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Post by kharivestra on Aug 31, 2011 12:35:58 GMT -5
"Don't make me regret my decision to restore that ship's paintwork, I will almost certainly go above and beyond my means if that is how little you think me capable of." She warned him with a picture perfect smile, had she cuffed him round the ear right now, nobody would have batted an eyelid anyway, and there wouldn't be anything he could have done about it without raising suspicions or ending up arrested.
But she was better than that, a clip round the ears would only serve to show him he was right, and he wasn't, it was that simple. He was diverting...badly.
"Yes, if they aren't dwelling in those bizzarre trees they seem to love so much. I assume they are their main source of nutrition, we can make this timescale fit if we send someone back for them and go via corellia." She sighed belatedly, she had rather hoped to get to the Corellian side of things on the way back, refeshed from their trip to Bespin, but needs dictated that they do things the other way around, then that would be what they'd have to do. "I was rather looking forward to the journey, though it won't be as if we miss out, we simply get to that a little bit later than expected..."
Sensing his disappointment, along with it fuelling her own, she shook her head. Strings could be pulled, schedules far tighter than this one had to be met, they would send someone back direct. Even if it meant putting the Jedi off for a few hours, they'd make it. "No, I don't like that idea either, the original plan then, we send someone back in a lighter, faster craft."
She afforded him an alluring smile, "I know what you meant, and yes, I was looking forward to it myself, the cantina suggestion wasn't serious. Strike that off the list for a start off, we can do that any day of the week...come to think of it, we could do other things every day of the week too so maybe we should be self indulgent?" Their time here, alone as they might be in essence, wasn't going to be very long to begin with, especially since Anara had just pulled up, what was more than a surprise was who she'd brought with her. The younger Vestra didn't know if she should roll her eyes or just act as if nothing were the matter at all. It wasn't exactly a rare sight on this world, what Anara did, was fully expected of herself and any other Kuati girl who reached a certain age, if just because they could. She wouldn't be following in her mothers footsteps.
"You don't know it, but suggesting she look after the Knylenn youngsters, probably did her a favour. Not that she'd thank you for it, so try not to let on it was you." She leaned across and whispered to Tress as they saw the scene unfurling before them "Be selfish as much as you like from now on."
While Khari should have been nudging Tress into silence, she completely let him take that liberty, it was her thought exactly. Rhy was needed somewhere in the outer rim and the further he and his ridiculously tall hat was away from them, the better. The Knylenn head of household had a terrible habit of drawing all the attention he could to himself, and therefore, whoever was with him.
Anara on the other hand, was far too wrapped up in him, and indeed his arms, to have cared much for her daughter's embarrassment, and she accepted those kisses graciously, even going as far as to whisper back a response, the likes of which had Khari holding her palm to her face in disapproval.
She stayed like that until he had departed, and Anara addressed her in accordance with what she was doing.
"There's no need to express your opinion so brashly, I know well by now what you think." The older woman commented cooly, nudging her daughters elbow with a flick of her wrist - obviously her bid to stop Khari from holding that posture.
"Hello to you too, so good of you to turn up...eventually, we were going to send out a search party." She replied, smiling thinly and without mirth. "I won't ask what, or who, you were doing, I have barely eaten an hour ago. Our shuttle is waiting."
Anara followed Khari's indication, pointing the way to the small shuttle waiting beyond the spaceport doors, and gave a simple, curt nod. Then she had arrived just on time, as she always did. From the information that she had gathered, it would be an interesting trip all round, seldom was it, that she had the opportunity to speak to Jedi. Particularly in times of crisis, not on a one to one basis anyway. The necessity of her being there was such that she knew it was, for now, the only reason she had been asked along. She was under no illusions there.
The hard part had been trying to explain to someone else why she had to do this, and why right now. The Zann's weren't always an agreeable lot, and like her, didn't always prefer compromise.
"Lead on then, I wouldn't want to hold you and your fine model of a telbun up any longer." That pointed smile she had directed at Tress, who already had a lot to answer for. It had also earned her a sharp edged glare from her daughter, to which her only response was a shrug and a few sarcastically spoken words, "Do try and look after this one, I can't imagine what you did with the last to scare him off like that."
Silently seething, Khari just made her way across to the shuttle without comment, non verbal or otherwise. Yes, her mother would definitely be taking another ship to them.
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Post by tress on Aug 31, 2011 23:45:59 GMT -5
Dressed as her telbun wasn't so bad in his way of thinking. It was enough to keep him near her and if he acted as if he was only walking along behind her or at her side, most people would ignore it as an everyday sight. He would keep his voice down, but for the most part he loved the idea other than it being to hot underneath the robes.
"Apologies then..." though he liked the thought of challenging her to over achieve, would give him reason to think of nice ways to get back at her.
There go half the fun he was expecting on this makeshift trip of theirs. That was fine, more time for them then. Someone else could go pick up what they needed and meet them at Corellia. "Corellia it is, maybe we could even visit the Golden Beaches for the afternoon." he said hoping to change the mood. He had been there once or twice and he was looking forward to possibly going there with Khari now. "What do you think? Show up unannounced and get the feel of the place before hand? Get some sun, fun and....sum things up." he winked her way.
Self indulgent. Oh, yes he liked that idea, but with a twist. He was going to take great pleasure in showing her just what kind of twist it would be. Whatever he was about to say was forgotten by Anara showing up with Rhy in tow.
He was silent while mother and daughter spoke, it wasnt his place to interfere with things. He had seen Rhy leave and would make a call to make sure he was dropped of and someone or a small group of trusted men stay with him for his safety. He needed him to stay out there in the Corporate Sector and not running around doing other things.
"Seems Guardianship agrees with you, you seem to be glowing in your old age...." he said loud enough for those around to hear, to the nine hells with their ruse and her smile was returned by him as he walked past her pulling Khari along with him disappearing in the shuttle.
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Post by kharivestra on Sept 1, 2011 12:02:34 GMT -5
Still all smiles, she nodded her approval, "It can't be all work, I'm sure we'll find some trouble to get into in our free time. In fact, I'm counting on it." She returned his wink and her thoughts lingered on the luxury of spending time alone with eachother, it wouldn't look out of place, she and him, not if he remained in disguise for some of the time. Truth be told she was rather counting on the heat of the day at the golden beaches forcing him to need to take to the water, minus the stifling robes, obviously. Now that was something to look forward to.
Her smirk saying it all, she added, "The Golden beaches sounds lovely, consider it a date."
Sadly, those thoughts alone might not be enough to get her through the brief shuttle flight to the imperial transfer point in orbit, not with Anara bleeting in her ears every chance she got. Her mother's ire for what she and Tress had done was still high, and the mere fact she hadn't done anything to counteract it yet, was making Khari undeniably nervous. It wasn't that she was holding back, no, it was that she hadn't had time to stick the knife in. That, was exactly what she had meant when she cautioned Tress to be wary of the pinickity older woman. When she bit, she drew blood.
She had almost made it to the shuttle's landing ramp, when Tress had served Anara an off handed comment to counter the one she had foist his way seconds earlier. Inwardly, she found herself grimacing, she had rather hoped Tress would leave it, let the woman fester and brood. But neither seemed like a good thing to do right now. Hanging her head just a fraction, she slowed her pace to a stop, and then turned back to look at them both, squaring off against eachother in what could potentially turn into a verbal poodoo storm.
"Oh no..." She could be heard to mutter under her breath, Tress taking her by the arm and pulling her towards the shuttle gently, obviously keen to get aboard before her mother let fly with a string of degrading intricacies - all of them tailor made for her new son in law.
"Tress, dearest, what are you doing?" Khari asked mock-pleasantly, trying not to cause a scene, "Be nice to the natives, they have poisonous things such as barbed tongues with which they might strike."
Her patience was fraying rapidly, but it wasn't with him, she didn't blame him for wanting to snipe back, she would have done precisely the same thing. If Anara didn't back down now, things were going to rapidly descend into four hours of bickering. Politicians...they made a meal out of any argument, preferrably one with four courses.
"I'm glad you agree so, but that job obviously falls to a telbun. And thank you for reminding me, I almost forgot. I won't be a moment." Anara called back to them, once more halting her daughter dead at the top of the landing ramp, watching in confusion as her mother walked back to the speeder parked the opposite side of the elongated plaza, and haughtily coaxed the driver into opening the door.
"What now?" Khari grumbled, more for his benefit than anyone, they didn't need anymore hold ups.
Ducking in to the passenger side, the older Vestra could be heard speaking to someone, though the words were not really discernable, she was gesturing for those inside to join her out here on the ferrocrete. When she was done, she lead the way, and two short figures, both with preposterously coloured top hats, ambled their way out of the speeder to follow Anara in tow.
As the group of three came into focus, Khari let out an audible, discontented groan. She was going to kill Rhy Knylenn when next they met. No if's, no but's, only death and a sense of self satisfaction of a debt repaid in full.
Stopping at the foot of the landing ramp, Anara gazed upon her daughter expectantly, a questioning look about her fine lined features in response to the 'hands on hips' posture Khari seemed to have adopted. It was rather funny, looking at it from an outsiders point of view, anyone would have thought the younger was the mother in all of this.
"I should explain..." Anara began theatrically, only to be cut off a second later.
"Yes, I can't wait to hear this one!"
"Now now, hear me out. My telbun has come down with a nasty bug that has been travelling around lately, he is, regrettably, too sick to see to the education and care of these two, so therefore I am left with little choice but to bring them with me and I decided to pass that esteemed honour onto yours instead."
Outside, Khari seemed almost deathly serene, but inside she was raining down all hellfire on this woman before her, she had known it was coming and still it didn't make it any less of an issue. No..absolutely not, she wouldn't stand for this!
"Mother...you already know why that isn't possible." she bit back through gritted teeth.
Anara's smile was predatory, her voice just loud enough for surrounding people to hear, on purpose, no doubt. "Oh? And why is that, my dear? Practice makes perfect."
The younger Kuati woman looked down at the two youngsters standing there looking back up at she and Tress and felt the urge to bury her face in her palms. They were well behaved now...Anara had probably bribed them...but that wasn't the Knylenn boys she had heard - and witnessed- of before now. This was going to be all nine hells incarnate.
"Because....well..." Yes, why not? It seemed far too plausible, and compremising should she blurt out the truth. Oh she hated Anara right now, and yet applauded her spectacular social trap.
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Post by tress on Sept 1, 2011 17:28:29 GMT -5
He liked the sound of that one and was looking forward to this date. Honestly, he was sorta looking forward to beach attire his own and hers. Robes would be well...to hot to survive in, and on her something..well, he was looking forward to it. "I cant wait then." was all he said.
"Bare with, but apologies before hand wife." He knew well what he had just done, but the chance to verbally spar with the old kuati pincher was to good to pass up. They were at the top of the ramp when Anara spoke again.
"Dont know. what she mean it falls to a telbun?" he asked Khari not understanding. Was that another dig at his attire or was she meaning something else.
He watched as she turned and walked back to the speeder and stick her head inside talking to someone. He thought it was Rhy but he had said he was leaving. It was when she stepped out again with two kids that he smiled and almost laughed.
"So your playing the role of Telbun, how amusing. Go get me something to drink...." he was pushing things, he knew, but it was going to be fun poking fun of her over the unfortunated turn of events.
"And before you think to try to foist them on my cause of my attire, think again....." just then the smallest Knylenn broke away from his brother and dashed towards Tress. Leaning down he scoops up the little one. "Hello, scamp. Hows the new mother treating you?" he asked the child named Viqtor in his arms.
Viqtor leaned in and whispered conspistory even if it was to loud so everyone heard, though it might not have being as the two Vestras were still talking amongst themselves."She mean and old." he turns to look at Rufus Knylenn who was still at Anara's side. While older than his brother he was still a child himself. "Tell him Ruffy, tell him..."
"No, they cant come with us into something so dangerous, so it seems you will have to stay behind Anara. You accepted before the Council, go back on your word and things will get very, very problematic for us all....." he told Anara at the end, he didn't look at Khari only cause the smirk he was giving the older woman would be damning.
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Post by kharivestra on Sept 1, 2011 18:30:41 GMT -5
"Don't ask." Was all Khari said on that, still too mortified to express an ounce of humility in Anara's direction anyway. Her terseness was born purely of that, nothing Tress had done, though winding that woman up probably wasn't going to help matters.
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If the older Vestra was rankled by that, it took a great deal of self control not to show it. But she didn't so much as crack a smile nor a frown, her face a masque of inert calm. That, Khari knew, was much worse than anything either side of the scale, she was scheming.
Ignoring Tress entirely, at least until one of her charges broke into a run towards the ramp, she addressed Khari in just as calm a manner.
"Cute, isn't he? And so poetic too, I can't imagine why you would ever want for anyone else." She didn't seem to mind in the least bit that one of the two youngsters had decided it was time to run amok. But there was no point in running after them, one could run themselves ragged that way, their soul intention at times seemed to be how irritated they could make her before she decided to give chase. By deciding not to at all, it rendered their little game of poke the rancor more than boring.
This time, everything she had to say was for Tress, "Is that so? Your new friend seems to think otherwise. Perhaps we should let him choose?"
"Guardian, thank you very much you foul mouthed vagrant. And please refrain from filling their heads with more nonsense than that which is already in there. I don't know who taught them their manners but that will be the first thing I fix." Evidently, thought Khari to herself, Anara was already having quite the time of her new responsibility, impromptu as it was. Whatever her mother had done in her time, and it had been quite a bit to be bitter about, she didn't envy her task here. One, fully grown Knylenn was enough of a headache, two hyperactive immature carbon copies of said knylenn's youth, a lifetimes worth of migranes.
That had been when the slightly older of the two, Viqtor, had decided now would be an amazing time to inform Tress - and indeed everyone else within earshot - of his opinions concerning Anara.
While she could almost sense Tress' amusement welling up within him to overflow, Khari exercised a little more restraint - even if she did want to blurt out a string of intense laughter. Oh yes, he was just like Rhy at that age, as she well remembered. Come to think of it, Rhy hadn't changed much in the subtelty stakes at all.
"I heard that young man, one more word out of you and you'll find yourself doing chores with the rest of the staff."
Khari leaned across and whispered to the little one, "Just for the record, she was mean and old when I was growing up too. Very astute."
Anara's expression grew baleful, and she seemed to acquire a few aged lines just from that alone. "I heard that." Her daughter merely spread her palms in an expression of innocence, she had nothing to hide. Not on that count anyway.
Loosing an audible sigh, Khari's mood seemed to be lifted some by those words, it was possibly the most sense she had heard in the last few moments, and easily a good enough reason to get out of this awkward and catty little bind they had gotten themselves into.
"Finally, someone speaks some sense, he's right, mother...Corellia and the Alliance have now severed ties completely, officially for all we know, that world is going to be thrown into chaos, possibly the entire system. It's not safe."
Nudging Rufus, Viqtor's younger brother away from clinging to her long skirts - he was creasing the fabric and that just looked most unsightly, - the older woman appeared almost surprised. It was, as ever, yet another ruse, a deliberate lulling of false security.
"Corellia? Oh no dear...these two will be taking a small trip with me prior to that engagement. I am many things but I wouldn't deliberately place them in the way of harm. It would do them good to see outside of this world anyway. It's all been arranged, plus you require me for this meeting. " She offered Tress a smile a sand panther would be proud of, a non verbal challenge as such. Oh yes, she was going to make his life hell at every turn for the hydrospanner he'd thrown in her family's works.
"I can't very well leave them behind, and my agreement - as you so put it, was not so much as an agreement as it was a done deal prior to my knowledge of it. I wonder, whom had a hand in that?"
"Who knows, or wishes to know, what goes on in the mind of Rhy Knylenn. That's not an invitation to tell me, mind. We need to decide now, what is happening, we're wasting time." Khari insisted, noticing the younger Knylenn boy slowly, possibly believing he was being sneaky, inching his way towards the landing ramp too. She didn't know what Anara had promised them, or if this was simply their own idea of blagging an adventure, but they were about to travel into a potential war zone. The older woman better have made other arrangements.
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Post by tress on Sept 1, 2011 23:25:01 GMT -5
He ignored Anara for the while and concentrated on the kids, who at certain times spoke the brutal truth with out embelishing the point. Case in point was the "mean and old" comment, which he had to stop himself from laughing over. Described down to perfect detail he was thinking.
Tress looked over to Rufus who was looking scared out of place holding Anara's skirts not run into safer amrs, his older brother Rhy had said to trust the old woman. Even though she was mean and denied them things.
He did laugh now, gone was the role of Telbun and now he was just having fun at Anara's expense. Viqtor even joined in laughing as Tress tickled him. "He cant help telling the truth, Anara. You should encourage them to speak their minds..." he laughed harder when Viqtor nodded somberly at what Khari had said as if he knew it all along.
"Kid seems to know what everyone else thinks." he looked around at the passing crewmen as they prepared for the trip.
When she hinted as bringing them, he didn't like the idea. To dangerous for them, not at that age anyway. Only thing he could do was think of his grandfather and where he was. He could keep an eye on them.
Tress stood Viqtor on some storage crates and he sighed taking off his ridiculous top hat. "Fix your hair and give us grown ups some quiet time to talk. Ok?" then as an after thought added. "I'll take you to get something sweet later."
When he did turn to focus on Anara it was with an equally charming smile. "More like keep a leash on you to keep you from trouble..." he was having trouble with all this and the agreement he made with Rhy was forcing him to step in. "The Kids stay on planet or on the Array. Dont be selfish and take them from that protection. "
The plan having been set in motion could all be derailed with the kidnapping or killing of one person. Anara was better off here or with them. They were all risking a great deal on just going on this trip, thus the small fleet, but he wouldn't let her jeopardize things to mess with him.
He looked toward Khari and nodded, "None of us want to know what is in Rhy's head and the topic is closed. They stay here...by force if needed." a clear threat if anything, one that would cause problems and he was in no mood to hear anything more on the topic.
He spotted Rufus tactics, "Remember what happened last time your tried..." was all he said to him, and he gave a wide eyed stare back. "Come here and sit by your bother." Tress knelt and opened his arms waiting for the little one to run into them. These two were always starved for some affection or praise, so he gave it to them.
When he scooped him into his arms he say him next to his brother, but told Khari. "They don't leave the planet, ever....to risky. Nor does your mother without an escort..." she would know the risk just as he did. Family members were the first one targeted to blackmail others in power. "This isn't personal, its fact."
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Post by kharivestra on Sept 2, 2011 10:41:43 GMT -5
Khari couldn't blame either of them for laughing, she was having a good chuckle at her mother's expense too. Only not quite so open in her amusement.
Tress had dropped the guise completely for a moment, taking the opportunity to snipe back and give as good as he'd got. What she didn't do, was deny him that opportunity, but perhaps she should have? Situations like these tended to bring to light things that would end up regrets in the cold light of day many hours on, and she didn't want either of them blurting out something that could have dire consequences for them in the future.
"What everyone else thinks?! How dare you!" Anara was in full on outrage, and if the rapidly deepening colour of her visage was anything to go by, set to explode like a thermal detonator at any given moment. Voice raised and tones threatening to boil over, Khari didn't want to have to put herself between the older woman and Tress if this came to blows...and right now nothing would have surprised her.
"I warned you when we last met, that if you so much as sneezed in a manner I did not like, I could make your life very difficult indeed...and you know what?"
Enough was enough, and despite their very colourful language, the Knylenn youngsters didn't need to hear this. Khari held up a hand, index finger pointed in caution, before Tress could answer, and preferrably before Anara could finish her threat.
"Let us be honest, now. We could stand here all day and argue senselessly about who did what and why we dislike eachother, but we are being counter productive here." Khari interrupted pointedly, her irritance attributed to her mass exasperation over the whole ordeal. "No more threats, no more rattling the rancor's cage, we're making decisions like adults and those decisions will be final. So..." When neither side appeared to jump in with another jagged view of the other, she began to feel a little bit of self satisfaction at apparently resolving things before they got out of hand. Sometimes prevention was better than cure.
This was not one of those times.
Rufus, hearing the promise of something good out of all this, had continued on his 'subtle' path up the ramp, with the good intention of catching Viqtor's attention and sneaking aboard anyway. But Khari had half an eye on them anyway, they didn't need any surprise stowaways appearing at the worst possible moment. She could understand Tress' reservations, agreed with them completely, this wasn't a trip where children would be welcome, they were heading into what was essentially a war zone. But had not Anara dragged her along to many such things? Granted, when she had gone along, she'd had her telbun to look after her, a good distance away from the source of the trouble and a slice of diplomatic immunity foist Anara's way. Was this any different?
Shaking her head at her inner monologue, she didn't like where that was going and scarecely believed she was actually considering it. No, the answer was no.
And things had gotten heated again.
"Who are you, common-scum, to tell me what I can and cannot do?! This decision is not yours to make." Anara hissed, making her way to the foot of the ramp, and making Khari take a step forward to counter.
"What in the world makes you think they would be safer on the array? You saw, first hand, what that vagrant, Dooku, did to the spaceport. What is to stop similar from happening as a consequence? I was taking Khari on such trips before she was out of nappies and here she stands as evidence of just how well I really did see to her care." Anara was not backing down, nor would she, her daughter knew, this was going to escalate until one of them blasted the other in full view of the children and the small audience.
So she put herself firmly in front of Tress a fraction of a second before Anara reached them. "No one is questioning anyone's ability to be a good parent."
The older Vestra scoffed derisively, "Then you can't have been listening to what your telbun just said in not so many words. And that's another thing." Now she was practically leaning on Khari, just so she could jab an accusatory finger in the anaxian man's direction. Eyes narrowed dangerously, she had him firmly in her sights. "You would dare threaten me with use of force? Do you know how many counts of false imprisonment I could have you charged with? Oh yes...that is exactly what I will do, don't assume because you have my daughter's favour that I will hesitate in taking action against you. You'll find yourself bitterly mistaken."
Where was there a sarlacc pit in which to throw yourself when you needed it? Thought Khari. This situation wasn't going to be resolved at all unless someone took some serious action. Which was exactly what she intended to do. Anara had started this, and Khari was going to finish it.
She was already making a move. No sooner had Tress placed Rufus down next to his brother than she had picked him up again, with a great deal of protest from either Knylenn.
"You're coming with me...you too." She called back to Viqtor.
When the boy didn't move immediately, she frowned slightly and sighed with a deliberate exaggeration, "Or don't you want that something sweet?" now turning her attention on Tress, she extended one hand, supporting Rufus with the other arm. "Comlink please, I have to make a call."
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Post by tress on Sept 2, 2011 13:53:43 GMT -5
Ah, the old threat was back. In which she was going to wave her hand and speak louder and things will magically get done her way. "That's up to you, though you seem to be under the impression you have any power here. Only reason your in this at all is cause your daughter." he took a menacing step forward just to make this last bit count. "And before you open that Hutt orifice you call your mouth up again.....think very carefully on your next words."
He stepped back and tried to cool down, he wasn't really worked up just frustrated with the thought process of an old hag of a Kuati. "The kids stay and thats final..."
It was true what she was saying to an extent, he had no right to forbid her on the kids. Just it wasnt the same as when Khari was younger. After the Zann attack on Kuat it had been relatively peaceful for stretches of time.
He laughed and aimed it toward her over that one, "Yes, your Telbun raised her right." it was funny how she took so much responsibility in raising her and he wanted to bet she was hardly ever around to do that. "Don't try to take credit for such a thing while you were out 'trying' to boost your career....give credit where its needed, to your telbun. "
"False imprisonment charges?" what was she going on about now and where was his gramps to control the overbearing gundark of a kuati.? "If they ever find you, you mean right? The kids stay, Anara...." he sighed and tried the civil way now. "Listen to reason for once in your misbegotten life of leisure and pleasure. The kids if kidnapped could be used to hurt our plans, if one of them gets hurt...the deal if off. They must stay here or on planet for their safety. "
He handed over his commling without question and waited looking at her and Anara keeping an eye on her. What he should have done was have his own men around. He hadn't thought they were needed here so came alone this time. Temptation would have had him signaling them to silence her and carry her off.
Before they got back from this trip he would have hundreds of his own men stationed around the Array and planet side just as a precaution.
He did stick his tongue at Anara when Khari wasnt looking goading her into doing something.
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Post by kharivestra on Sept 2, 2011 15:24:37 GMT -5
"And the only reason my daughter possesses that kind of power, is because of me!" Anara spat, jabbing one slender index finger in his direction, marginally missing his chest by a hairs breadth. She wasn't intimidated by him, not in the slightest, and he really didn't know what he was talking about when he had let fly that time. What would he do if she had told all? Had anyone been completely honest with him in the slightest? The way in which Khari froze and spun to look at her when she had spilled forth that information, told her everything she needed to know. He had no idea.
"You have a lot to learn, and if you had any sense rattling round inside that vacant little skull of yours, you'd let the subject lay and be done with it. Do not speak to me of things you so clearly misunderstand." Yes, she would choose her words carefully, though she wouldn't censor them.
Khari, still looking like a durney caught in the headlamps of a speeder, slowly placed Rufus down on his own two feet, then crouched down at their level, handed the boy a credcoin and pointed in the direction of one of the surrounding plaza's eatery establishments.
"Go with Viqtor and get something nice to eat, don't go far though and stay with eachother." Speeding him on his way with a gentle hand to his back, she then stood again, and glared balefully at Anara.
"Not here. Not like this." she spoke her thoughts out loud, and then flipped on the comlink she had taken from Tress moments earlier, skimming through the last few frequencies until she found the one she was looking for.
When the male voice on the other end answered, she was quick to butt in before it said anything that might have been for Tress' ears only.
"It's Khari...apologies about the brief introduction and departure last night, but I have a small favour to ask...two small favours actually."
It was now that Anara seemed a fraction deterred, she had let her anger get the better of her and that was just too bad. What she had never truly intended to do was put her daughter in the inevitable bind she was now in. But she had a plan for that. Were Tress to wish to part ways with Khari, should she tell him the truth, then she could have him disposed of as quickly and cleanly as possible. No problems there and no questions asked.
So she chose to ignore the jibes about her decision making, that was unquestionable, why should she even deign to answer this person to begin with? Whoever Tyber's offspring had shacked up with, they had to have been the most unruly, crass beings this side of the core. And she wouldn't have wasted time telling him either.
"I know well the risks! It was never my intention to bring them to Corellia, use that mass between your ears, boy, and you might start getting somewhere. Credit me with some sense...the risks posed to them here are just as great. Do you think it beyond any high powered organization to infiltrate and execute a plan here on this world? To do so would be foolhardy." He was thinking in too narrow a spectrum, if anything, the very reason she was bringing them along was for safety's sake, she had plans, but she couldn't have told Khari, and certainly not Tress, just what she was up to.
On the subject of false imprisonment though, she had him now.
"That, sounds like another threat. Why don't you speak a little louder so this landing field full of witnesses can hear you?"
Meanwhile, Khari was pretty much done with her private conversation, and she had been keeping half an eye on that eattery too...the potential for Knylenn based mischief was high, and she'd seen it at too many functions to count. Their mother was probably looking down on them now and laughing herself into a stupor.
"...again, apologies if this conflicts with any plans you had, but as much as I hate to admit it, her presence is required. She can wait with them until you arrive, then take the next shuttle. I have a feeling Tress and I are going to need the time in the meanwhile to smooth a few things out." Without further word, or preamable, Khari finished her conversation, and turned agonizingly back to theirs.
Only now there seemed to be little conversation going on at all. That in it's self was unsettling.
"The kids stay, she comes with us once your grandfather has arrived to take care of the rest, and that means you...mother, will be hanging back just a little longer. We will meet at the imperial transfer point."
Anara regarded her daughter uncomfortably, she didn't like this idea at all, it was giving Tress far too much to gloat over and she hadn't taken kindly to Khari going over her head. But the girl always had done what needed to be.
"Is that right? Fine. It would have been an unbearable flight with that steaming pile of swill anyway." Came the sneered response derisive in it's precise nature. Khari, just ignored it, and tossed a glance back over her right shoulder to ensure the Knylenn youngsters weren't causing any mayhem.
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Post by tress on Sept 5, 2011 17:51:06 GMT -5
"Oh, yes...Mistress. Of course, Mistress. As you say, Mistress. To you all men are playthings, distractions...well, that might be the case on Kuat, but Im not from around here and wont bow down to one womans high value of her own worth." he pointed his finger back at her like she did a moment before to him. "So get over yourself, mommy dearest and maybe this partnership that you were lucky enough to walk in on can work. If not it still works without you...... " let her take it as a threat if she wanted. This was between Khari, Rhy and the Zann's not her unless he said it would.
Tress heard, khari talking to the boys and someone on the comlink. He was thinking it was someone trust worth on her staff to come over and look out for them. He had no idea it was who she was speaking to.
"Hello, again." He asnwers back. "Favors?" Still in his night clothes recuperating from the nights wild...party. He was having brunch and relaxing until Anara got back from the meeting. "What sort of favors and has the meeting finished, yet? Been expecting your mother.."
"I did.... have and so did Tyber." he told her point blank. "The kids stay here, on the surface where they are safe. I'm done talking about this with someone that clearly never raised kids before. Go get yourself another Telbun if your not up to the task, old one..." the last was just purely a stab at her for calling him boy all the time. The why it seemed to bother her he knew he hit his mark.
The set up she was doing had no importance to him, so he spoke up if they wanted to hear let them. "I wont allow you to take these kids from here, I'll see you dead first...." trouble down the road, possibly. Did he mean it, yes. Would he consider Khari's feelings on the matter, most definitely. Though he wouldn't let the old wrinkled Hutt mess up all his hard work in the process. She didn't seem to concerned with him having men and assets on Kuat now and it would be so much easier to take if he wanted to. Zann's had learned from the first time, this time they were even more prepared.
He could hear the conversation in the background and shook his head. "I;ll be right there, then." was all he said and cut the line and was off to get dressed.
He gave Anara a smug look and planned on contacting his grandfather to kidnap the kids and disappear. It will cause problems for Anara and keep her busy, as for Rhy he will square it with hm so as he wouldn't worry about things. The kids under his control gave him extra leverage, too. "Good we can be away from the stench of oldness..." tress says and walks up the ramp and disappears inside to make his call.
Tress peeked out of the ship, "Have a wash then and you wouldn't smell so bad after your romps..." he gave her a knowing penetrating stare, as if he knew what had happened before hand. Then he was gone again.
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Post by kharivestra on Sept 6, 2011 11:55:54 GMT -5
If he had wanted a reaction, he was going to get one, there was nothing left to lose but her dignity, and she'd be damned if he was going to take that from her. As he himself had stated, she would choose her words carefully.
"You really need to check on all your facts before you go tossing around accusations and assumptions like that, Mr Odak. I could show you evidence to the contrary but really, what use would it serve other than to waste my time, your narrow mind has so obviously drawn it's own conclusions." Anara replied as cold and calculated as a sand panther stalking it's prey. "And another threat just rolls off that festering tongue of yours doesn't it. All talk and nothing to back up your words, if this is a continuing theme, I expect to see Khari serve you an anulment sometime soon. In fact, I look forward to it."
"Oh it finished some time ago, that's why I need your help....as you can clearly hear."
With the argument behind her getting more heated by the second, Khari really didn't want to waste any time on niceties while speaking over the comm. Luckily for her, the mic was good enough to have picked up what was going on behind her, every last tersely uttered word, unfortunately for them both. Tress' grandfather couldn't get here soon enough, perhaps she should have asked him to bring a stun net while he was at it. At this rate, he was going to need it, she wouldn't go quietly. Thankfully, they didn't have to be here to witness that.
When she had returned to the landing ramp, things had been about to take a turn for the worse. Tress really wasn't helping matters along by giving her more fuel with which to stoke those antsy flames of hers. What she couldn't do, was limit the damage a little. And as she had started up the ramp, she was already reaching out to slip an arm to link with Tress', her intention to pull him away from the argument before it could get any worse. Before Anara saw fit to pull a blaster on him and shoot him where he stood. And if he was thinking that she wouldn't...
"Time to go, we're late already..."
She found herself yanked back under the force of her own movements, he wasn't done yet.
Khari groaned. Could this day descend further into the depths of that sinking feeling? Better not to tempt it.
Insensed, impossibly more than she had been before, Anara balled her fists in outrage. While she might not have been willing to throw punches, such things were way too uncouth for her tastes, she certainly wanted to. If he wanted to play this game with her he'd find that he would never win. It didn't matter who he was, how much influence he had, there were always miscreants looking to turn a quick credit in payment for some deed. Tress would find himself on the receiving end for all this, no doubts about it. It wouldn't put her in good stead with Tyber, of course, though she already had her suspicions in regards to him keeping an eye on her anyway, if the person who had followed her every step was anything to be sniffed at. That particular person might not be in plain sight here, but she had seen him outside her residence prior to the meeting, then once again before and after having been in the grand convocation chamber. Understandably she had her own security keeping an eye on things, indeed this same mysterious person. She would check in with them later, find out what they had discovered.
"You would be wise not to provoke me further," She hissed at Tress, expression deadpan scathing, "You would be astounded at everything I could see you charged with. You are here out of the good graces of my daughter, nothing more or less. And don't think for one second that will stop me ruining you."
Although Khari was doing her best not to look worried, she was. Her inner mind was in a tumult of concern and anger both. Tress was talking himself into a corner every bit as much as Anara was. And she would prefer not to lose either in a battle of wills. So this time, she tugged harder on his arm.
"You might wish to retrieve the children, Mother." Khari reminded Anara, doing her upmost to keep her distractef from furthering the argument, "I gave them your bank details, they're probably buying that tapcaf as we speak."
This time, she succeeded in pulling Tress away, and had just been about to relax, when he hung back.
"Now, Tress!"
Once the landing ramp was up, and she able to slump down in her somewhat comfortable seat, letting a long suffering sigh pass her lips, canting her head to the side, she opened her eyes and looked at him. He certainly looked pleased with the fact that they had just left Anara back there seething on the ferrocrete.
"She is going to try to kill you, you do know that, correct?" It was almost as certain as the rising and setting of the world's primary. People who annoyed her mother, didn't seem to stick around very long, and oddly, nobody came looking either. "And I know what you're thinking, but we can't take on the Knylenn brothers. It is an inconvenience for her, but she will do right by them. She's just seething because she didn't ask for this and nothing went how she expected."
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Post by tress on Sept 6, 2011 13:36:19 GMT -5
The evidence again, "If you have anything just come out with it." Whatever it was, he could deal with it and divert it into some publicity in the end. Yes, he was a bad person with things in his past that should remain in the shadows, but that is only if he planned to stay a Senator. A big question on his thoughts lately. "I hope your age has tought you patience, or you live long enough to see that day...anceint. So look forward to it all you want."
Should he have kept lashing out at her with a growing crowd, maybe not, though it was time set the command structure here and now. Khari and himself were in charge of all, or will soon be. Khari retains her right and position on KDY, and they would share command of CSA when they got it. Together 'they' would set the new industrial pro-quo.
He should have walked away when Khari tried to steer him away and up the ramp, but it was to fun to stop now.
"It must bother you quite a bit to know you have no control of anything of importance." he told her with a smirk. "What ever control you think you have over your daughter isn't there. What ever your senility has brought on is just a over active trumped up ego of your self importance. Its would be wise to remember that....your time has come and gone, its time for you to realize your yesterdays news. "
He reluctantly moved with Khari, it was time to move on though with one good retort deserved another from him. In this small battle he would have the last word. So with the word stench he spoke back ending things once and for all on this battle.
Inside and seated beside her he breathed and sighed along with her. "Just another small excitement in life ..." when she just looked at him he finished, "the pieces of the puzzle fitting together. Like every strategy game its all about staying ahead of your opponents. In this case, your mother and I have had a standing ...'problem' which was bound to come to some sort of impasse sooner or later. The end result will be a mutual respect for one another...at least i hope." he grinned and started to laugh.
Meanwhile, someone was rushing towards the space part to get to Anara. That argument he had heard parts to while talking to Khari had been bad enough, worried for both of them forced him to walk faster to get there quicker.
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Post by kharivestra on Sept 6, 2011 15:05:25 GMT -5
Anara had let that one hang in the air, refusing to speak, to even acknowledge he was there still shouting down to her. Let him have the last word for she would have the last laugh. Why? Becuase she knew he was wrong. If only he did too.
There she stood in silence, watching the shuttle depart, with an oddly smug expression for someone who'd just essentially had her ass handed to her.
"We shall see." She muttered under her breath, all self assurance and confidence. Anara knew something he didn't. It was just a matter of time before something slipped and he would discover all.
Inside and seated beside her he breathed and sighed along with her. "Just another small excitement in life ..." when she just looked at him he finished, "the pieces of the puzzle fitting together. Like every strategy game its all about staying ahead of your opponents. In this case, your mother and I have had a standing ...'problem' which was bound to come to some sort of impasse sooner or later. The end result will be a mutual respect for one another...at least i hope." he grinned and started to laugh.
Lifting a manicured eyebrow Khari knew exactly what he meant, but she also knew that woman like the back of her hand.
"She's still going to try and kill you first, you might want to be aware of that for oh...three or four months at least." It was only a parital joke, she trusted he'd be a little quicker to preempt it than anyone Anara hired could be to execute such a thing. And she, herself could ensure that he was kept as far from an attempt as possible, without compremising their time together or their plans. It just so happened that her being around would be exactly the reason Anara wouldn't want someone to attempt to assassinate him, or cause him general harm. Blaster's for hire often had a habit of not caring who got caught in the crossfire and the old woman would know that.
"I'm afraid mutual respect to her means just this: You knowing your 'place' in her opinion."
That smile of her's turned wicked, almost forboding there for a second, and there was the glint of something encouraging in her dark eyes. "As you so clearly know yours in mine. Hmm?"
This at least, had been all in good humour, they always had enjoyed winding eachother up. Within reason, she really wouldn't have stood for him shooting her again, that...that deserved more than just the painting of his ship, for that alone she should have shot him right back, preferrably somewhere painful. As much as she wanted to keep that mood lighthearted, considering this was about as close to a honey moon as they were going to get, something her mother had said back there was making her more uneasy by the second. If Tress would find out about what she had done, about Kholis and everything that went with that messed up situation, she would rather he heard it from her and not someone like Anara and her sharp tongue.
Now might not have been the best time, but would there ever be a right time? No, the answer was that simple, there wouldn't.
"Tress, you remember when you first told me that there were a lot of things in your pre-political career that you weren't particularly proud of? Do you mind if I ask what those were, exactly?" She had resolved a long while back, to try not to judge him for those past acts, they were just that - in the past. Now it seemed something like more of a fair trade on either part, perhaps she would feel more comfortable in her confession if he had done similar.
And yet she knew it didn't come much lower than killing someone who was actually your own family member.
But she hadn't known that at the time, if she had ever known she would never have done such a thing....would she? Sure, she felt like knocking off Anara from time to time, but she'd never done it. Yet anyway. She understood, well, the Kuati nuance of removing a rival well and truly by ruination or any means necessary...so long as the mess wasn't on her office floor, what did it matter?
The coldness with which that thought ran through her mind chilled Khari to the bone, it mattered because it just did. Even what she had been forced to do to Taru mattered, why? Because it had come to that to begin with. She wasn't cut out for that kind of dirty work, yet people she had trusted would force her hand.
"You don't have to answer," she decided at last, "I...was just morbidly curious."
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Post by tress on Sept 6, 2011 18:31:05 GMT -5
He smiled and relaxed back into the seat with a grin, "Yeah, I'll plan for such matters. I cant be prepared for every attack, but the more obvious ones i will have well in hand." he reached over to hold her hand being alone for the meantime. "I think i will scare her, show i can get to her where ever she is, just to put the point across." a scare tactic if nothing, his Defilers were infiltrators at heart. Time to see if they were still as good as they once were doing the Vong wars.
He looked at her insulted, "Hey, I know my place...its at your side, wife." he liked strong women, if he was honest he liked her mother if it wasn't for her uppity nature. Khari never showed that for as long as he'd known her. "I wouldn't have a problem with you mother if she we rent so..." he was thinking of the right word. "Hutt like?"
That came out of the blue, so he glanced her way. It was something they never spoke about. Though it wasn't private, it was just part of his life that happened before he met her. Not that it wasn't still happening now while with her, just..."Well..." he was about to tell her when she went on.
"Well, any criminal activity you can think of really. I never dealt with slaves...though, those under me did, so I guess that still makes me guilty." it wasn't like he was hiding things from her, all she had to do was ask. He trusted her and her security being good as it was always swept the speeders, shuttles offices before she did anything. They were always around even if they weren't seen. So he wasn't worried about someone over hearing them or what he said. "Blackmailing, bribery, assassinations, pirating, spice and other narcotics, money laundering....black market supplying. The last mainly dealing with planning attacks or acquiring certain objects people needed.
"I got elected by blackmailing one of my competitors, though that is something no one can prove..." that came out almost smug to his hearing so he chuckled. "Things still happen even without me, mostly by under bosses in charge of planets. Urai still runs around here and there checking things out."
The Consortium ran itself with the majority of the power still rested in the Zann families hands, but those running small to large operations had the power they needed to control their commands. It was better this way they had found.
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Post by kharivestra on Sept 7, 2011 9:55:57 GMT -5
She shot him a sly grin, "You sound very sure of your abilities, try not to give hear a heart attack, hmm? It's much more humerous if she lives to hear the tale told again and again."
Then she took something else into consideration, what he had said last. Amusement lit up her face like fire on dry kindling, "Now now, she doesn't drool quite enough for her to be likened accurately to a hutt. Hutt's have a sense of humour."
"Don't worry, she will come around once she realizes you aren't going anywhere."
Before he could respond with another quip, Khari had reached out his way and placed her index finger softly against his lips, hushing him that way to begin with, then leaning across to replace that fingertip with her lips, exacting a soft kiss thereafter. Now that the old hag was gone, she really didn't want her occupying their minds for the forseeable journey ahead. Especially not when they were going to be spending much of the time planning, and enjoying themselves. This little trip to Bespin might not be so bad once the Jedi issue was over and done with. And while she felt a little guilty about what she had just done to her mother and the boys, she couldn't feel sorry that they weren't here. She hadn't seen enough of Tress since his return for her liking, that interrim period had been hard on her to put it mildly.
"I missed this." She confessed in a whisper, lips brushing against his with each spoken word. They wouldn't be disturbed unless it was for an emergency, and they seemed to have filled their quota for those just lately. "Just you and I." While her senses drank him in, she almost laughed when she mentally finished that sentence herself with: and a cabin full of crew.
Pulling back a bit, she remained close, just enjoying the moment for all it was worth, and settled against him, near lounging over the arm of one luxuriously comfortable seat towards the other, sharing his warmth. It wasn't a particularly cold interior to the shuttle, but she found comfort in it nevertheless. Khari had expected him to opt for dropping the subject of his past, rather than go on to divulge it, but she took that as the gesture of trust it must have been. Listening to it all, was quite the experience, it was a tad difficult to take stock of it all at once.
Nodding, she searched his grey eyes for something, it went without saying that he must have thought twice about some of those situations, others might have been just another day at 'the office' so to speak. That he was so willing to jump to the underhanded option when dealing with life's little messes didn't disturb her so much as prove how skilled he could be. It had certainly come in handy when dealing with the blackmail she was facing at the hands of Taru. But they couldn't kill everyone who opposed them. That would leave a trail of blood to their door.
"Do you regret it, any of the decisions you made?" Khari asked, voice still a little distant and non descript, betraying next to no emotion, for her thoughts were far, far away.
"For instance, if there was one major event in your life that you could take back, even if it meant altering everything against you, would you do it?" Why was she even asking that question? She could never take back what she had done, ever, death was so...permenant. But she had essentially been duped, more than she knew, she suspected. Just the part she did was bad enough, and enough to make her feel like the lowest of the low.
"There's something I would share with you, when we have a completely private moment. You...well, you deserve to hear this from my lips. I would rather my mother didn't use it to pry us apart later." Not that she thought the old bint would succeed, but there it was all the same. "I'm fine...at least I will be, and we're fine, I hope, just a happening from my past. It wasn't all luxury and highly strung words, though now I am starting to wish it had been." Anara was a problem, no doubt about it, one that would need to be watched very closely. While she didn't think she could do to her what she had so willingly done to Kholis, she was't adverse to shaking the senator up enough to silence her. If it justified the ends.
"I just don't know if it is safe now, to speak of it. I wish I had kept ahold of that signal jammer Colonel Klask had used in our meeting...such a useful piece of tech and I forget it, typical. I imagine the ship will have a safe room we can use. Make of that what you wish."
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Post by tress on Sept 7, 2011 17:41:27 GMT -5
"Not sure, really. Just over confidant about getting to her, my safely and yours I can handle under most circumstances." With her security precautions and him around, it would be very difficult to get to them, but really all it took was someone motivated enough with resources to do it. Basically, he saw a team of infiltrators attempting, if that, ....quiet, quick and focused. Lone assassins would have to be the very best to even come close.
"I sure hope she does come ar...." He dropped that line of thought as she places a fingertip against his lips.
He looked at her, wondering what she was up to, when she leaned in to kiss him. Soft, sweet and a kiss meant to want for more. Turning to face her more he returned the kiss, just as soft as her had been, a mere brush of his lips against her.
Yeah, he was looking forward to time spent alone with her. Away from the overbearing mother and work hassles, just them two. The trip had that possibility, got them away from Kuat for starters and on the way there and back, maybe even after the 'talks' were over they could spend some time for themselves. "For how ever long it lasts." he told her.
How do you answer that? He felt he still had a heart so, yes, somethings he would have taken back. Funny thing is none of his criminal activities cam to mind. The worst was in war, it always came back to him for some reason. "During the Vong war, we were attacking, ground assault at a compound where warriors were killing slaves. The men under me wanted to rush out and save them, but to do so would have ruined our element of surprise." he said remembering back. "In the back of mind, I think we could have still won the battle, but I wasn't willing to risk death of men i knew for something so....risky." If there was anything he would have taken holding back.
"You have a child somewhere, don't you?" was all he said, what else could be damning to her that Anara could use to force them apart?
The "she is fine and we are fine" part worried him, what was she hiding, or keeping from him? Granted he never asked about her past, just as she kept his past or shadowed life private. Though what could be bad enough to worry about telling him? "Just tell me, its ok."
"I just don't know if it is safe now, to speak of it. I wish I had kept ahold of that signal jammer Colonel Klask had used in our meeting...such a useful piece of tech and I forget it, typical. I imagine the ship will have a safe room we can use. Make of that what you wish."
"Ok, we can wait or its up to you." he was worried, well not worried but wondering now what was wrong. "I do fine i am curious to know, but the way i see it nothing can be as bad as what I've done. " he didn't want to make light of what she wanted to tell him, and it wasn't a game, but whatever it was they would work through it together. "We are a team, remember. Together, just you and me."
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Post by kharivestra on Sept 7, 2011 19:47:01 GMT -5
What could one say to that? A thousand apologies and condolences came to mind, it was a pain that few in this galaxy didn't understand all too well, the Vong had affected almost every single world that fell into their invasion path, and even some that had not. Those had been desparate times where people of all walks of life had done things that they were never going to be proud of. Survival had been first in everyone's mind. During that time she, herself had done some things she could have never seen herself doing in her every day life. But she had surprised herself, even after the war was over...perhaps it had changed her, as it seemed to have changed so many others.
It hadn't changed the truth, though...
"That was war," She said softly, "everyone did something they weren't proud of, you don't know you could have saved them or not...what if they had those implants, the one's that left them effectively brain dead in the end. I saw reports where thousands had to be massacred if just to put them out of their suffering." That was different, what she had done was...wrong, yes, misguided, definitely, but above all else, completely cold. She had killed someone she would have called friend.
What he followed that up with, however, totally blindsided her into a proverbial wall.
Agast, her lips were moving, but no sound was coming forth, and even when she was able to make some noise...that was all it was. A series of incomprehensible uhh's and whaat's? He thought she had time to secrete a child away somewhere? Before she had met him, she'd barely had enough time to breathe, never mind actually use Taru for what he had been intended. That, she had decided, to put off for another year - or at least until KDY was running under a regieme that she approved off. With all going smoothly, then she could have considered it, but only as a practical solution, a legacy.
"Excuse me? You must be joking....you're not joking...are you?" As it dawned on her he was actually being serious, she was even more astounded. Did he really think she would do that, that she was...well, no better than Anara!? That notion hurt a tad, but her mind had been doing loops, and in light of how she had put it, he really was thinking the least nasty end of the scale. That bespoke something positive, somewhat.
"No, I don't have a child, somewhere, anywhere! You think I could have kept something like that a - " it was the sheer irony that made her stop what she was saying, she'd kept her own secret long enough, and Anara had done a good job of hiding who she really was too. Yes, had she really wanted to have hidden the fact she had a child, she could have. But she wouldn't. She was not her mother.
"It's not that." Placing a hand over his, Khari's expression was more than concerned, he was going to hit the roof when he found out what it was that she had held back. But should he not be used to such things, he had mentioned assasination as one of his past crimes. And he wasn't without a conscience. "I promise. I wanted to tell you, I should have told you, but there was never going to be a right time. But believe me when I say I cannot risk telling you anything here. Once we reach the imperial transfer point, I will tell you everything."
Now she had effectively made the journey an awkward one, and was beginning to wish she hadn't said a word, but it was better that there were no secrets between them, that way Anara couldn't get her claws into their relationship without putting herself at risk too. She'd have to think again. This information was sensitive, though, Tress would understand why she had waited when he heard her out. If he understood at all.
Silently, she mouthed the words 'thank you' in response, then settled back where she had been against him. He had every right to be concerned, she expected that, even if she didn't want him worrying. So long as Anara kept her mouth shut, she was in the clear. Captain Banner had turned up what she thought was the only standing piece of evidence others had to potentially point the finger of suspicion in her direction. And the rest had died with Kaur Kuhlvult.
"I had never forgotten, it won't be long, we can find somewhere quiet and I can explain, just as I said. This has a positive side, i'm only hoping you see that, rather than the grand mistake I made." Her tone was deliberately light, so that if anyone had overheard, it would seem like this was nothing more than a casual conversation or joke. Inwardly, she bristled and cringed repeatedly at having done so, it was disrespectful to the deceased concerned, and she would give anything to have taken back her actions.
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Post by tress on Sept 8, 2011 14:45:12 GMT -5
It was still standing by and ordering others to do so while others got killed. What he didn't say was from then on, his men saw him as cold and heartless more intent on winning than holding on to his humanity. He thought it was what everyone was fighting for wasn't it...survival? In any case thats the one thing that always stuck with him. "I know, but they thought we could have tried instead of just standing there." he didn't know if it would help, but seeing what they saw made them angry, mad and rageful. They fought like animals with tooth and nail every step of the way. Though it could be viewed as an excuse his justification of things so he dropped it.
Her astonishment at first had him leaning back, maybe he had misread the situation. Though what else would have caused her to worry enough to tell him? It would have to be something her mother could use against her or him to drive them apart. He knew shes wasn't married, had a telbun, yes. So the worst thing would be a child, wouldn't it?
"Sorry, just don't see anything else that could... come between us. Not that having a secret child out there would do that..." he'd better stop while ahead. "...Im sorry, I didn't mean that as bad as it sounded."
"Ok, then" he tells her placing his other hand over hers. "It will be ok..you know." Sounded like he was trying to convince himself, but it was meant for her, too. Whatever it was it could be worked past. Together they had done the impossible, only cause they worked with each other not against. This would be no different.
They say in silence as the shuttle took them to the transfer point, there was no need to speak further if they would when they got there. Safer really in the end, which was better for everyone. So they just enjoyed the time together.
He might have kissed her once or twice, to keep their mind off things *coughs* ok, he loved kissing her. When the shuttle landed at the hanger bay. they were already unbuckling and getting ready to leave. "You ready? We need to call ahead to the fleet to see if they're ready for us might as well leave as soon as we are able."
***
Finally getting there, he immediately found Anara and walked towards her. "So whats this all about? I was expecting you back home...not on your way off planet."
When she turned around to look at him he grinned, "Running already?"
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Post by kharivestra on Sept 8, 2011 17:14:09 GMT -5
"You did what you had to." Khari said, lightly squeezing the hand she had taken ahold of, "We all did."
The Vong had taken Kuat at one point in time, while they had not done enough extensive damage to completely vongform the place, nor indeed had they even begun to touch the orbital array, there was still the subtle signs of the life they had introduced to the world, usually in the form of creatures, or virulent plantlife that simply wouldn't be killed by standard means. But the reluctance to have Yuuzhan Vong extolled shapers on world to fix it, was their main hinderance. Khari also felt that hesitance, but that aspect of their economic heirachy, she had no place in, that was down to her mother and her peers.
"No...it's not that, it just took me a little by surprise. Tress, I would have told you a thing like that.." But not like what she had yet to tell him? That thought hurt even her. She shrugged it off, now wasn't the time to be getting tangled up in emotions, she needed to remain focussed so she could best explain what had happened to begin with, without the issue of her feelings getting in the way.
"I have no children, I have always been honest with you." Which was true, she had never lied to him willingly, if he had asked her about the situation with Kholis, she would have told him truthfully. Therefore, it was far better for her to tell him like this, from the beginning, just the two of them.
Was that reassurance for himself, or her? She wondered as she rested against him, breathing deep, calming breaths full of his scent. It was a comfort even now.
"I hope so, for my mother's sake." If the old woman breathed a word outside the three of them of this, then she would have little choice but to ensure that history repeated it's self, this time on purpose.
The rest of the trip passed without event, the mood had shifted from awkward back to the usual contentedness that she had looked for when embarking upon this leg of the journey, and as the shuttle banked in towards the transfer point, she began to gather together her things then settle in for the landing. During that time, she liked to think she was using it wisely, she had returned his affection to a point to keep things on an even keel rather than having them need to explain to the crew why they had suddenly been locked in the cockpit. By the time they were somewhat on solid ground, both were ready to depart. Thankfully, for whatever reason, Anara seemed to have been delayed further, Khari was thankful for such small mercies. After the last encounter, she hadn't been looking forward to another.
"Define ready? Ready to leave this shuttle, yes. Ready to find somewhere quiet we could steal a few moments? Definitely...." She mused mischeviously, being sure to school her expression finely, so that she looked as serious as possible, her words were far from it, though, Holding her head high she looked pretty pleased with herself when she had said that, he could decide whether or not that was good or bad.
By the time that Tyber arrived, Anara was sitting inside the small tapcaf, with a large cup of black, bitter caf sitting steaming infront of her. Every now and then she took a brief sip of it, then elegantly set it back down on the table in front of her. Elsewhere, the sounds of surprised annoyances could be heard coming from other customers, and staff alike. Not a single one here, was having any fun. The Knylenn boys on the other hand, were having plenty.
She hadn't looked over her shoulder to check what they were doing currently, but last time she had looked, they had engaged in some form of game that involved throwing overpriced and under hydrated food at eachother from beneath the cover of a couple of vacant tables. The remnants of said food now spattered the walls and many of the denizens clothes, luggage and belongings.
Nobody dared tell her to take control of the situation and bring those boys to heel, if just for the last time they had tried, she had threatened to have the place closed down pending a nasty environmental health scandal. Needless to say, she was having a very, VERY bad day.
When she next looked up towards the door, there stood a man of aproximately a few years older than herself, jet black hair looking almost out of place. Well... he must have been.
Anara smiled thinly, then gestured to the scene going on behind her, without turning around...she dare not, especially when some form of intricate pastry went flying over her head, barely skimming her hair and landing at Tyber's feet.
"I was contacted at the last moment, the meeting took an interesting turn...I was going to contact you once I got to the shuttle but as you can see, I was weighlayed." She said, as another shout of surprise went up in the background...another poor woman had gotten a cake in the side of the head for being just another obstacle.
"Do sit down, just check your chair before you do...they started on the soup first."
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Post by tress on Sept 8, 2011 20:01:24 GMT -5
He guessed she was right, though still hard to bare with at times. Not that he minded at all, the story of that day grew to making him killing the slaves himself. Not a bad reputation to have, and while those under him feared or couldn't believe what he'd done, they obeyed him all the same. " I suppose so"
"Good, I didn't mean anything by it. " He told her honestly. "Just the worst thing you mother could tell me that she could use against us." Not that it would, he wouldn't fault her for having a child somewhere. He knew safety and all that was important, but since it wasn't that he wondered what it was she wanted to tell him.
"I'll wait then."
He smiled at that and nodded, "All of those really. " Standing he offered her his hand to help her up. Together they walked down the ramp and into the busy hanger bay. A look around had him noticing KSF troopers guarding the entryway and others walked around patrolling no doubt cause it was Khari. The rest were workers getting things ready for their departure.
"A surprise? What kind of one?" he looked her way and grinned. "Lets go somewhere private while you make that call, will give us some alone time while your mother gets here."
****
He looked over at the commotion and chuckled. "Yes, word spreads fast."
Looking over at the kids he shouts. "Behave you two and get over here, now!" by the time he was sitting down he was smiling at Anara, his foot rubbing against her leg with a wink.
When they still didnt come he sighed and shook his head, looking over her shoulder he looks at the two kids and wiggles his finger at them. "Yes, I meant you two. Hurry before i get up ....you wont like it if i did" The scar on his face meant he was probably scary to the kids, but he would only use that to his advantage.
"Now, where were you going without me?" he asked Anara.
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