The Rebel Faction

Jai was not amused. This was an outrage! This was scandalous! ...this was freakin' her out!

"Look, Mr. Ren Jagger and Mr. Blue-Light-Man-with-a-familiar-voice....this is shite. I'm a busy woman, and therefore I don't have time to play games. So....whatever it is that you want to know, go right ahead and ask...but, I seriously doubt you're going to find out whatever it is that you want."

"And another thing...", Jai said sharply, "For the love of the Minions of Xendor, Kas Katta, turn the lights on and get me a comfy chair. This is silly. Did you think I'd actually fall for this? Pah!"

Jai got up and kicked the chair over slightly, standing indignantly before Kas' shaded form. She folded her arms over her chest and puffed a wild strand of her unruly brown hair away from her face. This wasn’t what she had expected, and she didn’t appreciate the twisted turn of events that her day had taken.

One minute I’m sunbathing, the next I’m in a bad scene from a cheesy cop movie! ....We've hit rock bottom, this can only get better.

Vessana hadn’t even gotten a chance to speak. Should have known Jai wouldn’t just sit still, should have known. Ren was leaning back on a couch, looking rather relaxed. Kas was sure that the Jedi Master was not as relaxed as he seemed to be.

The blue tint curtains went up with the speed of a whip, the lights came on, and the air mover began moving air again. The sudden change in light, and sound made everyone but Kas twitch slightly, some twitching more than others. Moving more slowly than the tinted ones had, curtains all around the room opened sideways, allowing Bonaden’s natural light to flood the floor.
Standing slowly, Kas kept his eyes fixed upon Jai’s, locking them together. It was a text of wills, each testing to see who would break first.

“Jai, we have some questions to ask you, and outbreaks like that will not help with the speed of our operations. Now, if you please…” Putting his hand out, he grasped her arm, and moved her over to a large overstuffed chair. Their eyes never left each other’s, the test of wills continued. Neither blinked.

Reaching down for the house remote, Kas picked up his little speech. “You may know the other two people in this room…” Pushing a button on the remote, Kas continued. “Ren Janggar…” Ren promptly gave a grunt, as his chair started to heat up, going full throttle with the therapeutic heat. “ And his … … wife …” Vessana stood, and tilted her head toward Jai. Her eyes were hard, as she looked upon the woman who might hold the secret to her children’s whereabouts. “Jaina…” Jai gave a squeal, as her chair began to vibrate left and right, in a very violent fashion. The seat of the chair cooled off, the back heated up, then, as suddenly as it had started, it all ceased. It’s purposes served, the house remote fell to the seat of an adjoining sofa. Eye contact had been broken. "Jaina… this woman has a few questions to ask you. And,” Kas’ eyes turned sorrowful, as his voice hardened. “I hope for your sake you answer truthfully. Mr. Janggar here is able to detect lies… Jaina, please, answer the questions.” Kas’ voiced dropped to a whisper at the last sentence, it was meant for the ears of Jaina Solo only. Turning, Kas walked over to the food stand, and poured himself a glass of fruit drink. He nodded his head to Vessana. Begin your questions, once Happen queen… I hope you find what you are looking for.

<font color=CC3333>When Jaina Solo had entered the room, Vess was more than surprised to see a young woman - no more than a child really - standing there. Even so, the youth of this woman did not change the face that Jaina was involved with the man that had taken her children. That thought was like poison to her control, and Vess could feel the urge to leap across the room rising and pummel her.

Vessana watched the woman for a moment, studying her, feeling her, trying to understand her. That she was being manipulated and controlled by the devious Lupercus was a very real possibility, but as far as Vessana was concerned, Jaina was as guilty as he.

As Vess moved across the room and toward the seated woman, she could see the faint glimmer of recognition in Jaina's eyes. A rememberance of a faded memory that grew brighter as the former Queen Mother grew closer.

The chair Jaina had knocked over still lay on the floor and Vessana picked it up as she walked past. She set it on its legs again and sat across from where Jaina now sat.

Their eyes locked, but unlike Kas this was no test of wills, for it was obvious by the animalistic look in those emerald green eyes of Vessana that her will would be the stronger.

" You play a dangerous game, Ms. Solo," Vessana's voice was stong, stonger that it had been in a long time, resonating in the ears of those present as it would have when she still claimed the throne. " But I assure you, this is no game. Terorism, murder, kidnapping, all very serious crimes of which you will be standing accused of in the courts of the Consortium unless you cooperate. I will offer this to you once, and only once, so listen very carefully. I am going to ask you a question. Answer that question and you will not be extradited to Hapes to stand trial.

Where is Lupercus Darksword?"</font>

“Let’s put it this way Jaina.” Kas spoke up, only slightly suppressed at this outburst. “Lupercus has stolen something very precious to this woman, something very precious… You are the “girl friend” of a known mass murderer, genocideist so to speak. Thus, you are a direct link to finding him.
He has murdered millions. He was involved with the attack on Naboo, to name one. We’re not just talking about past crimes here, but crimes he commits daily.

Jaina, we’re not trying to convict you… we just need to know how to find him. And, we know you do contact him fairly often. VC isn’t blind… and you don’t have the best reputation.” Throughout Kas kept his voice calm, almost hushed. One thing he didn’t want, and that was a hysterical and desperate teenager, who was quite good with her weapon. These sofas were brand new!

Kamon winced.

"Whoops. My bad. I was looking at the jump vector from Tholatin. Bonaden is in line with his jump vector but so are about twenty other planets."

He looked at Dak apologetically.

"This could take a while."