Corellia Orbit

[Khari Vestra]

"Yes, you told me about that. I just wanted to know more....like what else do you know? What were you allowed to do and weren't allowed to do. For example i know you cant cook if your life depended it on it .....Things like that."

They were about to breach the atmosphere when he came out with that, and amid her concentration he would have seen her reflection in the viewport as an expression of mock outrage. Softly elbowing him back for that little quip, she kept her eyes forward, but did deign him with a far less imperious answer than she might have given him otherwise.

"I know my way around a ship, if that is what you're curious about? It's not just the men who are technically minded among the aristocracy, quite far the opposite. It's what some of us choose to do with it that makes it appear that way. Oh I could have had a life sat on my behind being waited on hand and foot should I choose it, but that would be....well, boring."

And true to form she had gone out and educated herself further about the inner workings of Kuati society, commerce and politics, each went very much hand in hand, and also came in useful when everyone - even your own - were constantly vying for a way to debase the other. Never tell anyone anything you would not wish everyone to know, but she had already broken that rule, with Tress...it felt wrong to exercise caution with him though, they knew too much about eachother.

"So, and I am glad you are sitting down because this is really going to shatter your stereotypical view of me, when I was old enough, I went out and I got a job." It had been a considerably better job than that which most average people might have had at her age, but it was a step in the right direction as she saw it.

"I did have a sort of freedom, especially in Tybers care every summer."

Khari smiled somewhat wistfully, he had some happy memories then, hers all just seemed to fade into a rather stoic blur.

"Many a happy day stealing star destroyers was it?" She mused jesting somewhat. At least she hoped he knew she was joking.

But it was his next question that caught her in the middle of things. So much so, that she almost jerked back on the controls without so much as a second thought. No no no, when it came to the subject of her family...

"Can i meet them?"

"Excuse me?" Why she had uttered it like that, she would never know, and rational thought quickly came to her, "And who would I introduce you as? My mother, for one, has a keen interest in politics, if you are on the political circuit, she will know your face. Besides, she is...probably not your sort of person. My 'father' as it were, answers to her, and only her. And I suppose via extension, me also."

[Tress Odak-Zann]

"I know my way around a ship, if that is what you're curious about? It's not just the men who are technically minded among the aristocracy, quite far the opposite. It's what some of us choose to do with it that makes it appear that way. Oh I could have had a life sat on my behind being waited on hand and foot should I choose it, but that would be....well, boring." Ah, yes the concerns of the upper class he knew them well, he could have lead a life of being tended hand and foot if it wasn't for his grandfather. The wealth from Tyber's earlier criminal empire had made him a rich man, the benefits of stealing billions from the Emperors vaults had made him richer by far. It was that wealth that had him install a sense of accomplishment in earning his own money in Tress. Nothing was given to him, what he had he had to earn. Seems like Khari was the same, and she proved it with her next comment. "So, and I am glad you are sitting down because this is really going to shatter your stereotypical view of me, when I was old enough, I went out and I got a job."


That had him thinking on what it could have been. Would she have been a hostess? A delivery person? Not a cook, surely....not with the way she cooks. Then he thought of her family and being one of the TEN....so it was with a chuckle that he guessed. " A corporate job?"


"Many a happy day stealing star destroyers was it?" She mused jesting somewhat. At least she hoped he knew she was joking.

He stayed quiet, knowing she didn't like him to reveal those kinds of things to her. As it so happens he did hijack a couple of shipments here and there and turned around and sold the goods. Even small wealthy private yachts were fair game in his youth. It was an education in the criminal underworld, if he was to learn how to control the Zann Consortium he had to learn everything from he bottom up. "As it so happens i did...but it was more like a corvette than a Star Destroyer....." and he returned it. It was just to show he could do it and bed the girl that had dared him in the first place. Thought she needn't know that.

"Excuse me?" Why she had uttered it like that, she would never know, and rational thought quickly came to her, "And who would I introduce you as? My mother, for one, has a keen interest in politics, if you are on the political circuit, she will know your face. Besides, she is...probably not your sort of person. My 'father' as it were, answers to her, and only her. And I suppose via extension, me also."

"You embarrassed of me then?" He smiles holding her again, his forehead resting on her back hiding the smile from her. " I can understand if you are....I wont speak about it from now on....." It was hard keeping in the laughter, but he seceded just barely. Don't know if his voice betrayed him or not, so he waited to hear her reply.

[Khari Vestra]

" A corporate job?"

She could almost smell the amusement in that question. And in return she did toss him a glare back over her shoulder, but it was entirely in good spirits.

"Corporate marketing, yes." They were now fast approaching their destination, her concentration plain to hear in her voice, but she was a proficient enough multi tasker. "Did you think we had such successful advertising campaigns for nothing?" Proudly holding herself aloft for that brief moment, she then let that dissolve into a second or two of laughter at her own haughtiness, he must have found that much amusing.

What amused her, however, was how Tress had then mentioned that he had been out for 'borrowing' something the size of a corvette to begin with. It both surprised and enamoured her - though the latter only caused her incredulity when it came to herself. She supposed it was all part and parcel of playing the rogue, weather he knew it or not, his ability to get away with things was highly and cannily amusing. Not to mention downright unfair, but if you had a gift you put it to use as often as you were able, especially if that gift enabled you the means to prosper.

"Aww," she teased him somewhat humerously, "I hope you captured the moment in a holo so you can reminiss with your own grandchildren one day." She stopped that one dead in it's tracks when she realized the connotations, laughing it off might be a stretch too far, she hadn't even considered the possibility of producing an heir, not since she and Taru had decided upon doing so whilst on Obroa Skai...and despite so clearly professing her love for Tress, it was far to early to even consider that. A slip of the tongue then, she chided herself.

But he had moved onto the subject of her parents, and in that respect he sounded quite hurt, though really, could he be over such a trivial matter? Her mother was a law unto herself, it was simply all she had meant by that. And that would have been putting it mildly, many of their closest relatives - if such was possible on Kuat- would rather avoid Anara wherever possible.

"No, it's not that." She began, feeling Tress press his forehead to her back for a second or two, she was still floundering for the words after her earlier misspeech, "Well she's not really your type of...no, that sounds worse...."

Sighing, she was all set to actually apologize, when she realized exactly what Tress was doing back there, the subtle little movements he made against her body becoming aparent in the bigger picture of things when she caught some atmospheric flare in the viewport, the tinting activating and remaining reflective just long enough to catch a glimpse of Tress' face when she had leaned to one side with the steep banking of the shuttle.

He was laughing.

Mild irritation surfaced in her veins, sizzling there for several seconds as she near sputtered in effort to try and collect her words and speak them in berration. But in essence all that came out in the end was a highly defeated, "Oh very funny! I suppose I should be glad you didn't extend that humour to waiting for me to grovel...which would never happen of course!"

The spaceport was visible now, their approach queued and measured, steady. Just a few moments more and they would be ground bound.

"If you think I can be a piece of work, then I pale in significance when it comes to my mother. I have met less shrewd Muun. And there isn't a sliver of your being that would enjoy her company, I assure you."

[Tress Odak-Zann]

Him mentioning if it was a corporate job had gotten him what he was after, and he was right it seemed. "Corporate marketing, yes." while he liked the idea of her working out there to give her a sense of doing something, he wanted to know more really. "Did you think we had such successful advertising campaigns for nothing?"

"The one about Kuati excellence and the finest products available?" he wanted to know, it had her flair to it. He wouldn't have been surprised if she had a hand in that one.


He was quite serious about the next subject, "Aww," she teased him somewhat humorously, "I hope you captured the moment in a holo so you can reminiss with your own grandchildren one day." for two reasons really. "I never got the chance cause i was arrested right afterward." He let that one sink in. Yes, he was allowed a certain amount of freedom, but only to learn from his mistakes.


The subject on her mom was going well it seemed. She kept on digging herself further into the hole she had for herself there. All he could do is sit there and laugh inwardly over it all. His Khari was backpedaling...when she should just call it as she sees it, he was teasing her and she knew it.

"Oh very funny! I suppose I should be glad you didn't extend that humour to waiting for me to grovel...which would never happen of course!"

"Don't worry, we dint have to see her, yet. We still have time to get to know each other first, then we can decide about the other things...." He was hoping this trip and the whole trip for that matter would do just that for them.

He looked over her shoulder and saw them about to land, so he wrapped his arms securely around her to keep her where she was at and just for that extra chance to hold her for longer. "We can discuss all that later, first lets get you something to wear....or CORSEC might arrest you for exposing yourself." Though there was something he had been holding in from earlier. "But about this grandchild? Wouldn't it be better to have children before had? An heir perhaps?" He had caught her little slip and wanted to push and poke his way into this subject.

[Khari Vestra]

"The one about Kuati excellence and the finest products available?"

Smiling ruefully, she nodded once affirmatively, "Well, we do produce some stunning people, do we not? The Hapans coming a close second. It was fitting."

He could take that as it was intended, to be taken with a pinch of salt, or he could read more into it if he wished, either way, she would stand by that statement with all the arrogance it seemed to harbour. Of course the slogan had been in reference to their shipbuilding and armourment skills...but he didn't need to pay too much attention to that quibble.

In regards to the holo comment, she was rather grateful he hadn't picked up on her misstep, instead focussing on the end of that tale, what had happened to him in the process and it was a sobering fact to say the least. But not wishing to mar the mood further, she could only respond to it with a gentle response "Live and learn, I had my fair share of scrapes, I can't say that I was ever arrested for anything, but I certainly did plenty I was not meant to have done. In fact, history seems to repeat it's self as we speak, though I know this will have a different ending."

She was settling the shuttle down as she felt his arms envelop her again, relaxing against him some as she let the craft's intuitive controls take over for those last few moments, running the landing and shutdown sequence, the vessel came to a gentle, yet noticable bump of a touchdown. So they had arrived....

"We can discuss all that later, first lets get you something to wear....or CORSEC might arrest you for exposing yourself."

Something in that statement had tickled her, because Khari couldn't stop herself from laughing sharply at that statement, turning in his grip, now freed up from her attention on the controlls enough to divert it his way, the amusement glimmering in her otherwise dark brown eyes before she fixed him with an admonishing expression.

"And who's fault is that again?" Her visage portraying an air of expectancy, she continued "That's right, yours. I said I had not been arrested Tress Odak-Zann and I don't plan to be arrested through something you bestowed upon me with myself having little choice in the matter. In any case, this is Corellia, as if they haven't already seen what I have to flaunt?"

She placed a feather light soft kiss against his lips, tentatively nipping at his lower lip before leaning back again so she could see him clearly, thankful to be on solid ground again. With the exception of Obroa Skai, she hadn't set foot on a world, any world, in months.

But that was when he managed to catch her with that next sentence, one that had her inwardly cringing and berrating herself all over again for her lack of tact. She should know better than that!

"But about this grandchild? Wouldn't it be better to have children before had? An heir perhaps?"

Smiling thinly, clearly awkwardly, she nodded slowly in agreement.

"Yes, that was the general plan, but it was a slip of the tongue, a total liberty on my part, pay it no mind. I did not mean to appear as if I had designs on anything that might pressure you into....well, that. It's just that as you know, I went to Obroa Skai with Taru for...alterior reasons aside from those I found myself - pleasantly I might add - in. " Well that hadn't been a total hash up, she thought in severe sarcasm at herself, and it wasn't made any better by the way in which she had winced noticably...she really, really should have known better.

"That about covers it...I think?" Ouch, that was all she could think, ouch.

[Tress Odak-Zann]

He whistled low at her bold statement of, "Well, we do produce some stunning people, do we not? The Hapans coming a close second. It was fitting." he was talking about their general product line but this was just as good. "What ego kuati's have...." Though far be it from him to deny their claims, if he needed proof it was sitting on his lap.

"Live and learn, I had my fair share of scrapes, I can't say that I was ever arrested for anything, but I certainly did plenty I was not meant to have done. In fact, history seems to repeat it's self as we speak, though I know this will have a different ending." Was that about them, the Zann return to Kuat, a rematch? It was a tie if anything, though he did just get three days and nights so he was the victor, he was thinking. But it was way to early to tell who would win in the end, maybe both, he figures as long as shes in his life he won either way. So that went to show how much really winning meant to him, after all he won even if he lost.

"And who's fault is that again?" Her visage portraying an air of expectancy, she continued "That's right, yours. I said I had not been arrested Tress Odak-Zann and I don't plan to be arrested through something you bestowed upon me with myself having little choice in the matter. In any case, this is Corellia, as if they haven't already seen what I have to flaunt?"

"Hard headed womans fault." He muttered under his breathe with a smirk. Served her right for fighting him on things, she could at least deal with the consquenses...or he should, he chuckles. "I will be buying on this trip so its my apology to you...." He should mention that she would have to model anything she wanted, but he would keep that a secret until later.

But all that was nothing compared to this subject to him. This had a potential to lead to some fun, and other things. Who would he be if he didn't strike while the iron was hot?

"Yes, that was the general plan, but it was a slip of the tongue, a total liberty on my part, pay it no mind. I did not mean to appear as if I had designs on anything that might pressure you into....well, that. It's just that as you know, I went to Obroa Skai with Taru for...alterior reasons aside from those I found myself - pleasantly I might add - in. " Well that hadn't been a total hash up, she thought in severe sarcasm at herself, and it wasn't made any better by the way in which she had winced noticably...she really, really should have known better. "That about covers it...I think?" Ouch, that was all she could think, ouch.

Well she was on Obroa Skai for that and he had taken it upon himself to destroy those plans. Things had gone from there, sometimes heated, sometimes cool and slow, but if she had plans...he ruined them for her. "Were you that first night we met....." what happened later wasn't planned, what if he ruin. " I...we did, well, uh....." He was stuttering and making a fool of himself, so he collected himself before trying again. " Taru and you were planning something, then i showed up and since then ...WE have been...." What he wanted to know was, since then had she resumed her precautions.

[Khari Vestra]

Well this was awkward, she couldn't feel anything but. How did you tell someone something of this magnitude when their whole social system was different to your own? When your own seemed almost arcaic to them? Tress had never been comfortable with the whole idea behind Taru belonging to her in the property sense, much less as the potential parent of her heir. This was a sensitive matter to say the least.

"Were you that first night we met....."

Khari winced, unknowingly this time, this was obviously difficult, and she tried to soften the blow some with placating gestures, shaking her head though she was unable to keep eye contact with him through sheer awkwardness and fear alone, fear she'd see that same jealousy she had seen there in the moments before she had done away with Taru.

"No...not then, well...I don't know, I was..."

But he continued regardless, and for that much she was somewhat grateful, it gave her time to think of how she was going to explain this to him. However she did it, would he always wonder otherwise? Did he even know that everything had changed that night, that whatever plans she had had, she had back shelved herself, not out of force, but because she wanted to.

" Taru and you were planning something, then i showed up and since then ...WE have been...."

A frown marred her otherwise smooth brow, but slowly dissipated thereafter, revealing confusion in it's wake. Did he mean what she thought he meant?
Well it was time to explain all as best she could. And this time she would look him in the eye.

"The night you showed up, we were discussing his contract, nothing more. I was..for lack of a better term, fired up by your little display at that cantina and things you said had me wondering if I had done the right thing following tradition." Biting her lower lip in consternation for a few seconds, she let that much sink in before continuing.

"It was not up for discussion the moment I knew where we stood. I could add to my bloodline any time I wish. I just chose to try at that point because it felt like I should under the circumstances. But I had no intention of entrapping you in that manner...I would never...well not never, but...oh you get what I mean, right?"

Khari only hoped that he did, and it called to mind several questions in regards to what he was expecting out of this. Did he consider it an insult she had been taking the necessary precautions? What exactly were the normal traditions regarding that on Anaxes? She already know how the Kuati would take such a thing. There would have to be a coverup of course...were that the route they ever took. But she couldn't see it in the near future, not now she and Tress both had so much on their plate.

"I would never force you into that situation...no."

[Tress Odak-Zann]

"The night you showed up, we were discussing his contract, nothing more. I was..for lack of a better term, fired up by your little display at that cantina and things you said had me wondering if I had done the right thing following tradition." Biting her lower lip in consternation for a few seconds, she let that much sink in before continuing."It was not up for discussion the moment I knew where we stood. I could add to my bloodline any time I wish. I just chose to try at that point because it felt like I should under the circumstances. But I had no intention of entrapping you in that manner...I would never...well not never, but...oh you get what I mean, right?"

He could understand what she meant now, well partially. The contract talk was fine, it was over with to him and everything to do with it. A child with her wasn't the topic or her trying to force him into something. Never crossed his mind that she would need to do that or would do it period.

What he was concerned with was the fact they had been more that intimate and if she had been trying to conceive while on Obroa Skai and he showed up at the wrong time.....that first night was spur of the moment. It just got him thinking.

"I would never force you into that situation...no."

He kissed her as she had kissed him earlier, just a calm brush of his lips against hers. "I know, I just got to thinking and didn't know the whole picture...." he starts by telling her. "Just thought you were trying to conceive and me showing up that first night and things just happened fast...." He looks at her, the thought of a child wasn't frighten him, the thought of it being to soon did. "...i wasn't exactly careful that night and if you had been trying to with Taru.....thats what i meant."

Kissing her again he helps her stand and stands himself next to her. "Well we better be off to get you something descent to wear....."

[Khari Vestra]

"Just thought you were trying to conceive and me showing up that first night and things just happened fast...."

And that was what it took for her to suddenly get the right end of the stick, as it were. Her placating gesture turned from one of confusion through realizing what he had meant, understanding and then finally, incredulity. So he was asking if there was any possibility she might be...?

"-Ah...I see..." She began, but he stumbled onwards.

"...i wasn't exactly careful that night and if you had been trying to with Taru.....thats what i meant."

She could well understand his hesitation, it would have been one she would have felt herself had she not been so certain of the matter. Khari was not afraid of being a parent in the slightest, it just hadn't been a part of the plan since Taru's dismissal and the idea of becoming one in this rather unusual relationship of theirs left her with far too many questions as to the responsibilities for her liking, they could cross that bridge if they came to it, but she had some reassurance to dish out.

His gentle kisses stopped her before she could speak those words, lulling her into that previously relaxed and contented state where she returned his kisses in full.

"Well we better be off to get you something descent to wear....." He was diverting, perhaps to spare himself the embarrassment of them both being so careless, maybe he blamed himself, but this was needless, and she caught him as he went to move off, her fingers closing around his forearm to pull him to a gentle halt.

"Tress..." She spoke his name softly, but none the less diminished "Set your mind at rest, I took care of it."

Smiling reassuringly, knowing he thought exactly as she did, it was far too soon and she had known it that night too, what would she have done anyway? That would be a topic of discussion for another day, but this was moot.

"I'm not pregnant, I took precautions." And as if he needed further reassuring on this, "Ah the beauty of hormonal implants, hmm?" Essentially, she had been a free woman before she had encountered him, and as one of the upper class she often attended a lot of functions during which she might well encounter others she took a liking to, telbun or not, she was smart enough to ensure she wouldn't get into that kind of predicament lightly.

Letting her hand slip from the crook of his arm, she gestured to the back of the shuttle and toward the now descending landing ramp, it's undulating thrum of motorised servos pocmarking the background noise about them.

"Back to your suggestion, we can get on finding me something other than your finery to wear."

[Tress Odak-Zann]

"Tress..." She spoke his name softly, but none the less diminished "Set your mind at rest, I took care of it."

He paled before understanding hit him, and he bent his head forward to rest on her shoulder. For a second there he had misunderstood what she had meant. He should have known better and known her better than that.

"I'm not pregnant, I took precautions." And as if he needed further reassuring on this, "Ah the beauty of hormonal implants, hmm?"

He smiled at that, hearing her say it made him feel at ease. It wasn't that he didn't want children, but like her he felt if it had happened by accident she would have thought he did it purposely. "I want kids, but not...yet." He says as he looks at her again. "I need time. Time to get to know you, to see if you still want me in two days...I seem to cause you more trouble than its worth." the beauty of hormonal implants had his eyes twinkling in laughter even if he was trying to be serious with her.

"Back to your suggestion, we can get on finding me something other than your finery to wear."

"I sort have gotten used to seeing those shapely legs of yours....but i guess something better to wear would be in order." He tells her looking her up and down. "Its my gift, this shopping trip....but there is one catch. Which will be told to you when we get there....." He was going to have her model somethings he was planning on buying her. "Three days and nights, remember. Come along telbunny."

They walked together through the shuttle, but Tress stops when they get to the secondary Comm-station midway through the ship. "Uh, maybe I better check up on Urai." He asks her not sure if he should or not. "You might as well check up on things while you can, what do you think?"

[Khari Vestra]

"I want kids, but not...yet."

Khari nodded emphatically, she couldn't have agreed on that one more if she had worn a banner stating the fact. "It never crossed my mind, we entered into this rather suddenly, it stands to reason we want to find our feet first."

He seemed to be regaining colour, which was only ever a good sign, what she had said earlier had obviously gone over the wrong way, but her latter words had seemed to smooth that idea over. Had she been with child, she would have almost certainly have said something, scandal that it might be, she knew she'd have felt differently were it the truth.

"I sort have gotten used to seeing those shapely legs of yours....but i guess something better to wear would be in order." He tells her looking her up and down. "Its my gift, this shopping trip....but there is one catch. Which will be told to you when we get there....."

Now that piqued her curiosity some, and her eyes narrowed marginally in suspicion, her smile remaining regardless whilst she tripped over the possibilities of what that catch would be exactly. It couldn't be something too outrageous, unless he planned on getting them arrested here, and that she'd shut down before it got a chance to get out of control. But it was his perpetual panchant for the unexpected that had her intrigued, however benign a matter, she didn't always expect it.

"Oh is that so? Not too much of a catch I hope, I would hate to have to resort to retalliation, in as subtle a way as possible mind, wouldn't want to break our 'deal' now would I?" Winking at him didn't seem to have too much of an effect on that deal of theirs, she had rather hoped he would forget all about it when they got here, so many things to see for example, why pay attention to a small detail like that?

But that was her thinking with her mind, not his. He would pay attention, because he was himself.

"Three days and nights, remember. Come along telbunny." He called, almost melodically she noticed, and that drew a nervous giggle from her throat. As did the almost jaunty way he walked as he turned and strode toward the back of the shuttle.

She followed that respectful distance behind, rather admiring the view as she went, tilting her head some to the side with a rather interested look on her face whilst answering.

"Telbun, it's telbun, not that I am taking to this or anything, I just wouldn't want you to do it wrong." So saccharine were her tones, he couldn't have taken her mocking pickery as anything other than good intent, it was something she had often done as a child, say it sweetly enough and they couldn't fault you for rudeness. Say it as it was intended and...well she knew precisely what Tress would do and that was what kept her from being sarcastic.
So she kept that quiet, and kept her gaze rather transfixed.

That was until they passed the comm station.

"Uh, maybe I better check up on Urai." Tress intoned, and Khari's gaze snapped up to meet his almost instantly, head at the correct angle now. "You might as well check up on things while you can, what do you think?"

For a small moment she shook her head while her mind ticked over those words, then she nodded, "I think...that is probably best, I recieved a message from Arri during the trip here, something about Kage Dooku not acting normal, probably just being a typical snooping Jedi sort. Force users...they should come with a hazard warning. Did you want to try Urai first?"

[Tress Odak-Zann]

"Oh is that so? Not too much of a catch I hope, I would hate to have to resort to retaliation, in as subtle a way as possible mind, wouldn't want to break our 'deal' now would I?"

"We could add another day and night if you want to break our deal....." He tells her without looking back at her, good thing too, with him not wanting to see his mind turning over that idea. Not that he would try, but giving her the idea he might could lead to some interesting fun for both of them.



"Telbun, it's telbun, not that I am taking to this or anything, I just wouldn't want you to do it wrong." That one had him stopping and looking back at her and he catches her looking at something. Embarrassment and smugness radiated off of him when he realized what she could have been doing. "Enjoying yourself back there Telbunny?" but looking around he say where they were at and asked to see if he should call. It was a good idea he thought, she was a popular person running a galaxy wide company so it stood to reasons he would need to be in touch with people.

"I think...that is probably best, I received a message from Arri during the trip here, something about Kage Dooku not acting normal, probably just being a typical snooping Jedi sort. Force users...they should come with a hazard warning. Did you want to try Urai first?"

He nodded and made the call and while waiting he brought up something he had forgotten. "I know you we rent correcting me over my usage of the word telbunny?" the call was taking a longer time then it should have been. The ship had bounced off a signal from the local holonet transceiver, he tried Siara now and the same thing happened. "That's strange, I don't get an answer....."

[Khari Vestra]

"Enjoying yourself back there Telbunny?"
She didn't so much as answer that with her words as she did with her expression, a somewhat feral glint in her eyes, she let him observe it for a moment before hiding it under that staple diet of stiffness that was oh so Kuati.

"Immensely." She sounded every bit as melodic as he did when she said that, it almost made her chuckle at just how much too.

So when he turned around to face the comm unit, she stepped closer, leaning over his shoulder to get a look at what was happening, or rather under the premise that was what she was doing. It seemed to be taking some time for the signal to get through, much less connect, when all they got back was nothing - not even static. Perhaps they were travelling through hyperspace without hypercomm abilities? It was possible she supposed, and Urai must have been hundreds of years old by the look of him. This concern wasn't tantamount just yet, so she took full advantage of her position, reaching down and giving Tress' cheek a none too gentle pinch, whilst acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Khari couldn't have looked more blase about it if she had tried.

But as time drifted ever onwards, and still there was no reply from Urai, or indeed Siara, even she began to get concerned.

"Let me try raise Arri, she was trying to contact me earlier it could have just been a ruse for something important. If something happened to Urai and Siara, there is a good chance she would have heard of it by now."

Slipping infront of him, she punched in the right frequency and waited.....and waited some more. A cold knot of dread had begun to form in the pit of her stomach when eventually, Arri's voice eminated from the speaker.

"Lady Vestra, I was just about to contact you-" Arri sounded calm enough to the passing ear, but Khari, who had now begun to breathe again in the absence of oxygen she had been denying herself until this moment, could hear the subtle tension that lurked behind her inocuous words. "We...have a bit of a situation."

Khari paled visibly, locking her elbows as she leaned against the commboards mounting so she didn't appear to be in discomfort.

"What kind of a situation?"

There was a pause, the sounds of much movement in the background, and by the sounds of it, more than one person barking the orders. And that was how she knew precisely what kind of a situation it had been. Tress had been right to ask her to leave when he had...but things could be in bad shape back home. Damage limitation might well be long passed.

"...A code five situation? Why was I not contacted sooner?" The sharpness of her tones was not directed at Arri so much as those around her, she had raised her voice for just that purpose. But there was no point in getting irate, what was done was done.

"Apologies, but they were containing the situation...it's Kage Dooku, M'lady, he's....well I am not sure what he is doing but he has been arrested."
Arri continued, clearly trying to be unspecific on purpose, whoever was there would clearly have been able to hear this conversation.

"Well that is good is it not? So what is the situation?"


Another long pause, Khari was beginning to tire of these.

"The senator's aides have been arrested too."

Now Khari could not speak, could not do anything, but slide her gaze towards Tress, who would look just as stunned as she was, no doubt.

[Tress Odak-Zann]

While he was waiting for the call to go through, he yelped but it was dignified if you were to ask him, as she pinched him. He glares as he looks over his shoulder at her, the spot was still smarting but there would be ample time to get her back.

"Let me try raise Arri, she was trying to contact me earlier it could have just been a ruse for something important. If something happened to Urai and Siara, there is a good chance she would have heard of it by now."

He nodded and move out of the way sitting in the comstations's chair. It put him in perfect position to take his revenge, but he was stopped as she got through to Arri it seemed.

They had a situation, and one involving the Kage it seemed who was being arrested. What had happened? Where was Urai and Siara? He thought about it being a good time to have left, but he was worried Khari would need to get back now. He wouldnt blame her as it stood.

"The senator's aides have been arrested too." That told him two things. One was that they didn't know who he was yet, and two was that Urai and Siara were still alive, but arrested. How was he going to get them out of that? They had diplomatic status as his bodyguards/aides but that might mean people discovering he was there and who he really was. That wouldn't do Khari any good.

"Can we get them free? They wont speak of our connection unless there was no choice, but Urai is well known if they look deep enough, Khari." Maybe they should go back? "Are we going back?"
The choice was hers, it was her interests at stake here. Her reputation and company her choice and only hers.

[Khari Vestra]

"Can we get them free? They wont speak of our connection unless there was no choice, but Urai is well known if they look deep enough, Khari." Maybe they should go back? "Are we going back?"

Wringing her hands tensely, Khari mulled over the possibilities, this could still be contained, and she trusted Tress when he had said that Urai wouldn't openly state who he was with nor why he was there, but records were damning. There was no telling what was on that file, nor what was on Siara's if she had strayed to that side of the monorail herself.

With a sigh she spread her palms in an open gesture of uncertainty. But she was certain on this much. "Going back will only make this look more than it is. As things stand they know I left at short notice, they know I did so under tense circumstances related to our friendly galactic Kage. Going back because two aides were caught up in the chaos, with the soul purpose of freeing them will look bad...very bad."

She turned so that she was once again in range of the comm station. "As aides or bodyguards the two you mentioned have some diplomatic immunity, they were possibly only trying to protect their charge. Ascertain if this was the case, subtly, and if so, relay the expressed advice that they should be released. I don't want KDY to be the center of a diplomatic crisis of ill judgement."

Picking her words carefully was essential, she never knew who was listening unless she, herself, had been there in person. The comm only showed a small representation of the person to whom it was nearest, and as the representation of Arri showed, she was highly aware of those around her. Thankfully, at this, the other woman was an old hand.

"As I am able." Arri returned, "And the Kage?"

Ah yes, him....this day just kept getting better didn't it?

"Have security find out what he was up to, elsewhere if they have to, what is the damage?"

Arri's holo noticably winced, "Mostly to the main spaceport, the entire module is locked down, nothing coming in or going out of the system either - "

Sithspit this was bad...

"Repair crews will commence their work as soon as the detainees are safely locked away. Or so I was given to believe. And there was one more thing, Lady Vestra, if I may?"

Balefully, Khari gestured at the comm, this had better not be more bad news, it seemed that whatever was going on there was now under control, but if the damage was that extensive, this could seriously harm their trade for a good while to come. Unacceptable.

"Go ahead."

And Arri did. "The colonel in charge of this sector is requesting that you confirm my details before he can tick me off his proverbial list. I said that you would be happy to pass on the necessary details, so I can get back to shredding flimsi."

As benign as that last sentence would have sounded to any onlooker, Khari knew fine well it wasn't. While the saying was common enough it was also a silent touchstone of some form, put in place with regards to ever needing something done that could not be conveyed openly verbally or by silent signals alone. This particular phrase, like the others that changed whenever one was used up, meant something very significant to Khari. And Arri knew it would.
Silently, her mind relaxed some, knowing that things were very much in hand now, that the eventualities had been covered for as much as was possible.

"I will send those along to him as soon as I am done here. Thankyou, that will be all for now."

Cutting the transmission, she turned slowly to face Tress again, who had sat himself comfortably in the seat a few paces away and was looking up at her with as concerned an expression as she had held earlier.

"Arri will see to it that the evidence of what we took from Dooku's ship will be destroyed. The old fool will look like he is uttering the ravings of a mad man."