Cloud City

[kharivestra]

Cloud City was an outpost and a tibanna gas mining colony of the planet Bespin, named as such because it was perpetually surrounded by giant clouds. The city floated 60,000 kilometers above the core of the planet, which was an uninhabitable gas giant.
It contained a large and famous luxury resort district on its upper levels, complete with hotels and casinos.




Characteristics

Cloud City consisted of 392 levels, in addition to a top-side surface-level concourse. The level-arrangements were as follows:

Level 1-50: Luxury hotels and casinos which made the city famous throughout parts of the Outer Rim.

Level 51-100: Upscale housing areas.

Level 101-120: Administrative offices.

Level 121-160: Privately owned industrial areas with an infamous reputation, known as Port Town.

Level 161-220: General housing of the facility's workers.

Level 221-280: Factories.

Level 281-370: Gas refineries and miners' quarters.

Level 371-392: Contained the 36,000 repulsorlift engines and tractor beam generators that kept the city afloat and in position.

The main saucer-shaped city structure was 16.2 kilometers in diameter, and 17.3 kilometers tall. Some of the nearby floating settlements, like the Vapor Room, and industrial platforms were also considered part of the city.

[tress]

In the shuttle Tress sits beside Khari and as they were alone he was holding her hand while speaking about things pertaining to what they were doing here on Bespin.

"I know you have a residency here, but i was thinking since Anara is here we can let her stay there and we get us a room at one of the hotels?" he said hinting at a plan.

Wasn't his fault he would rather not be under the same roof as her mother and she would see the trouble that would bring. The hotel would have security forces, so it wasn't so dangerous that they couldn't stay there alone. Give her mother free reign at the Vestra house away from them.

"Just think it would be best to keep our distance, if not we can stay at your place and put you mother up at the hotel?" he was still trying not even hiding the grin or being embarrassed in the slightest. "I hear the Yarith Bespin has nice expansive views..."


"It even has a dinning hall we can used as a makeshift conference room for the meeting with the Jedi." he said as an after thought. Wasn't really to sure how the Jedi viewed security and it would show them that they to were on neutral ground. Some place else and they would almost suspect a trap or attack thinking we had set things up before hand. He really didn't know what they would think, just trying to make it easier for all around. The result of this meeting meant other things could go on as planned. "Up to you really."

[kharivestra]

Lost in her thoughts, Khari's attention had been distantly focussed on the plumes of strangely colourful clouds, streaming past the viewport directly at her left. Highly poisonous as some of them were, it seemed far from harmful, more dreamlike in it's consistancy suggesting a harmlessness that was as deceptive as it was alien. Kuat had it's fair share of beautiful sunsets, however well sculpted to fit the landscape they were, but this was oddly captivating.
The trip here had been a pleasant one, to put it mildly, it made a change to actually be able to spend some time with Tress, just she and him, and be relatively unbothered by outside sources. The occasional communication with Anara here and there and updates on their expected time of arrival were the only things that had interrupted their time together. And that was just fine with her.

Now though, the onset of more official business had her mind somewhat distancing it's self from the pleasantries of every day life, delving into what she could be expecting to hear from the Grand Master when she arrived too. They were early by all accounts, this was of little consequence, she had a residency here and would stay as long as she could without infringing on their other engagements at Corellia. If the Jedi did not show, it would only look worse on them, so who was she to remind them?

In the shuttle Tress sits beside Khari and as they were alone he was holding her hand while speaking about things pertaining to what they were doing here on Bespin.

A gentle squeeze of one hand had her glancing to her right, returning it with a contented smile. They must have looked like love's young dream, sitting here like this, but for once she couldn't have cared what the crew were thinking. She had enjoyed this time and was reluctant to let it go for the sake of formalities.

"I know you have a residency here, but i was thinking since Anara is here we can let her stay there and we get us a room at one of the hotels?" he said hinting at a plan.
Wasn't his fault he would rather not be under the same roof as her mother and she would see the trouble that would bring. The hotel would have security forces, so it wasn't so dangerous that they couldn't stay there alone. Give her mother free reign at the Vestra house away from them.

Ah, Khari thought with some of the same sentiment, she hadn't been looking forward to a reunion either, but some things couldn't be avoided forever. Anara was one of those things.
Patting the top of the hand that held her other one, she hoped that it was a small bit of reassurance.

"My residency isn't big enough to accomodate her, too. Not with the scores of staff she insists on bringing with her. She will have made other arrangements, if not, I can make them for her." There was no way in the nine hells she was letting that woman stay where neither she nor Tress could find safe refuge from her for respite's sake. She hadn't even been to see it in the 'flesh' herself, this place of hers.

Tress appeared to have other plans

"Just think it would be best to keep our distance, if not we can stay at your place and put you mother up at the hotel?" he was still trying not even hiding the grin or being embarrassed in the slightest. "I hear the Yarith Bespin has nice expansive views..."

"It even has a dinning hall we can used as a makeshift conference room for the meeting with the Jedi." he said as an after thought. Wasn't really to sure how the Jedi viewed security and it would show them that they to were on neutral ground. Some place else and they would almost suspect a trap or attack thinking we had set things up before hand. He really didn't know what they would think, just trying to make it easier for all around. The result of this meeting meant other things could go on as planned. "Up to you really."

"Up to me is it?"

She nudged him lightly with one elbow, her hand slipping from his smoothly. He'd got this all worked out, which wasn't such a bad thing. Two days in and he was already adept at avoiding the mother in law, now that really was efficient. Khari wondered if she would be doing the same, when the time came for her to eventually meet Tress' parents. Stars, did they even know about them?

Relenting, she threw her hands up partially, and shook her head with a sigh. "Alright, you win. My mother will probably prefer her own private residence anyway, makes her seem all the more important that way, you know how she is. I get the impression she's still going to be smarting from the dressing down you gave her at the spaceport, it will go a long way to smoothing things over." She said. It would go a long way, but not all the way and that was what worried her.

The other woman had a lot going on under the surface of that polished vineer of her's, just as Khari, too, did. It was easy to forget your own plans and secrets when suspecting others of witholding theirs. Just so long as Anara kept her's to herself, everything else should fall nicely into place.

"We can use her reservation, no need to even change the name." Looking at him out of the corner of her eye, she felt a smirk tug at the corners of her mouth, knowing he was still fixing for her to officially change that name, but that wasn't how it worked on Kuat, and indeed the media would have had a field day with that one.
"You don't mind going down as baggage do you? What with your disguise and all," That would no doubt tip the balance into another of their favorite games of good humoured snipery, but she felt like she was overdue one, or he was planning something huge.

The shuttle banked in for it's approach and at last the familiar sight of Coud city appeared out of the mists like a gleaming jewel just hanging there amid the clouds. The glare on it's structure from the light was such, that Khari had to shield her eyes with one hand to get a good look at the place. It was just like the holos, and she was rather looking forward to frequenting some of the city's leisure facilities. The casino's in particular would be a good chance to throw some caution to the wind and see if she still had luck with her. So long as Anara didn't see fit to do likewise and fritter away her inherritance, of course.

A moment more and they had landed, with the other shuttle following in behind her and Tress', it had been something of an organised convoy, again organized so that neither she nor her new husband had the 'pleasure' of enduring Anara and her new found charges for more than was absolutely necessary. A time would come, though, when it was.

Khari took to congregating in one of the spaceport's VIP lounge areas, what staff she had brought with her, waiting there too and dealing with their luggage. The place was as expansive as she had remembered it, you couldn't go more than twenty meteres without seeing a huge viewport that captured the view perfectly, in as grand a way as possible. It wasn't unlike that of those aboard the KDY array. The views there, however were far more...industrial.

They had just recieved word that Anara and Tyber's shuttle had landed, and sure enough, saw them approaching from a small way down towards the landing platforms.

"Be nice now, she's probably forgotten what you said about her back on Kuat. No sense in reminding her." Khari warned Tress, though no one would have blamed him for having another go, even Khari couldn't stop him.

[tress]

"My residency isn't big enough to accommodate her, too. Not with the scores of staff she insists on bringing with her. She will have made other arrangements, if not, I can make them for her." There was no way in the nine hells she was letting that woman stay where neither she nor Tress could find safe refuge from her for respite's sake. She hadn't even been to see it in the 'flesh' herself, this place of hers.

He muttered playfully, 'Kuati' with a shake of his head. He was expecting a rebuttal over it but that was part of the fun. There was nothing that said they couldn't continue their fun as they had before. Just remembering the walk to their quarters on the Cruiser had been fun in itself. Even if they had been caught that first time breaking and entering some officers rooms. "OK."

"Up to me is it?"

She nudged him lightly with one elbow, her hand slipping from his smoothly. He'd got this all worked out, which wasn't such a bad thing. Two days in and he was already adept at avoiding the mother in law, now that really was efficient. Khari wondered if she would be doing the same, when the time came for her to eventually meet Tress' parents. Stars, did they even know about them?

Relenting, she threw her hands up partially, and shook her head with a sigh. "Alright, you win. My mother will probably prefer her own private residence anyway, makes her seem all the more important that way, you know how she is. I get the impression she's still going to be smarting from the dressing down you gave her at the spaceport, it will go a long way to smoothing things over." She said. It would go a long way, but not all the way and that was what worried her.

"Yeah, i leave it up to you after making my case on the matter." He chucked as he got the elbow, he had been hinting, well, more like giving her no choice in the matter when it came to her mothers accommodations. It was best if they kept separate he really thought.

"Good, then its settled. It will be so much better, you'll see. Might be that we get more time to ourselves." he said with a wink. No interruptions like they had been having. "I did no such thing, i just told her the truth so she came down a peg or two in her ego driven life."

"We can use her reservation, no need to even change the name." Looking at him out of the corner of her eye, she felt a smirk tug at the corners of her mouth, knowing he was still fixing for her to officially change that name, but that wasn't how it worked on Kuat, and indeed the media would have had a field day with that one.

"You don't mind going down as baggage do you? What with your disguise and all," That would no doubt tip the balance into another of their favorite games of good humoured snipery, but she felt like she was overdue one, or he was planning something huge.

"That's sounds reasonable, i wonder what she reserved for herself. I want those expansive views..." he said, since they were here might as well enjoy the scenery. They were almost on like a honeymoon of sorts, why not plan it like one. "Room service in bed, long sudden drops off the side of the city with some jetpaks? Something fun to keep things from getting to boring with this Jedi meeting or getting interrupted by your mother."

"Baggage?" he looked at her glaring. "What do you mean baggage, I will have to teach you some manners...." he sat back and crossed his arms. "This telbun will insist on his duties being taken into careful consideration. I do have a job to preform to my mistresses satisfaction..." with that he smirked and stood up. The shuttle had landed and they had to leave.

Outside he waited at the foot of the ramp and looked over to the other shuttle and was already frowning at what he saw.

"Be nice now, she's probably forgotten what you said about her back on Kuat. No sense in reminding her." Khari warned Tress, though no one would have blamed him for having another go, even Khari couldn't stop him.

"How can i be nice when what shes done?" he whispered in a hiss. "Look who just came out of the shuttle and whos in tow...."

[kharivestra]

"That's sounds reasonable, i wonder what she reserved for herself. I want those expansive views..." he said, since they were here might as well enjoy the scenery. They were almost on like a honeymoon of sorts, why not plan it like one. "Room service in bed, long sudden drops off the side of the city with some jetpaks? Something fun to keep things from getting to boring with this Jedi meeting or getting interrupted by your mother."

What indeed. Khari knew that whatever type of room Anara had reserved for herself, it would be the best that establishment had to offer. She never did hold back when it came to keeping herself comfortable, however short the duration of her stay.

"And knowing her, you'll get them and then some." She informed him with a deciding nod, though if Anara would relinquish them, that remained to be seen. Just as long as they were apart for some of the time. "You'll have to face her sometime, regardless of your feelings on the matter. Only now she has very little over you."

That was a little bit of a two sided credchip though, while he knew stuff that she might try and tell him already, it wouldn't stop her upping the ante, perhaps even threatening to go public about it if he didn't start singing her tune. Khari found herself pushing down that dark nagging worry, back into the precipice it had slunk out from, she didn't want to go there, and yet something told her one day she might very well have to. It wasn't right, but it could happen.

"Baggage?" he looked at her glaring. "What do you mean baggage, I will have to teach you some manners...." he sat back and crossed his arms. "This telbun will insist on his duties being taken into careful consideration. I do have a job to preform to my mistresses satisfaction..." with that he smirked and stood up. The shuttle had landed and they had to leave.

Outside he waited at the foot of the ramp and looked over to the other shuttle and was already frowning at what he saw.

"And you teach manners too, you're taking to your new found position in life far better than I could have expected. Keep up the good work and I might even let you make good of that promise of satisfaction." It was all theatrics when she patted his shoulder, knowing that would just perpetuate things. Until she saw him frown of course, and followed his line of sight right back to where he was looking.
The foot of the landing ramp, and at the small crowd gathering there.

"Oh no..."

"How can i be nice when what shes done?" he whispered in a hiss. "Look who just came out of the shuttle and whos in tow...."

That knot in her stomach had just turned into a block of ice, if he was thinking of saying something, this could all be over before it began. Anara's threats hadn't been idle, and she stood in a very precarious position. Biting her tongue she tried to be at least a little diplomatic about this.
"She also believes she holds all of the bargaining chips. But if she falls, so do I, and it won't take her long to work that out. The longer she goes on believing she had the upper hand, the more time we buy ourselves to think of something to counter that."

He was still going to say something, his threats hadn't been idle either. Though what purpose fostering off those two knylenns could serve she didn't know, save for they would be free of the wicked witch of dathomir - as Rufus had referred to her as. On second thoughts, perhaps Tress was right.

"They'll be safe here, this place has security. We have security...besides, your grandfather is with her, how much trouble could she make, really?" Khari was going to regret that statement, she could already tell, and by the time Anara and company had sauntered over to them, the look in her mother's eyes said it all...she hadn't forgiven and she certainly had not forgotten.

"I was informed that you wish to switch accomodation?" Anara inquired quizically - why this was happening she wasn't sure, but the full weight of suspicion landed on Tress. This would make her impending meeting a tad more difficult. She couldn't use the excuse of popping out to the bar to fetch a nice drink for she and the man she'd brought with her if they had one in the room with them.

"Yes, I thought you would prefer it. It's our way of apologising for the uhh scene earlier. The apartment is newly furnished, I haven't had chance to stay there yet myself...see it as a unique opportunity, the holos I saw were spectacular." The older woman's expression did not soften any, rather she held herself haughtily aloft and remained aloof with it.

"I know another way you could go about apologising, Khari, and it has very little to do with my living arrangements so much as yours." She was ignoring Tress completely, but at least she wasn't sniping at him this time.

The boys on the other hand, seemed completely moon eyed with the prospect of being somewhere other than their homeworld, and were fixing to run amok in the lounge as they spoke. Apparently a star destroyer wasn't nearly as much fun as a city in the clouds when it came to potential for adventure.

"That is not up for debate. And you have your hands far too full to concern yourself with whom I spend my spare time...bear in mine, MY."

[tress]

What indeed. Khari knew that whatever type of room Anara had reserved for herself, it would be the best that establishment had to offer. She never did hold back when it came to keeping herself comfortable, however short the duration of her stay.


"And knowing her, you'll get them and then some." She informed him with a deciding nod, though if Anara would relinquish them, that remained to be seen. Just as long as they were apart for some of the time. "You'll have to face her sometime, regardless of your feelings on the matter. Only now she has very little over you."

That was a little bit of a two sided credchip though, while he knew stuff that she might try and tell him already, it wouldn't stop her upping the ante, perhaps even threatening to go public about it if he didn't start singing her tune. Khari found herself pushing down that dark nagging worry, back into the precipice it had slunk out from, she didn't want to go there, and yet something told her one day she might very well have to. It wasn't right, but it could happen.

He thought of Anara and nodded in the end, yes, she would no doubt get the best of everything being the spoiled kuati she was. It was time to get going and he was having hard time wanting to take that first step. Khari must have seen him hesitating .

"Never had anything over me that a well placed blaster bolt wouldn't fix....?" he looked over at her the question hanging in his eyes, then sighed. "I guess its wishful thinking, but a medically induced coma is still the better of the two. Right?" Anara would still be "alive" as it were, but under medical care. He would even do the right thing and pay for the best of everything.


"I don't care what she does as long as its stay out of our way, we have gone to far to stop now that the goal is within our reach." he told her truthfully. First time she endangered or sought to get the upper hand he would take really drastic measures to correct her over reaching wayward hands.

"And you teach manners too, you're taking to your new found position in life far better than I could have expected. Keep up the good work and I might even let you make good of that promise of satisfaction." It was all theatrics when she patted his shoulder, knowing that would just perpetuate things. Until she saw him frown of course, and followed his line of sight right back to where he was looking.
The foot of the landing ramp, and at the small crowd gathering there.

"Oh no..."

He was smirking at her mention of position, funny he had been thinking of just that or rather several. "Let me make good?" he glared. "Wife, you cross the line and deserve chastisement...to which i can only hope you are prepared for later. " he had been talking about one thing and her another it seemed, or maybe not. That was all forgotten as he saw who and exactly what was stepping out of the landing shuttle.

Rage. Anger. Was what he felt and he was target ting the person who made him that way.

That knot in her stomach had just turned into a block of ice, if he was thinking of saying something, this could all be over before it began. Anara's threats hadn't been idle, and she stood in a very precarious position. Biting her tongue she tried to be at least a little diplomatic about this."She also believes she holds all of the bargaining chips. But if she falls, so do I, and it won't take her long to work that out. The longer she goes on believing she had the upper hand, the more time we buy ourselves to think of something to counter that."


He was still going to say something, his threats hadn't been idle either. Though what purpose fostering off those two knylenns could serve she didn't know, save for they would be free of the wicked witch of dathomir - as Rufus had referred to her as. On second thoughts, perhaps Tress was right.

"They'll be safe here, this place has security. We have security...besides, your grandfather is with her, how much trouble could she make, really?" Khari was going to regret that statement, she could already tell, and by the time Anara and company had sauntered over to them, the look in her mother's eyes said it all...she hadn't forgiven and she certainly had not forgotten.


"I was informed that you wish to switch accommodation?" Anara inquired quizzically - why this was happening she wasn't sure, but the full weight of suspicion landed on Tress. This would make her impending meeting a tad more difficult. She couldn't use the excuse of popping out to the bar to fetch a nice drink for she and the man she'd brought with her if they had one in the room with them.

"Yes, I thought you would prefer it. It's our way of apologizing for the uhh scene earlier. The apartment is newly furnished, I haven't had chance to stay there yet myself...see it as a unique opportunity, the holos I saw were spectacular." The older woman's expression did not soften any, rather she held herself haughtily aloft and remained aloof with it.

"I know another way you could go about apologizing, Khari, and it has very little to do with my living arrangements so much as yours." She was ignoring Tress completely, but at least she wasn't sniping at him this time.

The boys on the other hand, seemed completely moon eyed with the prospect of being somewhere other than their homeworld, and were fixing to run amok in the lounge as they spoke. Apparently a star destroyer wasn't nearly as much fun as a city in the clouds when it came to potential for adventure.

"That is not up for debate. And you have your hands far too full to concern yourself with whom I spend my spare time...bear in mine, MY."

Didn't she see that her bringing them here could shatter everything?

He turned and looked at Khari, she was right, but still it was to risky when Anara stood to lose nothing and them everything. Leaning closer to Khari, "Change of plans. Please call the ship and ask them to send down two security details for more manpower. While i force the hotel to empty the entire floor for our use. Have them meet us there." He looked over at his grandfather glaring at him. " We are all staying at the hotel now it seems since people are hard of hearing....." he knew he was going to have to force the hotel manager or owner to do this, he was even prepared to use underhanded means to force their compliance.


"Not only do we have to do what we are here to do, but apparently some people cant even seem to comprehend the risk of others seeking to harming innocent children to ruin everything we are working so hard to accomplish...." a few choice words slipped out in his anger and he looked at the boys, then to his grandfather. "Lets go we have things to....discuss and get straight.." To the little ones he soften his expression but only just. "You two stick with Khari and give her no trouble or else...." Then to Khari. "If you need me, call in the mean time gather up the servants and meet us at the hotel." A rough kiss ended things and he walled away.

They hadnt even been out of ear shot when Tress hissed at his grandfather. "You risk to much, old man... "

[kharivestra]

He thought of Anara and nodded in the end, yes, she would no doubt get the best of everything being the spoiled kuati she was. It was time to get going and he was having hard time wanting to take that first step. Khari must have seen him hesitating .
"Never had anything over me that a well placed blaster bolt wouldn't fix....?" he looked over at her the question hanging in his eyes, then sighed. "I guess its wishful thinking, but a medically induced coma is still the better of the two. Right?" Anara would still be "alive" as it were, but under medical care. He would even do the right thing and pay for the best of everything.


"I don't care what she does as long as its stay out of our way, we have gone to far to stop now that the goal is within our reach." he told her truthfully. First time she endangered or sought to get the upper hand he would take really drastic measures to correct her over reaching wayward hands.

Khari resisted the urge to hold her head in her hands, being in the middle of all of this wasn't a thing she particularly relished. And while she was more inclined to listen to Tress' methodology, his execution at the end there lacked subtlety. Medically induced or not, it only took one person to take a keen interest in why Kuat's senator was currently in a med center far, far away for their plans to fray rapidly round the edges. But did they not also run the risk of that happening if Anara continued on the path she was currently? Perhaps that was so, but in essence she had done little that could give her too much leverage - if she damned Khari, then she damned herself by default. Simply put, she wouldn't fail.

It was a little comforting to know Tress hadn't been entirely serious about his suggestions, so long as her mother behaved, so would he - it didn't get much fairer than that. Patting his arm lightly, she aimed to soothe, though his blood would soon be boiling when he saw who Anara had dragged with her on this...excursion.

"Let me deal with her. I have a better understanding of how she thinks, I know what will or will not send her off on one. You run the risk of escalating things by stepping in."

She hadn't yet taken her eyes off the passengers disembarking, things were about to get heated and she was already thinking up ways to defuse the situation. In the end though, all she could draw were blanks. What was she to do? Tell the now legal guardian of those two...darlings, that they couldn't bring them with her, emphasise even more the dangers of dragging them here? As locations went, this one was pretty benign, how much trouble could two kids cause, really? And then she remembered her own childhood, or rather, a childs perspective of witnessing the things their older brother, Rhy, had gotten up to...

"See? This is what rankling her does, creates pure defiance...I'd dispise it, but I know I'll only use it myself." She slid a insidious glance across as her husband, and then added, "Not a word."

He could take what amusement he liked from that, but Khari wasn't going to deny that defiance could be a useful tool if applied correctly. Anara was just doing this out of spite, not thinking, for one second, about those children or their safety. That was her mother allover.

He was smirking at her mention of position, funny he had been thinking of just that or rather several. "Let me make good?" he glared. "Wife, you cross the line and deserve chastisement...to which i can only hope you are prepared for later. " he had been talking about one thing and her another it seemed, or maybe not. That was all forgotten as he saw who and exactly what was stepping out of the landing shuttle.
Rage. Anger. Was what he felt and he was target ting the person who made him that way.

Aloof as she could appear, she was grinning inside knowingly. It didn't take a genius to work out what he meant and it upped the anti in their interesting little games a tad more. She was all for that.
"I look forward to the return serve...but we have a problem to deal with right now." Khari took a few steps forth towards the reception area, then turned and looked back at Tress - almost unrecognizable in those stiflingly heavy robes, she felt a pang of sympathy each time she looked - "Oh don't worry, I'll get to you later. Promise."

He turned and looked at Khari, she was right, but still it was to risky when Anara stood to lose nothing and them everything. Leaning closer to Khari, "Change of plans. Please call the ship and ask them to send down two security details for more manpower. While i force the hotel to empty the entire floor for our use. Have them meet us there." He looked over at his grandfather glaring at him. " We are all staying at the hotel now it seems since people are hard of hearing....." he knew he was going to have to force the hotel manager or owner to do this, he was even prepared to use underhanded means to force their compliance.

"Not only do we have to do what we are here to do, but apparently some people cant even seem to comprehend the risk of others seeking to harming innocent children to ruin everything we are working so hard to accomplish...." a few choice words slipped out in his anger and he looked at the boys, then to his grandfather. "Lets go we have things to....discuss and get straight.." To the little ones he soften his expression but only just. "You two stick with Khari and give her no trouble or else...." Then to Khari. "If you need me, call in the mean time gather up the servants and meet us at the hotel." A rough kiss ended things and he walled away.

They hadnt even been out of ear shot when Tress hissed at his grandfather. "You risk too much, old man... "

The senator looked less than pleased when she saw her daughter and Tress approaching, the latter at a stride so long, Khari was having difficulty keeping up. It was rather entertaining, considering he was dressed in the guise of a telbun. Entertaining and utterly ridiculous.
Yes, she had paid heed to his idle threats back on Kuat, and she wasn't to be taken lightly herself. When she had agreed to let the Knylenns come along, it had been with the strict intention that they have proper care the entire time. After all, she was going to be busy with her vocation, and wouldn't be able to watch them nearly as well as a nanny droid or care taker.

Sullenly, she glared at the Anaxian with disdain. He was going to be the first one to suffer some indignity when she found a way to oust him. She had already been plotting that along the way. Tyber complicated things, though. The softly, softly approach wasn't going to work, however.

Khari was now hanging back, speaking into a handheld comlink with whom she supposed was members of her staff or security detail, the latter confirmed when several personnel arrived all at once, and stood at a respectible distance, waiting to be assigned to a particular duty. But Khari didn't give them one just yet. No she seemed more intent on quelling the surge of rage in her counterpart. Placation wasn't an option, Anara could tell that much just by looking at him. It was the look she'd seen in his grandfather the day before, when he had realized there was more to her and Rhy's arrangement than business.

"Khari dear, kindly tell your telbun to close his mouth, I've heard quite enough from him today already and it is giving me a headache." An oily smile crept across her lips when she bore witness to how much that was going to irk him. That or spur him into action.

The younger Vestra didn't give much ground, save for linking an arm through Tress' and pulling him gently to one side, subtle enough not to draw too much attention to the group before things escalated and got out of hand again.

"Do what you have to, but leave her to me, there's no sense in letting her wind you up. It's what she wants." Within that moment, and at Tress' behest, the Knylenn boys had made their way over to her, so now she literally had to mind her words, lest it be repeated, loudly, for the entire foyer to hear.

"Arrange what you suggested, I will find something to keep these two occupied for a while, safely, and then I can speak to her. She'll come around, she doesn't have much choice, remember?" Or she wouldn't by the time they were done. "Come on, let's see if we can't find you something interesting to do." she said, addressing the two younger ones, and crooking a finger stiffly at her mother to beckon her to follow also. The least they could do was locate the floor they were staying on and discover what there was for children as young as the two brothers to do here. Gambling most certainly wasn't on the agenda.

By the time Khari, the two boys and Anara were crossing the halls towards their hotel destination, Anara had already decided that it was time to step things up a little. That boy had really put his foot in it this time, and she was determined to see to it that he would be making a swift exit, one way or another. How depended entirely on him.

"Khari, I-"

Whatever Anara had to say, Khari had already resigned herself to the fact she wasn't going to hear it, no matter what she was about to say. It was a little late for apologies, and to think, they were working towards a unified goal. They wanted the same things in this and her mother seemed so intent on ruining it over what...the fact she had broken with tradition? As if the kantankerous old gundark hadn't done it herself enough times. The line could have stretched halfway around Kuat, her opinions lower than the deepest chasm in any of the world's oceans.
Harsh, but painfully true, she thought.

"I know what you are going to say. You're going to berrate me for my poor decision, tell me that it's not too late to rectify it and then supply me with some means of doing it all myself. Just like you did with him." The younger woman's words evidently cut deep, because her mother flinched visibly, almost shrinking away from her at the mention of that so openly. About as open as it could get without outwardly stating she could have bumped Tress off. That either one of them had had anything to do with the death of the former KDY CEO.
"Tress knows, by the way, so don't for a second think you can twist the facts and attempt to make him loathe me anymore than I loathe myself. And he knows every last sordid detail. But don't worry, his silence is as assured as the fact you are going to leave him well alone."

Anara was about to make her feel like all her words were a wasted effort. Good thing for her, then, that she had managed to look somewhat unphased by this whole engagement, flinch aside - something about Kholis' death always struck her as hard as any backhanded slap to the face, and she would never quite understand why. Not completely.

"Actually I was about to excuse myself." She said plainly, as if everything that her daughter had uttered had never been said. Cold, that summed Anara up at the best of times, her life was completely compartmentalised, Khari never understood how someone could go through life simply existing like that. "I have business to attend to here and we aren't going to have much time to prepare before the Jedi arrive, so...if you do not mind watching the children for a while?"

Dumbstruck, Khari nodded blindly before the words had had chance to sink into her thoughts. Well at least someone had their eye on the ball.
"Of course, I can go on ahead, we'll catch up later and compare notes."

Anara offered her a thin-lipped smile, nodded in some vague form of a thank you, and departed off down one of the side corridors that was sign posted as leading to one of the many hotel establishments here.
Khari watched her go until she couldn't see her anymore, then glanced down as she felt a gentle tug on her hand. It was Rufus, looking considerably more sheepishly doe-eyed than he had a few seconds ago when she had last looked at him. And it soon became clear why. There, in his hands, curled up in a tight ball of fluff lay a sleeping chitlik, common pets among coreward people who tended not to have the luxury of space to keep something more exotic.

"Viqtor found him, can I keep him?"

The liklihood of the older boy having just found a chitlik was slim indeed, they didn't just live wild on airborne cities like this. No, they came from somewhere. It was most probable that the boys had managed to nap the little creature from somewhere. Khari would look into it, but was probably going to end up with a couple of heartbroken kids when they realized taking stuff from others, especially beloved pets, wasn't allowed anymore than that epically proportioned food fight they'd had.
Sighing, she shook her head, "You'll have to tell me where he found him first. Come on, you can tell me on the way there, I need you to help pick a room for auntie Anara....and as much fun as putting her in the basement would be, I don't think she'd forgive any of us." That at least, made Viqtor giggle, she'd got the measure of that one alright.

*****

Out of sight, and hopefully out of mind for the moment, Anara did her best not to curse repeatedly under her breath, it wasn't becoming of one of her status and she wasn't supposed to be that easily wound up. Yet there she was, holding back for once. At least now she was here she could do something about the whole situation, a compounded problem.
She had already taken out her comlink, subconsciously punching in the frequency she'd used so many times before now, it was almost routine.

"It's me, I arrived moments ago. I think it's time we had that chat now, while I won't be missed."

[tress]

Aloof as she could appear, she was grinning inside knowingly. It didn't take a genius to work out what he meant and it upped the anti in their interesting little games a tad more. She was all for that.
"I look forward to the return serve...but we have a problem to deal with right now." Khari took a few steps forth towards the reception area, then turned and looked back at Tress - almost unrecognizable in those stiflingly heavy robes, she felt a pang of sympathy each time she looked - "Oh don't worry, I'll get to you later. Promise."

"Return serve?" she was asking for it and if she wasn't he would still retaliate on perceived insults. It would make things fun if anything later.

It was the "I'll get to you later.." that had him glaring. Pay back. Even in his present mood he was looking forward to it and gave her a wink that said, until later.

Once saying what he needed, he left with his grandfather. He was more than angry at what had happened and didn't know why the old man went so willingly along with things knowing what was at stake. "You risk too much, old man... " and then he heard something from Anara.

"Khari dear, kindly tell your telbun to close his mouth, I've heard quite enough from him today already and it is giving me a headache." An oily smile crept across her lips when she bore witness to how much that was going to irk him. That or spur him into action.

"Come on lets keep moving." Tyber says pulling Tress away. All they needed was to get into an argument there for all to see. "Don't you think i have things in hand, I have been at this alot longer than you. I have friends here and for that reason i deemed it ok to come along."

"Yes, but if just a small harm comes to them the deal with Rhy is over. We need him there for alteast a month before we can move on with out plan. This is to risky and chancy on yours and that witch's part. Now we got to change everything just to keep those kids secure. "

Together they went and politely asked the hotel management to clear out the penthouse and the floor underneath that. The men would be stationed there while the rest stayed up on the top floor.


*****

Out of sight, and hopefully out of mind for the moment, Anara did her best not to curse repeatedly under her breath, it wasn't becoming of one of her status and she wasn't supposed to be that easily wound up. Yet there she was, holding back for once. At least now she was here she could do something about the whole situation, a compounded problem.She had already taken out her comlink, subconsciously punching in the frequency she'd used so many times before now, it was almost routine.

"It's me, I arrived moments ago. I think it's time we had that chat now, while I won't be missed."

Logan was already waiting and had prepared things before she called him. "Get lost along the way?" he asked straight off. There had been plenty of time to do what he had done.

Sitting in a well appointed hotel room he heard the rest she had to say. "Where are you exactly? I'm in your room and you aren't here...." he said looking out the windows. "Snuck in past security to see you in private so don't keep me waiting...."

[kharivestra]

Logan was already waiting and had prepared things before she called him. "Get lost along the way?" he asked straight off. There had been plenty of time to do what he had done.

Sitting in a well appointed hotel room he heard the rest she had to say. "Where are you exactly? I'm in your room and you aren't here...." he said looking out the windows. "Snuck in past security to see you in private so don't keep me waiting...."

Anara rolled her eyes, he was always as prompt as she was fashionably late, though he had no reason to complain when she had given, in her opinion, a good explaination as to why she was running a little behind the time. He wouldn't see her sarcasm, but he'd definitely have heard it in her words.
"I suppose I managed to get lost along with your memory, dear, I told you, I acquired a few new passengers along the way, the unexpected variety. I had a safe journey, thank you kindly for asking." Clipped and prescise as usual, she wasn't yet ready for what she was about to hear from him, and despite her best efforts to prevent it from escaping her, a little cluck of surprise fled her mouth when he said just where he was waiting for her.

That wasn't part of the plan at all, especially now since she had agreed to rearrange their living quarters, whereby they were now sharing a floor with Khari and that miscreant Tress!

"I was down at the shuttle bay...arriving, wait...did you just say you were in my rooms? As in my hotel room here...now?" It was a stupid question to ask, but part of her wanted to believe she'd misheard it. Khari was last seen headed that way, she had said she was going to take the children there and keep them out of the way while that husband of her's had a father son like chat with his grandfather. If Tyber had any sense, he'd knock some sense into the boy.

"I regret to inform you, but the accomodation arrangements have had a little bit of a, reshuffle you could say. You really should have informed me you were planning on dropping in! Khari is heading there right now, are you sure there is no way you can get out just as unseen?!" Not once did she sound flappable, that just wasn't her, flustered, perhaps, but never shaken for more than a few moments. This, was going to be difficult to explain, and Anara hadn't counted on doing so ahead of time.

Well there was no time like the present, fate had taken their situation into it's own capable, and potentially catastrophic, hands, because the next sound she heard was the very familiar voice of her daughter....

Sithspit! This wasn't supposed to happen, not like this!

"Sit tight, I'm on my way." Anara snapped shut the comlink, cutting the transmission instantly, she was already on her way, and at quite a pace too. In all her years, she couldn't remember the last time she had broken into a run, not outside of a luxury gym or spa anyway, and it made for quite the humerous sight. But right now she didn't care, let it be the headlines on the holonet for all she cared, just so long as she got there before Khari took it upon herself to call security or Logan couldn't talk his way out of it...

*****

"....she's really mean and she doesn't let us do what we want, our brother let us do what we wanted, when can we go and stay with him again?" The onslaught of questions from the two Knylenn's just kept coming, and Khari didn't have all the answers, that would have been unsettling to most kids, but not these two. No, they were made of different stuff, Knylenn stuff...that spoke for it's self. They, like most of their station, weren't used to being told no. Khari could, at least, sympathise with that. It was a hard lesson to learn, denial.

"I know she's a little mean but you'll learn to get along better if you and your brother behave...ah, here we are." Khari was saying as she used the swipe holocard to unlock the door then let the small cabal of Kuati in. The boys had been clamouring at the jamb to get into the room, keen to explore and watch the small ammount of air traffic and cloud cars as they passed the room's expansive viewports. But something had stopped them dead in their tracks, the younger bumping into the backside of the elder by accident when Viqtor had come to a complete halt, staring at something directly ahead of him.

It didn't take Khari long to see what, or rather who, he was looking at. There, sat on one of the contemporary looking couches, sat a well dressed man of about middle age she did not recognize. He seemed just as surprised to see them as she was to see him, and she instantly assumed she must have had the wrong suite. Was there even another floor to this establishment? Checking the holocard she had picked up at the reception desk, she checked the number, the leaned back on her heels and looked at the one on the side of the sliding door. It matched alright, there had to be some sort of mistake.

"I think there's been some sort of miscommunication at the check in desk, I have this room booked, this entire floor...actually." Yes it had to be an error, perhaps he was a guest who hadn't been notified of the relocation, they had only preposed it a short while ago, but it was what was best, security wise. "I'm sorry Mr......" she was deliberately floundering for a name, at least she could relay that back to the front desk and they could find him somewhere else.

[tress]

"I suppose I managed to get lost along with your memory, dear, I told you, I acquired a few new passengers along the way, the unexpected variety. I had a safe journey, thank you kindly for asking." Clipped and precise as usual, she wasn't yet ready for what she was about to hear from him, and despite her best efforts to prevent it from escaping her, a little cluck of surprise fled her mouth when he said just where he was waiting for her.

"Seemed like an incessant wait for you here.." he said dismissively. It was true it had felt like days waiting for her to arrive. Had time to do all he had done and now standing looking out the window of her room he was waiting still for her to arrive.

"I was down at the shuttle bay...arriving, wait...did you just say you were in my rooms? As in my hotel room here...now?"

"I did indeed, so hurry i wish to see you ...now" an order and one he was intent on her following. He had been waiting to see her and now, needs must be seen to and right quick.

"I regret to inform you, but the accommodation arrangements have had a little bit of a, reshuffle you could say. You really should have informed me you were planning on dropping in! Khari is heading there right now, are you sure there is no way you can get out just as unseen?!" Not once did she sound flappable, that just wasn't her, flustered, perhaps, but never shaken for more than a few moments. This, was going to be difficult to explain, and Anara hadn't counted on doing so ahead of time.

"Sit tight, I'm on my way."

He heard that, and also noise from the front door. A kids and woman speaking. Logan looked around at his men and told them to stand down and move away. There was just two of them, but they did as he said and acted as if they were pouring drinks.

"I know she's a little mean but you'll learn to get along better if you and your brother behave...ah, here we are." Khari was saying as she used the swipe holocard to unlock the door then let the small cabal of Kuati in. The boys had been clamouring at the jamb to get into the room, keen to explore and watch the small ammount of air traffic and cloud cars as they passed the room's expansive view ports. But something had stopped them dead in their tracks, the younger bumping into the backside of the elder by accident when Viqtor had come to a complete halt, staring at something directly ahead of him.

Logan stood and raised his brow in question, if not putting on a cordial expression on. "Can i help you?" Anything more would give him away. Best not to add to much if he could lie his way out of things.

"I think there's been some sort of miscommunication at the check in desk, I have this room booked, this entire floor...actually." Yes it had to be an error, perhaps he was a guest who hadn't been notified of the relocation, they had only preposed it a short while ago, but it was what was best, security wise. "I'm sorry Mr......" she was deliberately floundering for a name, at least she could relay that back to the front desk and they could find him somewhere else.

"Has there?" he looked around the room and smiled. "Doesn't seem like it, been here two days and no one advised me on this being the wrong rooms." He offered her his hand and stepped closer to her. "Mr. Prescott...to who do i own the please?"



****

Tress and Tyber in the meantime had done their part, they hadn't even had to threatened to get the floor. Creds had been enough and due to it being a slow season it was easily excepted. On the way back they ran into Anara. "A Kuati rushing ?" Tress asked seeing the older woman move faster than he thought she had in years. " "Where you off to in such a hurry?

Tyber on the other hand hit his grandson upside the head, "Dont be rude to my wife.." then shut his mouth and looked at both in shock. He had forgotten no one knew of their marriage.

"Wife?" He looked at his grandfather. "WIFE? What are you playing at ...do you wish to ruin everything !" he stood up to his gramps. "She will betray you in the end and then what..?"

"Lets go upstairs and discuss this all together..."

[kharivestra]

"Has there?" he looked around the room and smiled. "Doesn't seem like it, been here two days and no one advised me on this being the wrong rooms." He offered her his hand and stepped closer to her. "Mr. Prescott...to who do i own the pleasure?"

He seemed every bit as surprised to see her as she was him, which certainly lead her to believe that he was the room's current occupant, there had been a mix up. His words only corroborrated what she had suspected. Though when her gaze slid towards the other two men in the room, currently helping themselves to a drink at the room's rather impressive bar - Trust my mother, she thought, to have them import all of that.
Without thought she took the hand that was offered to her and shook it, a firm, confident handshake she received in return.

"Khari Vestra," she began, there was no point in telling him anything different, while he might not have recognized her, the name would carry some weight. Particularly after all that trouble with KDY and the Grey Jedi Kage. She had been making waves ever since. Formalities "This is slightly awkward, and you have my sincere apologies, but my party and I are going to require this entire floor. We were informed that this would be no problem. I hope it does not inconvenience you at all? I'll even offer to pay for you to be relocated somewhere equally as extravagant as this."

It was small compense, especially since he was clearly comfortable where he had been. The other two left her uneasy though, what had she just walked into?
Conscious of the other two with her, she put one hand on Rufus' shoulder and pulled him back until he was slightly behind her with his slightly older brother. This was exactly the sort of thing she hadn't wanted them to be here for, and while there was almost certainly an innocent explaination as to what these people were doing here, it could have been anyone in this room. Appearences were always deceiving, as she, herself, had found out in the case of Dooku.

"You two wait, you can run yourselves ragged some other time without making a nuisance." She told them softly, with just a hint of wariness. It was good to be cautious, kids had yet to learn that, especially these two. Khari then turned her attention back to the man who had identified himself as Prescott.

"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important, and I know that is of little excuse, but perhaps if we iron things out with the fool that mixed this up we can at least get some form of compensation from this. I must, however, insist."

*****

Tress and Tyber in the meantime had done their part, they hadn't even had to threatened to get the floor. Creds had been enough and due to it being a slow season it was easily excepted. On the way back they ran into Anara. "A Kuati rushing ?" Tress asked seeing the older woman move faster than he thought she had in years. " "Where you off to in such a hurry?

Anara hadn't been paying the slightest bit of attention as to who was walking these halls with her, much less that she would recognize any of them. Logan was going to be meeting Khari far ahead of time and unknowingly too, she wanted to be there to provide some sort of damage limitation, or simply kick him out before her daughter got there. Perhaps with a bit of luck, the Knylenn brothers had slowed her down - however, she knew in her heart of hearts, if such could be possessed by one such as her, that she was going to arrive late. Khari had had quite the head start.

It was with that thought that she rushed past Tress without even noticing, bumping shoulders with him in a way that had her rebounding and stumbling slightly. All very embarrassing right now, but when she whirled to stare down the stupid person that had dared to get in her way, she was awarded a sarcastic comment and a face, the likes of which, she had never wanted to see, not now, not ever again. Damn him to the pits of corellia's nine hells.

"You? Don't you ever watch where you are going? And what business is it of yours where I go and how?! " She then spun to glare at Tyber, "Did his parents not teach him any manners?"

She didn't have the time for this, and was about to rush off again when Tyber had to go and open his big mouth...

Tyber on the other hand hit his grandson upside the head, "Dont be rude to my wife.." then shut his mouth and looked at both in shock. He had forgotten no one knew of their marriage.

"Wife?" He looked at his grandfather. "WIFE? What are you playing at ...do you wish to ruin everything !" he stood up to his gramps. "She will betray you in the end and then what..?"

"Lets go upstairs and discuss this all together..."

No one could have looked more surprised than Tress at that point in time. No one, except maybe Anara. Her mouth was moving but no sound, no words, came out. Even her thoughts were a terrible mixture of berrating Tyber and simply dashing off towards the lesser of two evils. Ironically, it was Tress that was speaking about everything being ruined, he had no idea, she almost felt sorry for the boy. If anything was about to be ruined, it was her plans, and she blamed him entirely. Ever since he'd walked into her daughter's life, he'd brought with him unbelievable ammounts of trouble. None of this would be a problem if he'd just stayed away!

"Don't ask, just...don't." She hissed stiffly, initially going to turn the other cheek and leave him wondering, it wasn't what it seemed anyway and she wasn't going to explain why here or anywhere else for that matter.
But then he'd chosen to take the opportunity to have another dig at her, and that was when she had finally had enough.

Quick as anyone half her age, she took a swipe at Tress, slapping him hard around the face, composure finally lost and reeling. Gods she hated him for it, but it had felt good to finally let some of her restraint go. This was beneath her, she shouldn't have reacted at all, much less in a semi public place, but by the force she was furious! Posture so stiff it was as if she'd suddenly been turned to stone, were it not for the tell tale quakes that appeared to ripple through her, she slowly looked over at Tyber. That was the best idea he'd had all day, barring a couple on the way here.

"What? Were you going to do it?" By it, she had meant backhanding Tress, she'd give Tyber one if she thought it would do any good. "Up stairs it is then, I was going that way anyway." Better get this over with, she could deny knowing Prescott at all if it served them better, or she'd have a few introductions to be making.

[tress]

"Khari Vestra," she began, there was no point in telling him anything different, while he might not have recognized her, the name would carry some weight. Particularly after all that trouble with KDY and the Grey Jedi Kage. She had been making waves ever since. Formalities "This is slightly awkward, and you have my sincere apologies, but my party and I are going to require this entire floor. We were informed that this would be no problem. I hope it does not inconvenience you at all? I'll even offer to pay for you to be relocated somewhere equally as extravagant as this."

"...of Kuat?" he asked playing along adding on an expression of surprise shock at meeting someone of her reputation. "The entire floor...?" he was stalling for time, Anara had said she was on her way. "I wasn't told by anyone." he waved off her offer. "The hotel will pay for this offense...I had just started to relax. I shall have my staff pack up then."

"You two wait, you can run yourselves ragged some other time without making a nuisance." She told them softly, with just a hint of wariness. It was good to be cautious, kids had yet to learn that, especially these two. Khari then turned her attention back to the man who had identified himself as Prescott.

"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important, and I know that is of little excuse, but perhaps if we iron things out with the fool that mixed this up we can at least get some form of compensation from this. I must, however, insist."

While he looked over at his two men who took the hint and left to the other room. He went with them, then remembered he hadnt brought bags in, yet. On second thought he turned and sent the out the door. "Your right, I will have my things carried out by the hotel staff, please excuse me. " Then he left the room after his men left.

"Sorry for the delay..." he said as the door closed. He waited with his men by the turbolifts and when it opened he cursed seeing who was in it.

****

"You? Don't you ever watch where you are going? And what business is it of yours where I go and how?! " She then spun to glare at Tyber, "Did his parents not teach him any manners?"

'Me?' he thought, 'You ran into me you old gundark!' "I dont care really, but if there are any security guards here wishing to make some creds they would sell the footage of the esteemed Senator from Kuat running around like a headless nerf" In fact he would see to it that something leaked after purchasing the footage himself. Small stab at her, but it should led to fun things.

The hit from his grandfather and the surprise of finding out things had raised his ire, just the thought of everything it meant sent him into a rage.

"Don't ask, just...don't." She hissed stiffly, initially going to turn the other cheek and leave him wondering, it wasn't what it seemed anyway and she wasn't going to explain why here or anywhere else for that matter.But then he'd chosen to take the opportunity to have another dig at her, and that was when she had finally had enough.

Quick as anyone half her age, she took a swipe at Tress, slapping him hard around the face, composure finally lost and reeling. Gods she hated him for it, but it had felt good to finally let some of her restraint go. This was beneath her, she shouldn't have reacted at all, much less in a semi public place, but by the force she was furious! Posture so stiff it was as if she'd suddenly been turned to stone, were it not for the tell tale quakes that appeared to ripple through her, she slowly looked over at Tyber. That was the best idea he'd had all day, barring a couple on the way here.

"What? Were you going to do it?" By it, she had meant backhanding Tress, she'd give Tyber one if she thought it would do any good. "Up stairs it is then, I was going that way anyway." Better get this over with, she could deny knowing Prescott at all if it served them better, or she'd have a few introductions to be making.

The slap was hard and stinging against his cheek, though he held off the return slap but his eyes held violence in them for her. No one slapped him without some retribution, this one meant more and would be severely enacted.

The only thing was Tybers timely interference that stopped everything as they got into the turbolift. He separated them and hissed. "Dont ever do that to him, if you thought he was bad before you just provoked things...."

He stood there raging, his hands flexing and not even trying to calm what he was feeling. So when the doors opened and there waiting was someone he and his grandfather personally knew and hated he let go of his restraint and attacked with a roar. The first punch landing with a crack at Prescott's jaw sending him back and he didn't stop there as he deflected a swing from one of the men with Logan. The groan as he was hit from behind by the second man before his grandfather joined in the fight.

Roars of anger and pain filled the hallway to the rooms....Tress taking out the rage he felt for Anara on the men defending themselves. They traded blows, sometimes seeming to have the edge other times being on the losing end of things. The Zann's knew these people, and they them it was one of many fights they had had and still more would come before either were dead.

[kharivestra]

"...of Kuat?" he asked playing along adding on an expression of surprise shock at meeting someone of her reputation. "The entire floor...?" he was stalling for time, Anara had said she was on her way. "I wasn't told by anyone." he waved off her offer. "The hotel will pay for this offense...I had just started to relax. I shall have my staff pack up then."

Oh she felt bad, but acknowledged his recognition nevertheless, a title, however pompous it might seem to some, often carried with it clout that could get you what you needed, much more what you wanted. In this instance, it was necessary, or there would be more conflict in her household, and she didn't want that.

"Correct, and I really do apologise for this, I hope the hotel compensate you tenfold for the mix up, I was told it would be relatively empty this time of year." She gave a little shake of her head, chiding their lack of foresight and planning. If you were used to having important guests, why in the core would you be prone to double booking? These people were supposed to be the best. But even the best made mistakes. Khari couldn't be too angry at them.

"Thank you for being so understanding." She wasn't sure she would have been in his position.

While he looked over at his two men who took the hint and left to the other room. He went with them, then remembered he hadnt brought bags in, yet. On second thought he turned and sent the out the door. "Your right, I will have my things carried out by the hotel staff, please excuse me. " Then he left the room after his men left.

"Sorry for the delay..." he said as the door closed. He waited with his men by the turbolifts and when it opened he cursed seeing who was in it.

Khari waited patiently with the two boys while the men inside the room set about gathering what they'd brought with them, which seemed like surprisingly little when they departed the room for good, closing the door with a few words of apology, behind them.
She stood there for several moments, wondering if she should check the rooms out a little more before letting the kids off the proverbial leash, she'd never hear the end of it if they found something they shouldn't, discarded blasters, spice, the list was endless. What had been going on in here indeed?

"Alright you two, come with me, we'll pick a good room for you..." She said when the sound of commotion outside eminated from the doorway.

Frowns creasing her brow she spun in that direction only to hear the harsh sounding shouts get louder, and the destinct clatter of things toppling from the ornate stands and tables around the exterior of the room. These voices were then joined by others, none of which seemed very familiar, it was hard to tell when it was so mixed up like that. A fight had broken out, that much was clear. And since Prescott and his men were the last to go out there, it didn't take a second for her to know they were somehow involved. She'd been right about something then.

Taking both Knylenn boy's by the hand she hurried them both to the furthest room in the apartment, they'd only get curious the more they listened and she didn't want them going out there, definitely not. Crouching down at their level, she waited until she'd got both their attention with a small wave of one hand.
"Listen to me, whatever happens, don't open that door, not for me, not for Tress, and definitely not to Anara, ok? I will be back in a few moments."

Blindly, Viqtor nodded, while Rufus just seemed perplexed at being told he had to miss this potential spectacle - Tyber was right, this WAS shaping up to be an adventure!
But when his brother tugged on his arm and gave him this stern look as if to tell him 'no', he looked more than crestfallen.

Khari, by this time, was making her way back towards the main door, wishing now, more than ever, that she hadn't had to hand her blaster in at the main desk for 'standard security reasons'. She'd be making a fuss about that when she got the first opportunity.
And what she was going to do was all kinds of stupid, but what else could she do, hope the fight didn't back it's way back in here?

*****

The slap was hard and stinging against his cheek, though he held off the return slap but his eyes held violence in them for her. No one slapped him without some retribution, this one meant more and would be severely enacted.

The only thing was Tybers timely interference that stopped everything as they got into the turbolift. He separated them and hissed. "Dont ever do that to him, if you thought he was bad before you just provoked things...."

She was seething all the way into the turbolift, and she wasn't about to give up anytime soon. What didn't help was Tyber pulling the whole concerned father routine, in the absence of Tress' actual father, she imagined he felt somewhat responsible. It didn't matter to her, and it certainly wouldn't make her take anything back. He'd be waiting for a cold day on tattooine before she backed down on that one.

His warning made little difference.

"Provoked him to do what? Be insolent, obnoxious and threatening? Has he not done that already?" If she was snapping, it was only because he'd tried to ward her off with that, "I didn't do anything he didn't have coming to him, and if he thinks for one second he can retalliate, I will personally see to it that he gets what he deserves and then some! Who do you think will come off worse when that story breaks? An upstanding member of the galaxy or a crimelord's grandson?"
It cut to the bone alright, but she was now so angry she didn't care anymore. Even she couldn't have seen how bad this was going to get, that was, until the lift doors opened with a chime, and they saw who was standing there.

The senators plan had been just to ignore Logan if she came into contact with him, act like he was no one to her and know that he would catch on and do likewise. They could regroup and meet later, it wouldn't be difficult to arrange. What actually happened was explosive beyond belief. It was as if the small space just arrupted into violence. Tyber, faster than she had seen him move in the entire time they had spent together since re-meeting, delivered a punch so hard to Logan's face that she swore she heard the clack of his teeth meeting voilently hard before he staggered back.

Logan's men were into the fray in a split second, blocking her path out of there and making a bid to pull Tyber away from their boss, swinging a few right hooks of their own. And then Tress jumped into the fray. Shouts and heated exclaimations of raw anger filled the narrow space and Anara didn't know where to start, aside from calling for her own security. It would take them a few moments to get here though, they would all be taking up residence on the floor below.

This was insane!

The door to an adjacent room slid aside, revealing Khari standing there every bit as shocked to see what was going on as she had been when this had broken out. Sweet fire and night this was crazy, and if she wasn't mistaken, Khari had just done the same thing she had, called for backup. Neither women seemed willing to wade in there and haul someone out, mainly because they'd only end up following the person that was extracted.

"Tress?! What in the nine hells are you doing?!" Khari could be heard to shout over the fracar, along with the cursing, she really wanted that blaster right about now. How did Tress know these people anyway? She wasn't about to question her husband's intentions either, she trusted him enough to know when a good time to fight was, but he'd certainly picked a location. Any shots fired would bounce off the walls in the tight space and potentially hit any one of them.

Thankfully, the security she'd call turned up within the next few passing moments, all of them wading into the mass of punches, kicks and general shoves that were being thrown, throwing a few of their own, but managing to pull Prescott free, though his men and the two Zann's were harder to pin down, with a couple of people, it just wasn't happening at all.

"Can everyone just calm the kriff down!!" Anara really was debating grabbing a weapon off one of the downed men and taking charge, literally, of the situation. Self preservation held her off, but not her temper.

[tress]

"Provoked him to do what? Be insolent, obnoxious and threatening? Has he not done that already?" If she was snapping, it was only because he'd tried to ward her off with that, "I didn't do anything he didn't have coming to him, and if he thinks for one second he can retaliate, I will personally see to it that he gets what he deserves and then some! Who do you think will come off worse when that story breaks? An upstanding member of the galaxy or a crimelord's grandson?" It cut to the bone alright, but she was now so angry she didn't care anymore. Even she couldn't have seen how bad this was going to get, that was, until the lift doors opened with a chime, and they saw who was standing there.

She hadn't known and he didn't blame her, tyber thought, but she would soon enough. One thing he had taught his grandson and that was to always strike back and in such a way that it was the last thing they every saw. Even he would be hard pressed to stop him, it had gone that far with a slap especially in front of him.

The doors opening and seeing who was standing there and it was reaction born on hate and rage. The attack was swift and meant to hurt the quickest way possible. As old as he was it didn't slow him down as much as it should have, his grandson was the one that he had done it for partly, though it was hate for Logan that he had struck. Now Tress would have an out for the feelings he had and it showed as he attacked throwing punches, an elbow and how he mounted to pound his fists into the other man.

"Tress?! What in the nine hells are you doing?!" Khari could be heard to shout over the fracar, along with the cursing, she really wanted that blaster right about now. How did Tress know these people anyway? She wasn't about to question her husband's intentions either, she trusted him enough to know when a good time to fight was, but he'd certainly picked a location. Any shots fired would bounce off the walls in the tight space and potentially hit any one of them.

Thankfully, the security she'd call turned up within the next few passing moments, all of them wading into the mass of punches, kicks and general shoves that were being thrown, throwing a few of their own, but managing to pull Prescott free, though his men and the two Zann's were harder to pin down, with a couple of people, it just wasn't happening at all.

Tress ended his argument with a knee to the head as he the other mans head down, a grunt and it was over until the security tried to muscle their way in which set him off again. He was close to his grandfather who was still holding his own with the other of Prescott's men but a helping kick to the back of the knee helped him take him out. Now together they fended off the guards as they made their way to finish Logan himself.

"Can everyone just calm the kriff down!!" Anara really was debating grabbing a weapon off one of the downed men and taking charge, literally, of the situation. Self preservation held her off, but not her temper.

The drawn blasters is what stopped them, both Zann's bleeding from split lips and other cuts and bruises. "This isn't finished, Prescott..." Tress tells the man leaning on two of the guards, as he backed away with his grandfather. Passing one of the Prescott's bodyguards who was trying to get up put him down again with a vicious kick to the side.

[kharivestra]

It was funny how things could go from zero to chaos in a matter of seconds, but Anara found no humour in this. Punches were being thrown on both sides as either fought for a reason she and even Khari weren't privy to. Whatever had caused this she really wanted to know, because Tress seemed to know exactly who he was attacking. And for that matter, so did his grandfather. Logan? Well she could never tell when he was hiding something, he hadn't been given the chance to respond and had taken the first punch without expectation. That hadn't stopped the man fighting back of course, just before his two cronies had waded in and managed to deliver some severe payback to both of the Zann's.

By the time that the security she had called for arrived, one of the flunkies had managed to down the older Zann and was delivering harsh, stomping slams down onto the old man's ribcage. Apparently noticing his grandfather's predicament, Tress had gone to knock the bodyguard out, but then the security operatives arrived, blasters in hand, even if using them in such a confined space was foolish, sometimes the threat was just enough to give everyone pause for thought. Two of the twelve that had arrived managed to pull Logan out of there before Tress managed to beat his face to a bloody pulp...he was still alive and kicking though, and furious. The other security ops were tasked with keeping the other parties away from eachother, but even they could not prevent Tress from kicking the downed bodyguard hard in the side. The man let out a loud, winded groan and curled in on the place where Tress had stuck the side of his boot, holding his ribs as he fought off the pain and attempted to get up.

Seeing this, one of the security ops stepped in and slapped a pair of binders on the man, then hauled him off to one side to sit with his employer while all this got sorted out. If the two Zann's had any sense, they'd cool those tempers before they ended up in a detention cell here on the station.

"Not today buddy." He said, noting the destinct look of ire in the bodyguard's eyes when he glanced over at the younger Zann, the one that had kicked him for his troubles. "You're coming with us."

The drawn blasters is what stopped them, both Zann's bleeding from split lips and other cuts and bruises. "This isn't finished, Prescott..." Tress tells the man leaning on two of the guards, as he backed away with his grandfather.

Khari didn't know if she should be breathing a sigh of relief it hadn't gotten further out of hand, or berrating Tress for just starting something here in the halls. When she got a good look at him, though, it was clear that he hadn't done so lightly, this wasn't just some ordinary dispute. And to be perfectly honest, she was more concerned about the punches he'd taken than anything else.
Before he could so much as spit in the direction of the other party, she slipped a hand out and caught the arm of the security op who'd been leading Tress off in the opposite direction to that which they had taken Logan and his men.

"Wait, it's ok, he'll be fine with me." She reassured, nodding affirmatively when the man gave her that look of askence, was she sure? Yes, and that was all he needed to know.

As expected, the operative let his grip on the younger Zann drop, and then stepped away to ensure nobody went back in the other direction, nor anyone from said direction came back this way either.

Khari carefully linked an arm with Tress' own, and then tried to lead him back in the direction of their soon to be suite. Though now she wasn't so sure it was a good idea, how had Tress known Prescott? It was one of many questions playing on her mind, but she wouldn't ask them out here in the halls. He was still angry, heated and clearly seething from something, better to quench that anger first then deal with things calmly and logically.
Tentatively, she used her free hand to carefully turn his head her way, his lip was split and he had what were fixing to be a few nasty bruises to the cheekbone and brow, but it wasn't anything serious. Still, he looked like he'd just gone a couple of rounds with a nesting ronto, his knuckles were bloody and dripping every so often on the ornate floor, yet still he looked like he could go back there and finish things. Perhaps he could, Khari didn't want to find out.

"Barely a couple of weeks out of the bacta tank and you try and put yourself back there again. Don't worry me like that." She hadn't meant to sound like she was berrating him, but she couldn't keep a lid on her concern, she was worried about losing him after coming so close that last time, and it wasn't like her to show weakness openly either.

Swiping the holokey through the scanner the door to the suite slid open smoothly, and she helped him inside. "Come on, i'll help you clean that up, and then you can explain to me what just happened out there."

Tyber was more of a concern, he wasn't getting any younger, and he'd had more of a trouble staying ahead of the younger ones all that time, still he'd managed to hold his own, but with a visible change in his gait, Anara wondered if he'd actually broken something in the middle of all that.
Now she was in something of a predicament, did she go with Tyber, make sure he was ok and keep her cover, or make her excuses and try her best to get Prescott freed without incriminating herself too much? In the end, the former won out - she could find out much more by staying where she was and making sure either Zann didn't know too much.

Making it out of the still open turbolift, she strode across the floor the short distance to the older of the Zann's and shook her head begrudgingly.
"In retirement is it? Do you want me to call you a meddroid, that looks particularly nasty." By that, she indicated to a large gash on his forehead, and life's little lessons had told her that a hit to the head could be the most unpredictable of injuries to assess, better they get that looked at sooner rather than when it was too late. Whatever happened, she wasn't very impressed, more nervous than anything, their entire plan was on the verge of ruination, she needed to know how he knew of Logan, and then ask the exact same question of the man himself.

"I would prefer you coherrant when I ask you just what that was all about."

Khari hadn't heard her mother, but Anara knew she would have been chiding her for her being utterly unsympathetic. Sympathy wasn't something the old woman did well, she never had. Too concerned with keeping up appearences to show her more human side, it was all an act with her, if you really wanted to get under her skin, all you had to do was whisper her weakness. Unfortunately for most, finding it wasn't easy.

"And if I can be expecting anymore surprises, too." She added.

Inside, Khari already had Tress sat down in the same seat she had seen Prescott vacate earlier, and was hunting around for something to clean up his cuts with. Both Knylenn children had since come out of hiding to stare in wide eyed amazement at the scene unfolding out in the living space, the older of the two the least stunned, he simply thought all his life days had come at once, they were on a real life adventure now, with battles and ships and -

"Viqtor, take Rufus and go look after that chitlik you uhh found, I need to have a discussion with Tress." Khari's words bled into the boy's thoughts, and he looked dramatically disappointed.
Khari, though, was starting to feel like Anara when she didn't give ground - Viqtor was doing his utmost to give her the sad lost bantha cub look, and she was doing her best not to give in. Stars, some of the most difficult emmisaries and politicians in the galaxy had passed through her offices and she hadn't budged an inch on a deal, but a disappointed child gave her 'the look' and she she wanted to cave.
This was ridiculous - "He'll tell you all about it later. Go on."

Later, would feel like an age for a child, by which time, he would have forgotten anyway. This time he did as he was told, thankfully.

Managing to find a medikit, she opened it and grabbed a bunch of swabs and sterilised water in a small container, then made her way back towards where Tress had sat down.
"So...a friend of yours?" She asked, meaning Prescott, fumbling with the swab while she poured a small ammount of the water onto his knuckles to flush the wounds, it would sting like hell, but it was better than the alternative of infection, and hurt a lot less than punching someone full on in the face.

[tress]

"Not today buddy." He said, noting the destinct look of ire in the bodyguard's eyes when he glanced over at the younger Zann, the one that had kicked him for his troubles. "You're coming with us."

The pain and resulting anger over it had him jacked up and adrenalin coursing through his veins helping him react and go on shaking off most hits. Though out matched he still wanted to continue even if it was against the security teams standing in the way. The blasters and not knowing how his grandfather was doing held him back, but just barely.

He would have fought as they cuffed him, but seeing Kari there cooled him completely. The look in her eye was the deal breaker for him. Concern, worry, wonderment at what had gotten into him.

"Wait, it's ok, he'll be fine with me." She reassured, nodding affirmatively when the man gave her that look of askence, was she sure? Yes, and that was all he needed to know.

He would have smirked at the guard if his mouth hadn't been split by that lucky punch. Though he did glare back at the fool that was Prescott. He was the one that was the focus of this whole thing, what was he doing here? To be on the same floor they had just gotten for themselves no less. It had started so fast just a look and rage took over, then just the need to hurt and pound until they got to him.

"Barely a couple of weeks out of the bacta tank and you try and put yourself back there again. Don't worry me like that." She hadn't meant to sound like she was berrating him, but she couldn't keep a lid on her concern, she was worried about losing him after coming so close that last time, and it wasn't like her to show weakness openly either.

Swiping the holokey through the scanner the door to the suite slid open smoothly, and she helped him inside. "Come on, I'll help you clean that up, and then you can explain to me what just happened out there."

He followed after her entering the rooms and looking around the place, he saw the kids and gave them a lopsided grin though that hurt his split lip. He was feeling the hurt here and there now as it that excitement wore off. Leaning his head back he breathed slow and even wondering where his grandfather was and if he was alright.

He sat where she directed and it was fine, though he thought he might have broken a rib or have a bad bruise there somewhere. He felt alive, good even if he looked like something that the sarlac threw up.

How should he tell her? That Prescott was responsible for his brothers death, that vows had been made to kill him themselves. It had never been forgotten, though they weren't ones to let revenge take over their lives. This plan he had set was part of the larger plan to for fill that vow in the long run.

*****

Making it out of the still open turbolift, she strode across the floor the short distance to the older of the Zann's and shook her head begrudgingly.

"In retirement is it? Do you want me to call you a meddroid, that looks particularly nasty." By that, she indicated to a large gash on his forehead, and life's little lessons had told her that a hit to the head could be the most unpredictable of injuries to assess, better they get that looked at sooner rather than when it was too late. Whatever happened, she wasn't very impressed, more nervous than anything, their entire plan was on the verge of ruination, she needed to know how he knew of Logan, and then ask the exact same question of the man himself.


"I would prefer you coherrant when I ask you just what that was all about."

Khari hadn't heard her mother, but Anara knew she would have been chiding her for her being utterly unsympathetic. Sympathy wasn't something the old woman did well, she never had. Too concerned with keeping up appearances to show her more human side, it was all an act with her, if you really wanted to get under her skin, all you had to do was whisper her weakness. Unfortunately for most, finding it wasn't easy.


"And if I can be expecting anymore surprises, too." She added.

"This is nothing.." he said acting tough, "A bacta patch and I'll be good and new." it was a lie of course, being that he was hurt and holding his side as he walked following the two up ahead.

"That was nothing but tearing into someone to enact revenge..." he said solemnly. He leaned against the wall seeing them take Logan and his two men away, every step his eyes promising death and murder. Once the door closed on the turbolift he dropped the act of not feeling and moved towards where Khari lead Tress.

"It wont be over until we see that man dead..." he vowed as he limped along the corridor to the rooms. He felt he would get seen to or at least looked over by khari. Anara he knew wouldn't show him an ounce of sympathy. Inside the room he found his grandson sitting and Khari moving around gathering things. He went to the bar and pour himself something strong and another for Tress.

****

"Viqtor, take Rufus and go look after that chitlik you uhh found, I need to have a discussion with Tress." Khari's words bled into the boy's thoughts, and he looked dramatically disappointed. Khari, though, was starting to feel like Anara when she didn't give ground - Viqtor was doing his utmost to give her the sad lost bantha cub look, and she was doing her best not to give in. Stars, some of the most difficult emmisaries and politicians in the galaxy had passed through her offices and she hadn't budged an inch on a deal, but a disappointed child gave her 'the look' and she she wanted to cave.
This was ridiculous - "He'll tell you all about it later. Go on."

"Chitlik?" he asked looking at the boys, then to Khari. Discussion with him? Didnt sound good so he waved the boys off. "Listen to Khari and I promise to tell you about things later."

"So...a friend of yours?" She asked, meaning Prescott, fumbling with the swab while she poured a small ammount of the water onto his knuckles to flush the wounds, it would sting like hell, but it was better than the alternative of infection, and hurt a lot less than punching someone full on in the face.

He would have answered but his grandfather answered first as he limped his way to the bar, then to him to give him a glass of something poured.

"Enemy more like..." Tyber told them all that didnt know. He sat and drank hissing as it contact to open wounds. Tress expressed the same pain as he took his. "He is responsible for Tress's younger brothers death during the Vong war...."

Tress in the meantime tensed and caught his breathe as the water hit his knuckles. Sting more than anything but it was bad, it felt as she was pouring acid into his wounds but it had to be done. Lifting his glass he emptied it in one go. "Logan Prescott, was part of the peace brigade. That was before we knew they were in bed with the Vong. He paid us for a shipment of guns he was running to some resistance fighters he said..." he closed his eyes remembering. They all had to work together to defeat the invaders, though they had misjudged Logan. "Though when they showed up it was a trap. Vong wanted sacrifices and my little brother was taken."

Prescott had used the war to profit, double crossed everyone and after the war set up shop in the outer rim bullying smaller syndicates and gangs all to use to get back at the Zann's. It was over an insult resulting back before the Vong wars and Tyber choosing his grandson to replace him as head of the consortium, instead of Prescott.

"He's days are marked and soon we will exact our revenge...."

[kharivestra]

This is nothing.." he said acting tough, "A bacta patch and I'll be good and new." it was a lie of course, being that he was hurt and holding his side as he walked following the two up ahead.

"That was nothing but tearing into someone to enact revenge..." he said solemnly. He leaned against the wall seeing them take Logan and his two men away, every step his eyes promising death and murder. Once the door closed on the turbolift he dropped the act of not feeling and moved towards where Khari lead Tress.

"It wont be over until we see that man dead..." he vowed as he limped along the corridor to the rooms. He felt he would get seen to or at least looked over by khari. Anara he knew wouldn't show him an ounce of sympathy. Inside the room he found his grandson sitting and Khari moving around gathering things. He went to the bar and pour himself something strong and another for Tress.

Nothing? It looked a lot more than nothing to her, shown sympathy or not, she could have never guessed something like this would happen, nor that somehow the Zann's had known of Prescott. It shouldn't have surprised her, though, she knew well of his past, the crimes he'd committed, though he spoke little of them, keen as anyone whom had been a former part of the peace brigade would be to wash away the stain that was that terrible reputation. What she hadn't known, was any connection between Tyber, Tress and Logan. There was no time like the present to find out.

"It's not nothing, and I know you won't want to hear it, but neither of us are as young as we used to be, at least let's get out of this corridor before people start asking questions. For all we know the security footage could be on the holonet news by tomorrow." Yes, that was about as sympathetic as she got, but he would have known that, it shouldn't be anything remarkable, the woman barely batted an eyelid when she had once bore witness to a fellow senator being assassinated a few feet from where she had been sitting moments before. Though the fracar in the hallway had riled her just a tad.

It wasn't without due cause, but Tyber didn't know that and she had no intention of telling him the true reason why. Anara sighed inwardly, now things were taking a severe turn in the wrong direction, she wasn't sure she would be able to make her excuses and see if Logan was okay. This meant trouble for their plan, dire trouble and it was about to get worse.

Inside, she could see that her daughter had Tress sat down in one of the comfortable chairs, seeing to his scuffed and split knuckles while he tended to his own lip - he looked mildly contented sat there like he'd just done the galaxy a favour by punching the lights out of a man he'd seen for a split second. So what was his story? Tyber was going to furnish it for her, but Tress was currently speaking to Khari, and drowning out his offer of drinks. Trust Tyber Zann to be thinking of medicinal healing in the form of alcahol...only him. Anara wasn't sure why, but it made her smirk.

"Chitlik?" he asked looking at the boys, then to Khari. Discussion with him? Didnt sound good so he waved the boys off. "Listen to Khari and I promise to tell you about things later."

Khari did little more than cock an eyebrow when he asked the question, dabbing at the bloodied, raw flesh of Tress' knuckles as gently as she was able without totally missing the wounds. "Yes, small furry creature, likes to curl up into a ball of fluff to sleep?" She mused, knowing he wasn't asking that kind of question, but it would give him pause for thought during which time she could finish what she was doing and pick up a couple of bacta strips to apply.
"Come on Tress, how badly were you hit over the head?" Winking at him Khari glanced out of the corner of her eye to see Tyber and Anara finally make it here, while Tyber brought a drink over to his grandson, who probably needed it if she was being honest. He had that look in his eye that said whatever had happened back there wasn't over by far.

"The boys found a chitlik, I use the word found very loosely, when we find it's real owner, it's going back. Hold still, I'm almost done..." She managed to get the first couple of thin strips over his knuckles, the retiscent sting would probably make him want to pull away, so she held off before applying the last few.

"Enemy more like..." Tyber told them all that didnt know. He sat and drank hissing as it contact to open wounds. Tress expressed the same pain as he took his. "He is responsible for Tress's younger brothers death during the Vong war...."

Tress in the meantime tensed and caught his breathe as the water hit his knuckles. Sting more than anything but it was bad, it felt as she was pouring acid into his wounds but it had to be done. Lifting his glass he emptied it in one go. "Logan Prescott, was part of the peace brigade. That was before we knew they were in bed with the Vong. He paid us for a shipment of guns he was running to some resistance fighters he said..." he closed his eyes remembering. They all had to work together to defeat the invaders, though they had misjudged Logan. "Though when they showed up it was a trap. Vong wanted sacrifices and my little brother was taken."

Prescott had used the war to profit, double crossed everyone and after the war set up shop in the outer rim bullying smaller syndicates and gangs all to use to get back at the Zann's. It was over an insult resulting back before the Vong wars and Tyber choosing his grandson to replace him as head of the consortium, instead of Prescott.

"He's days are marked and soon we will exact our revenge...."

The sound of a glass shattering on hard tiled floor made Khari spin round sharply to see what had occurred. Anara had managed to drop a glass, thankfully a empty one, onto the bar area floor in a moment of unnatural clumsiness. Her daughter reflected that she had been almost sinfully quiet lately, that wasn't like her at all, she always had something, however scathing, to add to the conversation. But as Tyber and Tress explained just why they had reacted to Prescott as they did, she stood there looking almost agast as she wanted to. If Khari hadn't known any better, she would have thought that Anara actually cared about this.

Her mother wasn't the person she was concerned for right now, though. Anger and empathy for what Tress must have gone through as a direct result of his brother's death was all that coursed through her veins now. She almost felt guilty for calling security and not simply having the two Zann's exact their retribution as they wished. In her opinion, people like that didn't deserve mercy, and since he was now detained, she could look into seeing that he was tried for his war crimes. Many of the peace brigade had gone into hiding at the end of the Yuuzhan Vong war, but those who'd become known to the GA at a later date, had stood trial for their misdemeanours - and that was putting it mildly, the empire had dealt with them far differently, more severely. Khari rather hoped that this Logan Prescott was a citizen of the empire now.

"I am so sorry...I had no idea, I just came here to find somewhere safe for the children to settle into and he was here..." That caused a knot of coldness to root it's self firmly in her gut, what was he doing here? That wasn't just conicidence, surely. "..If I had known this...Tress, why didn't you say something about your brother before?" She knew exactly why, nobody liked to dredge up the past when it was that painful, but she couldn't help thinking that she could have done more, if only by recognizing the man and being able to do something about bringing him to justice sooner. Or revenge in this case. Did that make her cold? Nowhere near as cold as the peace brigade.

"I'll ask that security detain him, if that is what you want, we can let this go to a tribunal, go about it that way?"

Anara looked decidedly uncomfortable, perhaps she was rattled by the whole ordeal, Tyber looked a little worse for wear - he'd certainly been the one with the disadvantage out there. What he had in experience he lacked in speed, he was fast for his age but no ammount of reflexes made an old person less, well, fragile. It wouldn't be kind to mention it though.
The older Vestra, though, shifted awkwardly in the seat she had now appropriated.
"If you wish I could go down there and request that he be held until we decide what to do?" She offered, mind wracked by plausible things she could do to see to it that Logan walk out of here in, ideally, one piece. She had one idea...and it meant getting her hands unsightly dirty.

[tress]

Khari did little more than cock an eyebrow when he asked the question, dabbing at the bloodied, raw flesh of Tress' knuckles as gently as she was able without totally missing the wounds. "Yes, small furry creature, likes to curl up into a ball of fluff to sleep?" She mused, knowing he wasn't asking that kind of question, but it would give him pause for thought during which time she could finish what she was doing and pick up a couple of bacta strips to apply."Come on Tress, how badly were you hit over the head?" Winking at him Khari glanced out of the corner of her eye to see Tyber and Anara finally make it here, while Tyber brought a drink over to his grandson, who probably needed it if she was being honest. He had that look in his eye that said whatever had happened back there wasn't over by far.

"I know what they are....but, when did we get one?" he asked feeling the swelled bruise on his cheek bone. The gash over his eye he left alone.

He tried to remember if he was hit over the head, "Dont recall getting hit over the head, the face seemed to stop most hits and that was just to fuel the rage..." he looked over at Anara. "Your mother slapped me."

"The boys found a chitlik, I use the word found very loosely, when we find it's real owner, it's going back. Hold still, I'm almost done..." She managed to get the first couple of thin strips over his knuckles, the retiscent sting would probably make him want to pull away, so she held off before applying the last few.

"Don't want them to have one? Might keep them occupied." he says running his finger down her cheek. He was lost in her beauty again, distraction, attraction, and brought about a nice reaction.

He leaned up with a wince and whispered, "Please go check him or call a medic. I think hes hurt worse than me....
"

Tyber in the meantime went to pour himself another drink and as he did so explained the past history with Prescott. The hate in his tone was clearly heard. As if that kept him going, as he sat and drank more to ease the pain he heard a glass break and turned to see Anara. "You ok?"

"I am so sorry...I had no idea, I just came here to find somewhere safe for the children to settle into and he was here..." That caused a knot of coldness to root it's self firmly in her gut, what was he doing here? That wasn't just coincidence, surely. "..If I had known this...Tress, why didn't you say something about your brother before?" She knew exactly why, nobody liked to dredge up the past when it was that painful, but she couldn't help thinking that she could have done more, if only by recognizing the man and being able to do something about bringing him to justice sooner. Or revenge in this case. Did that make her cold? Nowhere near as cold as the peace brigade.

"I'll ask that security detain him, if that is what you want, we can let this go to a tribunal, go about it that way?"

That first part had Tress turning back to Khari, and it seemed his grandfather did, too. "He was here?"
"Here? As in this room?" The Zann's looked at each other, both thinking the samething....why? What could be possibly be doing here?

He looked at Khari and smiled sadly, "I dont take much about it at all, Khari. My little brother and I couldn't keep him safe...and i did send him to his death." he said growing quiet, then shook his head.

"If you wish I could go down there and request that he be held until we decide what to do?" She offered, mind wracked by plausible things she could do to see to it that Logan walk out of here in, ideally, one piece. She had one idea...and it meant getting her hands unsightly dirty.

"No, its better if you didnt interfer in things. This complicates things alot more than before. We will need to talk to the Baron Administrator to help offer protection or allow us to bring in more men loyal." Tyber was saying breathing hard as he felt around his bruised ribs. "I think my ribs are broken..."

[kharivestra]

"I know what they are....but, when did we get one?" he asked feeling the swelled bruise on his cheek bone. The gash over his eye he left alone.

He tried to remember if he was hit over the head, "Dont recall getting hit over the head, the face seemed to stop most hits and that was just to fuel the rage..." he looked over at Anara. "Your mother slapped me."

Noticing him probing the swelling around his cheekbone, she lightly batted his good hand away, "Leave that, you'll just make it worse." She'd already reached for the swabs and antiseptic again, lightly cradling the back of his head and urging him to tilt it back while she stood behind the chair at a vantage point. When he looked over at Anara though, and said those words, her scowl mirrored his.

Anara, as always, adopted that stiff, haughty posture that she always did, whenever she knew she was about to be repremanded for something she did not see as wrong. "Don't look at me like that, you should have heard what came out of his mouth. Spouting foul nonsense as usual."

Khari pinched the bridge of her nose tiredly, trying to relieve some of the pressure. "This is hardly the time, and just for once, could you perhaps try and act civil?"

"Civil?!" Anara's retort was shrill and ear splitting, "He all but suggested that I had no honour."

The younger Vestra tried not to scoff at that, the idea that her mother was without honour was not an uncommon one, one she saw as partially the truth. Oh she had some, just selective honour when it came to her wants, her needs. Tress wasn't among the catchment, that was clear from the start.

He leaned up with a wince and whispered, "Please go check him or call a medic. I think hes hurt worse than me....
"Tyber in the meantime went to pour himself another drink and as he did so explained the past history with Prescott. The hate in his tone was clearly heard. As if that kept him going, as he sat and drank more to ease the pain he heard a glass break and turned to see Anara. "You ok?"

He was right, Tyber did look much worse for wear, but so as not to arouse suspicion, and damage the old man's pride anymore than it might have been already, she nodded slightly and slipped away for a moment, a small excuse in her wake.

"I'll just check the boys are okay."

Left in possibly the last place in the galaxy she wanted to be right now, Anara really felt under the spotlight, not least of all because of the small scene she had just caused. She'd made no effort to clean up the glass she had shattered, a droid could do that in a moment, these places always had teams of cleaning droids, why put her back out for the sake of a few shards of something cheap? Tyber was the first to question her, and what could she do but divert?
"Fine dear...I'm not so sure about you though, you should have let me call that med droid. Should you be drinking at a time like this?"

Intending to keep up the pretense, she reached over the bartop and took the glass from his still bleeding hand carefully, then handed him a cloth that was neatly folded on the side. "At least wrap those up until you can get it seen to." She could use a drink herself, it might steady her nerves.

Khari had returned by that point, smiling informatively at her husband, letting him know that she had done as he'd asked. His grandfather couldn't refuse treatment he didn't know was on it's way anyway. She was getting the hang of this subterfuge thing for the greater good, whatever was next? Resisting a small chuckle, she let her attention return to the things at hand, ie what Logan had been doing here to start with.

That first part had Tress turning back to Khari, and it seemed his grandfather did, too. "He was here?"
"Here? As in this room?" The Zann's looked at each other, both thinking the samething....why? What could be possibly be doing here?

He looked at Khari and smiled sadly, "I dont take much about it at all, Khari. My little brother and I couldn't keep him safe...and i did send him to his death." he said growing quiet, then shook his head.

"Yes, this room, sitting right where you are now, in fact." Khari said, blinking, trying to recall everything she had taken in in those first few seconds. And then cursing herself for not paying more attention - those other men, his guards, were here with him, standing by the bar and muttering amongst themselves when he'd opened the door to her. What else had she seen in here? Very little for those who had supposedly been staying in this suite...

"He introduced himself, I thought there was some kind of mix up or double booking with the suite, so I offered to help him relocate. He seemed more than happy to vacate...I don't think he was staying here though." Had he tampered with this place? Should they move? Almost definitely, it wasn't worth the risk, especially with all of them in one small space, if he'd planted any sort of harmful device. But who had known they would be meeting here except the Jedi?

"How are Jedi relations with the ex peace brigade now? Presumably they take as passive a view with them as they do with their own kind who wreak havoc and endanger countless lives." This wasn't looking good for the Jedi, who, as yet, had failed to arrive. The meeting was in a standard days time, so where were they?
"I don't like this, not one little bit, we should move." She said, shaking her head stiffly.

"No, its better if you didnt interfer in things. This complicates things alot more than before. We will need to talk to the Baron Administrator to help offer protection or allow us to bring in more men loyal." Tyber was saying breathing hard as he felt around his bruised ribs. "I think my ribs are broken..."

That's right, thought Anara, just put up one more obstacle, what she needed was a good distraction, and right now they weren't coming easily.
"Why bother him with such things, we can contain this ourselves, he'll probably be thankful for putting less strain on his own people." A totally implausible longshot, but it was all she had right now, short of stating she was going if he liked it or not - and honestly, that seemed like a good choice right now.

The door chime sounded, and Khari appeared to perk up a little - apparently she was expecting someone. Meandering towards the door, she left Tress holding a cold compress to that cheek of his, and opened the panel to reveal the dimly lit visage of a 2-1b droid.
"Good evening M'am, how may I be of assistance?" It asked in that soft tone that she supposed was meant to simulate a caring bedside manner - Khari just found it eerie. Pointing across to the two battered men, she leaned aside so the droid's photoreceptors could pick them up. It needed no further explaination except one, "He is concerned his ribs might be fractured."

Not long after the droid began shuffling it's way through the door towards Tyber, than Anara made her way across towards where her daughter stood, muttering something quick to her about getting someone to clean up that smashed glass before someone else hurt themselves. Khari barely had time to ask her what she was doing before the older womans words had sunk in and she had gotten halfway down the hall...

"Caring as ever, I see." She mumbled, and decided to leave her mother to it.

[tress]

Noticing him probing the swelling around his cheekbone, she lightly batted his good hand away, "Leave that, you'll just make it worse." She'd already reached for the swabs and antiseptic again, lightly cradling the back of his head and urging him to tilt it back while she stood behind the chair at a vantage point. When he looked over at Anara though, and said those words, her scowl mirrored his.

Anara, as always, adopted that stiff, haughty posture that she always did, whenever she knew she was about to be repremanded for something she did not see as wrong. "Don't look at me like that, you should have heard what came out of his mouth. Spouting foul nonsense as usual."

Khari pinched the bridge of her nose tiredly, trying to relieve some of the pressure. "This is hardly the time, and just for once, could you perhaps try and act civil?"

"Civil?!" Anara's retort was shrill and ear splitting, "He all but suggested that I had no honour."

He scowled at Khari as she got him for poking at his wound, but smiled sheepishly and nodded as he left well enough alone. Better not to poke at it until he bled or worse got infected.

He glared at Anara shouting, "What you think you speak truthfully all the time, or is it that the truth hurts...?" he left that hanging in the air between them all. The things Khari told him about her, and things he had seen himself damned her completely in his eyes. Family was the most important thing to him.

Tyber is the one that's spoke up for the last part, "Does he lie, wife?" he looked at her more carefully remembering a hand print somewhere it shouldn't have belonged. The brow raised in questioned dared her to answer.

"I'll just check the boys are okay."

Left in possibly the last place in the galaxy she wanted to be right now, Anara really felt under the spotlight, not least of all because of the small scene she had just caused. She'd made no effort to clean up the glass she had shattered, a droid could do that in a moment, these places always had teams of cleaning droids, why put her back out for the sake of a few shards of something cheap? Tyber was the first to question her, and what could she do but divert?
"Fine dear...I'm not so sure about you though, you should have let me call that med droid. Should you be drinking at a time like this?"

Intending to keep up the pretense, she reached over the bartop and took the glass from his still bleeding hand carefully, then handed him a cloth that was neatly folded on the side. "At least wrap those up until you can get it seen to." She could use a drink herself, it might steady her nerves.

Tress nodded and watched her go, smart to hide the fact she was calling on a medic to help tyber out. Anara still didn't bother to check on him, least Khari has some compassion in her. She would always be close to his heart for taking care of tyber in this way.

"Helps ease the hurts.." was all he said in return, he was breathing hard and favoring his right side when he thought no one was looking.

He looked at his hands and shook his head, then looked at Tress. "If im not mistaken someone is calling the med droid right now." he had known, always counted on his grandson to see to everything even if it wasn't needed. Not that in this case it wasn't needed, he just couldn't appear weak or didn't want to.

Shrugging Tress takes another drink, "Its wise to check and if it was for naught, so be it...."

When Khari came back the discussion took a turn for the bazairre.

"Yes, this room, sitting right where you are now, in fact." Khari said, blinking, trying to recall everything she had taken in in those first few seconds. And then cursing herself for not paying more attention - those other men, his guards, were here with him, standing by the bar and muttering amongst themselves when he'd opened the door to her. What else had she seen in here? Very little for those who had supposedly been staying in this suite...

"He introduced himself, I thought there was some kind of mix up or double booking with the suite, so I offered to help him relocate. He seemed more than happy to vacate...I don't think he was staying here though." Had he tampered with this place? Should they move? Almost definitely, it wasn't worth the risk, especially with all of them in one small space, if he'd planted any sort of harmful device. But who had known they would be meeting here except the Jedi?

"How are Jedi relations with the ex peace brigade now? Presumably they take as passive a view with them as they do with their own kind who wreak havoc and endanger countless lives." This wasn't looking good for the Jedi, who, as yet, had failed to arrive. The meeting was in a standard days time, so where were they?
"I don't like this, not one little bit, we should move." She said, shaking her head stiffly.

Tress didn't like that he was here. What was the reasoning behind that? The Jedi knew they were coming, was it them trying to interrupt the talks with them? The room had been for Anara, under her name. "Maybe we should move. It could be the Jedi seeking to double cross us for some reason. That or..." he had this nagging feeling in the back of his thoughts and looked over at Anara. Then he saw his grandfather feeling his ribs just as the med droid signals his arrival, so it slipped from his mind.

That's right, thought Anara, just put up one more obstacle, what she needed was a good distraction, and right now they weren't coming easily.

"Why bother him with such things, we can contain this ourselves, he'll probably be thankful for putting less strain on his own people." A totally implausible longshot, but it was all she had right now, short of stating she was going if he liked it or not - and honestly, that seemed like a good choice right now.

The door chime sounded, and Khari appeared to perk up a little - apparently she was expecting someone. Meandering towards the door, she left Tress holding a cold compress to that cheek of his, and opened the panel to reveal the dimly lit visage of a 2-1b droid.
"Good evening M'am, how may I be of assistance?" It asked in that soft tone that she supposed was meant to simulate a caring bedside manner - Khari just found it eerie. Pointing across to the two battered men, she leaned aside so the droid's photoreceptors could pick them up. It needed no further explanation except one, "He is concerned his ribs might be fractured."

Not long after the droid began shuffling it's way through the door towards Tyber, than Anara made her way across towards where her daughter stood, muttering something quick to her about getting someone to clean up that smashed glass before someone else hurt themselves. Khari barely had time to ask her what she was doing before the older woman's words had sunk in and she had gotten halfway down the hall...


"Caring as ever, I see." She mumbled, and decided to leave her mother to it.

"No, hes right." Tress said about the Baron administer as he was standing up and walking closer to his grandfather. Waving the Med droid closer he tells him. " Check him out first, he thinks his ribs..." as he watched the droid do his duty, tress walked and paced thinking. He noticed it was Khari, and not her mother than was more concerned. Should he tell her about the marriage or...wait she already knew from down stairs.

It still felt wrong Logan being here and in a room reserved for Anara of all people. He remembered seeing it in the books as they had spoken to the manager clear as day.


"What do you think?" he asked Khari about everything. "Telling the Baron will give us leeway if things get ugly, if we don't tell, it could cause problems between him and us. " Then he had to say something that was on his mind.

"He was here to see you wasn't he.....?" he asked suddenly, then turned to look at Anara.