On His Minister's Secret Service (complete)

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic shook his head. He did not know.

"All I know is that they mentioned the hutt cartel. I belive it is a collective of ruling hutts?" he shrugged. "I am sorry if it was not much of a help agent. I assume the senator is not in some kind of trouble?"

[member="Fixx Kearney"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

”No.”

Fixx turned his head, a gentle shake.

”No real trouble. It’s a case of making sure she’s protected if she’s linked to others that may see her as a way to break the spirit of the Republic. You’ve been a great help, thank you Jedi Dorn.”

Unfastening his jacket and sliding a hand into his pocket, he looked around the corridor of the Temple they were walking around, drifting outside now and then in what could be considered a gently lap of the building to take it all in as they talked.

”How are things with the Jedi Order at present? It can’t be easy with the Sith on your heels.”

[member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

"That is good." Mantic nodded to himself more then anything else. He thought well on the senator in general but the darkness was everywhere and he had been surprised by people being lead astray before.

He had not expected the agent to ask questions about the jedi order, he did not sense that curiosity when they first met. But then, this was a trained agent of GRIM. He could very well know how to trick jedi senses without being a force user himself.

"Yes, the sith...." he started with a deep sigh. "Well, while you are naturally right in that the sith is a great menace to the republic, and thus our order my personal opinion is not that their swords is our greatest danger. No, these are times when the force is widely spread, but unchecked. Force users, jedi or not, roam freely to mold their own way of how they think to use this power for the best." he fell silent in thought for a few more steps. Then looked up at [member="Fixx Kearney"]

"Our greatest threat is just that. the force is to powerful to be loosened like this. The jedi order keeps its jedi restricted into servitude of the republic and are not allowed to roam freely. That keeps the galaxy a safer plasce. But we are few compared to all the different orders that are scattered across the galaxy. I believe that while all this free minded usage of the force most likely is meant to do good, it is indeed what in fact fuels the sith and the dark side the most." he fell silent.

"But, here I am ranting about force philosophy, while you got an important mission to care for." he threw a curious eye toward the agent. Trying to detect if he indeed was interested in his talks or was it merely a poilte gesture.

 

[Connor Harrison]

As they turned another corner to the outside stretch of the Temple, a few fighters passed by overhead, but didn’t take Fixx’s attention from [member="Mantic Dorn"].

”The galaxy will continue to thrive if you just keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t worry about the rest; that’s what G.R.I.M is here for - to get our hands a little dirtier.”

Slowing to a stop, Fixx offered his hand to the Jedi.

”You’ve been very helpful, Jedi Dorn. If you have any issues relating to this or repercussion, get in touch with our office and I’ll see to it personally.”

He paused and asked casually;

”You wouldn’t happen to know where the Senator is based, would you? Commenor, or elsewhere.”

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantics eyes followed the fighters dart passed them. A reminder that even here on Ossus war held its dark shadow over them.

He took the hand offered by [member="Fixx Kearney"] and shook it firmly.

"I am afraid I would not know agent, but my guess is the senate?" the jedi shrugged somewhat.

"It is always a pleasure to help." he added and offered a slight bow.

 

[Connor Harrison]

[member="Mantic Dorn"] had been a good help, and Fixx would remember the name, and certainly this Temple.

Turning, he fished inside his jacket pocket and called up the Minister [member="Faith Balor-Organa"].

”Minister? The Jedi have been quite helpful. I need to get into the Senate, but I need cover. Can you get the requirements together for me to get in as press? Usual cover name and background. If I’m going to get anywhere, best to cut as many ties as possible from me to you.”

Signing off, he walked back to the transport, a few hundred yards back out of the Temple grounds and would wait for confirmation, or a decline. The Minister was in charge after all.

But even if she did decline, when had that ever stopped him pursuing a lead.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Ana came in with a message, Faith looked at it and gave his request consideration. "Arrange for what he wants, to whatever measure it takes"

He didn't want any ties to her. Fine. It would allow operations to continue to move forward.

Ana nodded but gave her a quizzical look, "something else?"

Faith looked up, "No, the request was not unexpected." He wasn't going rogue he was building a cover.

[member="Fixx Kearney"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZAEl41hcOk

Galactic Republic Senate
Chazwa, Orus Sector

Mr Arlington Beach. Freelance reporter working for the Republic out of Ossus.

Fixx looked over his cover name and back story, and the satchel by his side containing the usual bits a journalist may need - holopad, paper and pens, recorder, credits, identification card. Hopefully the information passed onto him from [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] would do the job, and the intel from Jedi [member="Mantic Dorn"] would be accurate enough to paint a good picture.

Now it was onto the Senate on Chazwa to see if he could pinpoint [member="Lady Kay"]. If not here, then Commenor would be next.

He felt naked with his blaster, but journalists didn't carry blasters no matter how dangerous the situation, especially not those heading to try and make waves in the Senate.

The city below grew as the transport headed down to the plaza where the new Senate Building was, and he looked out of the window to get his bearings and suss out their location in case things went wrong and he had to get out fast.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Luckily for [member="Fixx Kearney"], Kay was nearby. But she was on her way out. She didn't spend much time in the Senate or anywhere in particular for long. It has become one of her habits to elude her pursuers. And as she had no staff working for her, she had to gather things from her office on her own, drop other things off, the usual. Trade was booming on Commenor, so she had some reports to fill out and messages to send.

But all of that was finished for the moment. Just as Fixx would be arriving and exiting the transport, Kay would be there waiting to go onto it, with her own satchel slung over her shoulder. If he was sharp, he'd spot her. If not then she would slip away.

 

[Connor Harrison]

The transport door opened upwards and Fixx looped his satchel over his shoulder and walked to the door. Two others before him got out, a man got on. Fixx then moved out, making sure he didn’t walk into these obviously overzealous commuters. He side stepped for a lady to then get up.

Taking a few strides forward, looking up around the plaza, he slowed and turned back. Was that…?

He moved back towards the transport with a little urgency, moving commuters out of the way.

”Senator Kay? Senator Kay of Commenor?”

Fixx shouted to the door – whether she heard or not was one thing, if it actually was [member="Lady Kay"] would be another.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was just about to get onto the transport when she heard her name. Usually it was only during a Senate meeting that she'd be addressed as Senator Kay of Commenor, and the voice sounded urgent, so she stopped and turned, looking for whomever called out to her. Plenty of people were looking at her, so it was hard to pinpoint [member="Fixx Kearney"] directly.

"Yes?..."

The transport's chime beeped behind her, sending out a warning to the commuters that the doors were about to close. But if it was a matter of the Senate, it would be bad form of her to leave. So she remained where she was, spotting Fixx as he neared her, being the only one keeping a steady eye on her instead of just giving a glance.

"Is something wrong?" Usually urgency meant bad news.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Thankfully, it was her and she spoke up with the urgency of a Senator being called out in public. Fixx walked over, holding onto his identification lanyard around his neck and holding it up.

”Arlington Beach. Republic free press. Here to bolster the morale of our readers with the Senate. Thought I'd start with someone with your glowing reputation.”

Fixx shouted over the transport and the signal for the doors about to close. He kept eye contact, the ball in her court. If she got off it'd make things far easier. If not...the hunt would have to begin.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

A reporter? That's what was so urgent? Well she couldn't quite say no, for if she did, that wouldn't look good for the Senate. She wanted to portray that she was approachable here, just as she was on Commenor.

Kay stepped away from the doors and over to [member="Fixx Kearney"]. Seconds later the doors closed and it took off, leaving her behind with the reporter and a few stragglers that also missed the transport.

"I suppose that I could spare a few minutes until the next transport arrives, Mr. Beach." That'll give him fifteen minutes. That should be ample time to get a bit of something for his article.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Offering his hand, Fixx smiled and noted how down to earth this [member="Lady Kay"] was – seemingly travelling alone and among the public. Already that spoke volumes; she liked to blend in and disappear.

”I won’t keep you long. Thank you, Senator. Would you be willing to answer a few questions for me to paint a picture of what the Senate is doing in this difficult times? I’m sure you’ve had this all before, but we’ve got to give the people what they want to boost morale and keep faith in what you’re doing.”

He pushed the satchel around his back and held the strap, nodding with his head away from the landing pad and into the plaza to blend in with the crowds.

 

[Kay-Larr]

She took his hand and gave it a soft yet firm shake. Basic questions. No problem. "Sure, I'd love to." As [member="Fixx Kearney"] indicated where he wanted them to go, she nodded and walked into the plaza. She found a bench nearby and thankfully it was empty, so she sat down, placing her satchel on her lap. It still gave her a few of the platform so that she could see when the next transport was arriving.

"The Senate is, as you can imagine, working on getting a handle on the various issues that occur during times of war. At times it may seem as though we are on the losing end, but we can never give up hope. There are many Senators like myself, and other officers in the Republic that are working hard to maintain freedom and peace in the Galaxy. But it's a big Galaxy, so the the struggle will always be there. It's up to everyone though to make the best of it and do what they feel is right."

Yes, it was kind of a blanket statement. But no matter what she said, she was sure that that was how it was going to be written anyways. Speaking like a Senator always felt so impersonal.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Taking a seat, turning a little in to her, Fixx took out a datapad and activated the recording on it to take in everything [member="Lady Kay"] said. He didn’t need video, just audio, and more importantly, being physically close to her now to read her eyes.

”I understand that, Senator. Thank you. And I’m just recording our conversation here to make into a transcript later, which I can of course send to you before publishing. Is Commenor best to reach you, or do you operate from here if I come back?”

He pondered for a moment.

”As you’ve been gracious enough to be the first to talk to me here, can I ask what steps you personally are taking, or want to take, to ensure the Republic has a chance to really make a difference out there? Not a chance with simple words that are forgotten, but action that needs to be taken.”

He never broke eye contact with her. She was naturally very pretty, and held herself with an inner confidence that made him feel she would give nothing but her honest way of thinking. It was just going to be tricky to decipher her motives behind them.

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Fixx Kearney"] may have never broken eye contact with her, but she would break it with him every now and then, mostly when she was pondering on what she could say and picturing the events that she's been in. There was something else in his piercing gaze that made her feel a bit uncomfortable, and she couldn't quite make out what it was. Perhaps he was just one of those types of reporters that always got the story that they were looking for.

"I spend more time at Commenor than I do here. And even more of my time elsewhere. As you may know, Commenor is a trade planet and a stopover for many shipments passing through on the trade routes. I have the authorities doing their very best to ensure that nothing illegal goes through. But no one is perfect."

She rubbed the back of her neck a little before continuing. "As for what I do? I figured that it was common knowledge that I work hard to rid the Galaxy of slavery. It'll never be accomplished in my lifetime, I am fully aware of that. But at least I can rescue as many as possible, causing a dent in the slave trade. And the lives saved are worth it."

She turned to him now. "You'd be surprised how many out there are opposed to slavery. The Republic aren't the only ones."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Fixx nodded slowly, watching her physical actions. She was speaking calmly with a few hesitations. Couple that with her beak in eye contact where he could see images flashing in her mind and things to say so not to step in it, mixed with the rubbing on the neck…it gave him answers.

”I see.”

Not many, but a few. He was no psychologist, but he’d been around enough interrogations in his time to sweat things out of people and observed how they acted.

”A commendable job you do. Humour me, Senator – why would someone in your position take to rescuing slaves as much as you do? Is that not something for the armed forces to do, or the Jedi Knights? Do you feel you owe these slaves something?”

He rested his chin in the cup of his hand.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Hmmm. Kay furrowed her brows as she pondered on how to answer his question. "Oh them something? No." Owing herself was more like it. "Maybe it is something for the armed forces or the Jedi, but I haven't seen or heard of any of them doing anything about it. The laws are already in place against slavery, they just aren't being enforced enough." And not everywhere either. Most slaves weren't in Republic territory, so most of her time was spent outside of Republic protection.

Kay took this moment to change the subject a bit. "I wasn't always a Senator, you know. I just sort of fell into it. The people of Commenor elected me, even though I was not born on their planet."

[member="Fixx Kearney"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Time to apply a little pressure.

”So you’re saying you’re acting on your own, above the remit of a Senator, to get the job done yourself? A vigilante or criminal?”

He gave a half-smile.

”Give me something to use here; I could make you to be a figure-head of the Republic.”

[member="Lady Kay"]