledge. I wish to help you enforce your will over Commenor, in return for you help if and when the Jedi lay arms against us. Because, there is an us in this. Hence why I want to know the name of the one who took you and who will pull your strings, because all puppets have a master."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

So there it was. [member="Connor Harrison"] was envious of her. He craved what she had. Without the Silver Jedi Order what was he to do? Where was he to go? He chose to be here with her by her side. How ironic.

Now it was her time to pace around him. And she did so, sizing him up while she circled him only once as he spoke. A brow was raised as he told her that she was a puppet. "I may have had this forced upon me and may have been guided into taking the Monarchy, but I am not someone's puppet." She took another step forward so that their bodies were just an inch apart. "So how do I know that you are not going to try to grab my strings and tell me how to rule?" Her eyes studied Connor while she challenged him. She knew the answer to her own question. It was just a matter of whether or not he could lower himself to do it and swear fealty to her.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor lowered his head.

"My Queen I do not wish to de-throne you. I am not one born out of the Dark Side, but I am understanding it and what it can bring to those who use it. The Jedi are blind and they are failing, and I do not want to give them any more of my life than they have taken."

He raised his head, a knowing look in his eyes, as if he knew they were on the same page, just separated by their duty.

"I know myself I am nobody's Master, not yet. I simply want to be on the side that takes glory, and rules with an iron fist. I want justice. I want it all, as do you. I want to call you an ally, because I think we would make an unstoppable force."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay folded her arms across her chest while she listened to him. [member="Connor Harrison"] seemed to be speaking the truth. If he was to protect her and her position, then who was she to refuse? Only a fool would turn a valuable asset away. Right now she needed more people around her, more people that she could trust.

"Then kneel to me, swear your loyalty and you will have your place here as my advisor and newly appointed Minister of Justice. Together we can be sure that the rule of law is followed."

 

[Connor Harrison]

It took a few moments of silence for Connor to consider the proposal. While politics was not his strong suit, here was a woman in full control of the power that politics gave. For one soon to be alone, turning now aide was foolish.

Connor pushed aside his cowl and knelt on one knee, slight exaggerated with a sweeping hand wave.

"I will serve you well, my Queen. Where fools dare tread, they will meet a swift end if they can't cooperate with us for your rule. The Jedi will not take this throne."

He smiled, looking down at the floor. It felt good to be recognized.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay placed her hand on [member="Connor Harrison"] 's shoulder. "Good. Then rise, Minister Harrison and take your rightful place beside me."

After he had done so, she would smile and relax a little. "Come. Let us celebrate with a meal. Then I can show you your office, your quarters and fill you in on your duties. Keep in mind, the Jedi are not the only ones that threaten Commenor and my rule. We have other enemies as well."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor stood and had a look of silent pride in his face as he felt a few more walls break down.

"As it should be, my Queen."

He turned to stand beside her as they started a slow walk through the magnificent throne room, bathed in light.

"I understand that the Jedi are just part of the problem for those striving to maintain a tight grip over what is ours. Nothing comes between us and our goal, regardless of their allegiance. They either conform to your rule, or they are removed." He smiled to himself. "It’s as simple as that."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

As [member="Connor Harrison"] walked beside her and spoke, a small smile appeared for a fleeting moment. Despite her capture and the months of torture, despite her turn to the Darkside, she still maintained her influence and ability to rally people to her cause. At least all was not lost.

After they left the Throne Room, a pair of Royal Guards stood sentry on either side of each doorway. And each door seemed to be remained open. Kay led Connor to one of the dining rooms. It was time for supper, so a small feast was prepared for her, full of roasted meats and veggies. A side table contained various desserts and another one contained her Sapir tea, Commenori Brandy and water.

Kay sat down at the head of the table once she had picked out what she wanted and plated it. "As we are a planet heavy in trade, you can imagine I'd like to maintain our standing as a good and safe port for the largest economies in the Galaxy. Smuggling is not tolerated. Those caught will be sent to the mines to work off their debts to me. Those that offer too much resistance are to be executed on sight. When it comes to....my old friends, however, should they start to cause trouble, I want them detained. Death is not punishment enough for them."