The Path Seldom Dare to Tread

[Kay-Larr]

On board [member="Yasha Cadera"] 's Super Star Destroyer, Kay had just finished writing her first journal entry. What else could she do on her downtime? Well there was reading with [member="Ambrose Cadera"] , although she didn't have a huge library of mystery books with her. Still, she never passed the opportunity of storytime. It was childish perhaps, yet the two of them had grown fond of it after their time in Purgatory prison. It was comforting.

Still, Kay was getting a bit of cabin fever as they traveled through space on their way to her newest home, wherever that may be. Yasha was still healing, still resting, which was very important. She had [member="Kaine Australis"] to help her, which was just how it was supposed to be.

Mandalorian space. Home to many Clans, all united under the common banner of protecting their homes, their families and their cultures. But just how many Clans were there? How many Alors? Given the current situation at hand, Kay took it upon herself to meet with as many of them as she could. She needed to know where they stand, as well as to whether or not she could count on them for her own little mission.

Going through the database on her holopad, she came across [member="Noah Corek"] . She had come across him a few times, though usually it was just in passing. He was a mystery to her as well as his Clan. Perhaps she could get some of her questions answered. So she whipped up a message:

Noah Corek,

This is Kay Arenais. I'm currently traveling with Yasha and should be in Mandalorian space for some time. I'd like to get to know the Clans more so that I can be of more help to yourselves and to my niece. Please meet with me at your earliest convenience. I'm sure that I can have a ship take me to wherever I need to go.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kay Arenais

Now all that she needed to do was wait.

And drink tea.

 

[Noah Corek]

Noah groaned as he rubbed his eyes before propping his head up on his arm as he stared down at his datapad. When a Mandalorian child dreamed about being their clan Alor it was often a dream made up of great battles and even greater victories. Parents often encouraged this and forgot to mention the less glorious parts of being a clans Alor. Paperwork. After actions reports, supply requests from the various different units that made up the clans fighting forces, etc.

So now here was Noah sorting through the various types of paperwork that would usually be sent to his mother, Clan Corek's actual Alor. But his mother had shifted the work onto him under the guise that he was her heir and needed to learn how to run the clan. This was debunked of course when he had heard from his younger brother that his mother had gotten shit-faced drunk at the Corek Village's cantina. Groaning to himself once again Noah began to knuckle deeper into the paperwork.

Half way through a utterly ridiculous supply request Noah was close to throwing his datapad at the wall and leaving the paperwork for his mother to do in the morning in her more than likely hungover state. That was until it chimed with an incoming message. Swiping away the paperwork he brought the message onto the screen and read through it quickly. So it appeared Yasha had gotten her way after all and Kay would be coming to Mandalore for her own good.

Noah wasn't surprised even he, a fifty-four year old veteran of a dozen different conflicts, had to admit when Yasha wanted something from him she got it without argue. Pulling up the messenger app on the pad he began to type out a message:

Empress [member="Kay Arenais"],

So I see that Yasha has convinced you to come to Mandalore. I would say that I'm surprised but I know Yasha well and know her way with words just as well. I am humbled and honored that a woman of your standing wants to meet with me. I'll have some members of my clan meet you at your earliest convenience once you arrive on Mandalore. They will safely transport you to our lands so we can discuss the matters you wish to discuss.

Noah Corek

Powering down his datapad Noah set it off to the side. Well guess he was going to be performing more than just his mother's paperwork duties then.

 

[Kay-Larr]

It didn't take long for the response from [member="Noah Corek"] to arrive. In some ways she was shocked, moreso due to her experiences with others lately. Like her husband. Kay took a sip of her tea, having poured herself a cup just minutes ago.

A woman of her standing?

Noah seemed to be one of the first outside of Zakuul to use her Empress title. She knew the reasons that others didn't do so. They figured that it was a title that she claimed through force and oppression when that couldn't be further from the truth. Even her niece didn't use it or accept it. Instead Yasha just wanted her to come home. And so she finally did. But for how long? That remained to be seen. There was more to this than met the eye.

Kay took another sip of her tea and then made her reply:

Noah Corek,

The honour is all mine. So thank you for agreeing to see me. We shall be arriving in a matter of days. I am sure that you'll be made aware after we've landed. Give me a day to settle in my new quarters after that, and then your clansmen can fetch me and bring me to you.

Thank you once more.
Kay Arenais

This meeting was but the first step in what could be a long and twisted road. But she was in it for the long haul. Even some of her mystery holonovels prepared her for it. For now though, no one was going to know; not even Ambrose. Was that dangerous? Of course it was. But it'd be more dangerous if others found out.

At least time was on her side. For once.

 

[Noah Corek]

In the Corek clan titles and positions were considered badges of honor and symbols of achievement, so of course he addressed [member="Kay Arenais"] by her title that was bestowed upon her by the people of her empire. Reading her message he nodded to himself, it made sense that she would take at least a day to settle in, it wasn't often that one was uplifted from their home and taken to another planet with little time to cope. Being a former military man Noah had become use to traveling from place to place but in his old age he found staying in one place was the best.

Picking up his datapad he typed out a quick message:

Empress

Of course you'll be allowed to settle in, I imagine this move has been taxing on you. The day after you arrive I'll send a trio of my clan to collect you and bring you to our lands.

Noah Corek

Closing the message app on his datapad he called for three of his clan and explained their mission to him before dismissing them.

 

[Kay-Larr]

The day finally came. Soon after they had touched down on Mandalore, Kay was taken to her new apartment where she unpacked the few things that she had brought with her. And then of course it was tea time.

It had been ages since she was on Mandalore. Not since Gray Raxis' trial had she set foot on the planet. Ra had torn off his hands, and all of Clan Raxis was threatened while they walked to where the trial was to take place.

But now was a different time. Now the threats didn't come from Mandalore, but from outside of it's borders.

The next day [member="Noah Corek"] 's clansmen arrived right on time with their transport. Kay kept her attire simple, just a blouse, some slacks and a long coat. Even on Mandalore she refrained from wearing armour for the time being.

Kay got into the shuttle with a satchel over her arm. She had gifts for Noah. She was his guest, so it was customary for her to do so. Inside was a bottle of Commenori brandy and a pouch of dried Sapir tea leaves. Hopefully he liked at least one of them.

 

[Noah Corek]

As Noah waited for [member="Kay Arenais"] to arrive he once again sat at his desk but instead of sifting through a datapad this time he was instead meticulously cleaning one of his sidearms. This was something Noah often did, some meditated to relax and other watched holovids, but Noah? Noah cleaned his weapons.

As he cleaned his weapon the datapad on the desk chimed. Momentarily looking away from his work he noted it was from the trio of warriors he had sent to collect Kay. Two males and a female. Noah had given the female, a cousin of his, command of the small team. His thought pattern was that it would give comfort to Kay.

Picking up the datapad Noah sent quick instructions to the team that once they landed to bring Kay directly to his office. Laying the datapad down again he got back to the task at hand. And when Kay finally entered his office this is how she would find him, hard at work making sure every piece was meticulously cleaned.

 

[Kay-Larr]

The ride over was pleasant enough. There was some small talk given, yet of course Kay was the outsider. More than likely she always would be. But there were other Mandalorians like her in the past, and one had even fallen in love with a Jedi like she did. But that Mandalorian was killed by her enemies while the Jedi was forced to watch. Hopefully history wouldn't repeat itself here.

Once they had arrived, Kay was directed to his office. She raised a brow ever so slightly as she caught sight of [member="Noah Corek"] cleaning one of his weapons. She wasn't sure if it was just for show or what. But in any case, she brushed it off and bowed her head to him in greeting.

"Thank you for seeing me. I've brought you some Sapir leaves and Commenori brandy." She opened up her satchel and brought the items out, placing them upon his desk. Kay didn't move to sit down just yet, not until she had permission to anyways. This was his home, his office, so she went by his rules. "I hope that they are to your liking."