Chance Encounters Part D
Loud, jarring music resonated through the large and resplendid living quarters. As it did, small statuettes on many of the tall shelves and credenzas vibrated slightly, almost dancing to the music. The rooms were indeed large, with a bedroom, bathroom, a receiving room, and a storage space. To most on this struggling world it would be large enough to fit their whole family, including their own parents and siblings. To its occupant it was a cramped prison. All of it a boundary on her liberty and life.
Krys Bannagossoss kept most of her rooms as was expected of someone of her station in life, neat, ornamental, and conforming to the wished of the patriarch of her family. More to the point, she let the domestic maintenance droids do this. The droids were never allowed in her bedroom though. Krys, in fact, strived to keep all prying eyes out of her bedroom, her only sanctuary in this world. Here she created a small world totally divergent from the world outside and all throughout the Bannagossoss lands. Truthfully, it was mostly a mess. Clothes strung about, holo files and data files everywhere. It was hard to find a spot on the floor uncovered or unblemished. Her finely painted topaz walls had posters and expensive holomats plastered like wallpaper over them. They heralded various music groups and bands, all loud, all unbelievably abrasion. Her parents never bothered to come in any longer. The harsh music and garish visage were all more than enough to keep everyone out, except Liya, her sister. She only made her appearances here when she wished to express her opinions on the state of her young sister’s life.
Life? What life? Krys Bannagossoss had reached the glorious age of sixteen and what did she have to show for it? Nil.
She had the great family name, wealth, and security, but what did all that matter? She’d be happy to do without it if she could get out of this hell, have some choices, and some adventures.
Lying, spread out on her bed, Krys stared blankly at the ceiling of her sanctuary. Like the walls, it was covered. Unlike the walls though, it was plastered with images of other worlds. Pictures of grand Coruscant, stately, Corellia, vast Chandrila, and even some of some mining worlds out deep in the Rim. All sorts of worlds, different, diverse, alien, not here. She just wanted to see them all, touch the ground on each and every one of them just once. That was her dream.
Her parents’ involved her sitting quietly, speaking when spoken to, and doing what she was told. That was most definitely not going to involve leaving her room and go planet hoping, or any real fun. They were rich, but she didn’t have a clue as to the last member of her direct family line who actually ever left the planet. It was unbelievable, unimaginable. It was frustrating. How could they live like this? That would not happen to her.
She could feel her skin crawl as she imaged staying put year after year. Their was too much to see and do. Popping up in bed, she groaned. She kept getting herself worked up, what could she do? She had some plans, but they had to wait, they needed time to come to fruition. Just two more years and, BAM, she was gone. Freedom!
She just needed to bide her time, keep read up on galactic events and facts, and continue to obtain everything she would need. She smiled a bit, plopping her head back on her pillow, she couldn’t wait. As soon as she never had to see another of these stupid violet-orange sunsets, she’d be ecstatic.
Frowning, she sat up and hopped up off the bed and wandered over to her veranda’s door and opened it. Looking out over the city, she sarcastically remarked, “Home.” Just look at it, decaying, degrading, and collapsing in on itself. It had long given up on itself and so had her family. What was the last time they’d even moved forward on a project for development or aid? Or where was any concern from anyone who could lift a finger and really act. It was just a matter of seeing how lifeless they all were.
Her family, what did they do now? Reminisce about the golden times, cavort with other aristos, plot with them in their silly games and circle? Going down that avenue of thought, Krys started thinking about her father. He had an engagement with Gur Thakus and his coterie. Since she’d learned of it, he’d seemed more than a little suspicious, almost intoxicated to tell the truth.
She and her father hadn’t crossed paths in the past few days, a mutual decision. It was just easier for the two of them. Why put yourself in the position where you’ll have to fight if you can avoid it? It seemed like her father and her saw nothing alike. He just seemed more and more alien to her. Everyone felt that way to her sometimes.
Examining the underside of one of her wall lights, she checked the bug there. It was still intact, but that’s what she wanted. If she did something to it, she’d have to find the next one dad slipped in. Thankfully, it was only an audio device. Her father granted her that little privacy. She knew there were other such devices in other of her rooms, including video mechanisms.
No trust, that’s what she had. Of course trying to run off at the age of twelve didn’t help. But it taught her one thing. She needed to prepare, if she wanted to leave, and survive. She hadn’t even made it out of the compound then, but the enormity of what she was doing hit her. She had to be an adult about it. She needed money, plans, and gear and supplies. She was almost ready now, having acquired most all of what she needed, in her own crafty ways. She also needed to know what she was up against out there, meaning she needed knowledge, real knowledge. She learned a lot about the family’s security and more and more about the city outside. She wasn’t sure how savvy she was, but she knew the spaceport from the old quarantine compound. She’d even gone out, briefly. Just a few blocks, far enough to see what most of the real world was like, with her own eyes. It wasn’t safe, but that’s why you plan.
Another resource she put to use was her own father’s device. When she had realized that she was being watched, she was more than slightly mad. But she decided, smartly, to put it to use.
It was one reason to take on a love for her music nothing like her dad having hours of earsplitting music for his troubles. As well, Krys took us a private interest with electronics and electronic scrutiny. It was a couple for years, but she’d figured how to intercept her father’s surveillance and observe it. It could be a bit voyeuristic, but it was also fun. Besides her dad and his security force were already doing it. So, her dad tried to watch her and she kept an eye on him.
Picking up a small controller off her nightstand she activated the wall monitor by her door. Her dad could access in and outgoing signals between house monitors, but she had a receiver in his security network, to bypass the watchdog in the system. Activating the monitor, her father’s great hall was visible. Picking up a small ear receiver now, she slipped it in her ear and watched as the droid servants prepared the room for the looming arrival.
Sitting up on her bed, she put her arms on her knees and quietly watched, blocking the loud music out and focusing on the screen. The droids went through their movements, not surprisingly, mechanically, putting out food and drinks, cleaning chairs, and setting the climate. She remembered when the servants were human, not machines. It was just another of her father’s small changes. It was a lot easier for him to trust a droid; they could be programmed for loyalty. Heaven forbid, he actually earn it from underlings. It also made her that much more isolated. But she’d made use of her time.
The droids quickly finished their work and began exiting. Her father, Rallis Bannagossoss, strode in, inspecting the large hall. He straightened his long sanguine coat and headed to his chair. As always it was placed before all others, facing them. It was large, relatively plush, and maroon in color. The back was tall and curved forward somewhat at the top with carved black stone proclaiming some of the various family mottoes.
Her father prized that chair, a true heirloom. It was the property of every patriarch in the family, many great men had owned and sat in it. Of course, she had also, which enraged her father. Mom had calmed him down, pointing out she was only ten and hadn’t known better. She had to wonder if that was when her little fight with her dad had begun. It didn’t matter now.
He sat down in the large chair and faced the remaining seats. They were a dark blue long crescent shaped coach and a large, but hardly comparable chair. Thakus would take the chair and his men would line the couch, readily at hand, but out of the way.
After a minute there was a loud chime and a mechanical voice announced Thakus. Relaxed in his chair, her father bid then enter and had them sit, following a few pleasantries, and some old jokes. Sitting, a small roving droid drove in and between the men. Following Rallis’s move, Thakus joined him in picking up and raising a glass. The two praised family, fortune, luck, and the Force, etc.
Krys groaned, she hated all the time people wasted on this frivolity. Mumbling, she muttered, “Come on, get to it already.”
As the droids drove around and delivered drinks to the other men in the meeting, they finished the last of their blessings and wishes and drank. They spent minutes savoring the taste of their beverage, quietly. Then began a casual conversation recounting past day’s events and then old personal and family stories.
Krys was almost going catatonic listing. Bouncing the controller on her forehead, she grumbled some more. “Why don’t you people ever get to a point?” She growled, “Say something worth hearing.”
After an hour she was ready to throw the receiver away and hurl the control into the monitor, when, finally, the conversation lurched forward.
Thakus, tracing the rim of his glass with a finger, quietly and coolly spoke, “You know Rallis, I have been giving great consideration to your idea, your proposal.”
Sitting forward some, her father coolly and stately replied, “Really. What have you to say?”
“I think…,” he lackadaisically said, pausing. Smiling, he continued, “…how can I not accept it. It is a touching gesture, and a profitable one in the long run.”
Slapping the arm of his chair, Rallis cheered. “Excellent! Quite wonderful, I knew you would see the wisdom in it. “ A little excited, he placed his glass on the small droid as it passed. Looking closely at his counterpart, Rallis asked, “Shall we start planning now?”
Looking away from her monitor for a moment, Krys saw she’d moved to the foot of her bed. Lying there, her legs were crossed behind her and her head in her hands, she focused closely on the monitor again. Her interest had been caught, but it was still unclear what they were planning.
“It seems prudent, Lord Rallis.”
Standing quickly. Rallis spoke loudly, “Marvelous. There is no need to leave such matters to lie, or to be handled by others less suited.”
Thakus rose as well. Picking off some lint, he said, “Yes it is a father’s duty to dominate such matters as weddings.” With that, the two walked together to the long dining table, followed by Thakus’s entourage. Rallis’s entered from a side door. The negotiating would begin.
Krys looked at the monitor cock-eyed for a moment. A wedding? Pursing her memories, she recalled that Thakus had three sons only. That would leave out her brother, Palin. He was also only fourteen, too young for marriage. Closing her eyes for a moment, she suddenly began smirking and broke out into a laugh. Liya! Of course, he’s finally marrying the ice princess off. She was only twenty-two, and probably kind of attractive, but her father had had unending trouble managing her, almost as much as he had with herself. She just wouldn’t settle for the choices at hand. I’d almost thought he’d given up on her. Well, this ought to put some color in Liya’s face. Krys smiled some more. I suppose I should warn her, just to see the dismay. Swinging the small controller between her hands, she continued watching, to see what else would be said.
The two men sat opposite of each other, taking up small snacks and tasting them.
Rallis continued first on the subject at hand, “Well, when shall we have the ceremony?”
Thakus looked to be thinking for a moment, before speaking, “It seems prudent to do so sooner then later. But still, we need time to make the event sparkle and shine, as well as build up the anticipation.”
What a fop. Does he have any clue about what he’s talking about. What are his sons like?
Watching him, Rallis nodded, “Yes…I suppose. Still, given enough time these young types tend to wander a bit.”
“Perhaps with yours…”
Putting his right hand up, he calmly said, “Yes, yes. That is what I meant. She could be exceedingly difficult given time, any time.”
Poor sis. She’s become too much of a royal pain. She’ll probably be married and off before she know what’s happening.
“I have heard as much.”
“Well, I’m glad that doesn’t dissuade you.”
“No. It is a promising bond. Besides, Cervin has shown a certain interest in her. He has said he thinks he can manage her, and show his wife her role.”
Cervin… “Goat-boy!” she exclaimed. She laughed some more. Man, is he ugly. He makes a Gotal look comely. Speaking of ugliness, last time she’d socialized with him, he’d been a weasily little prick. I probably really should warn Liya.
Commenting on his soon to be married daughter, Rallis said, “Yes, Krys can be a handful, but I’m sure marriage will settle her down.”
WHAT! Did she hear that right? She was afraid so. That was indeed something she wasn ‘t prepared to hear. “What! Me!” Son of a… Popping off the bed, she strode over to the monitor. “Oh, no, no. You are not doing this. No!” Looking around her bedroom, she clenched her fists. What am I going to do? I can’t believe he’d do this to me. She began hyperventilating for a moment, and sat down trying to pull herself together. “What do I do now?”
Looking at the ceiling, she thought, Maybe I…No! I have to remember my plan. Two more year, that’s all. Then again, she had to realize Cervin was not likely to be open to her aspirations. She also had no like respect or interest in marriage. It was coming to an end, all those dreams down the sewage pipes and away.
Some tears started to form in her eyes. She wiped them away and decided that she needed to be an adult about this. Her dad had to be planning to lay this on her later tonight. Then, the security would really be tightened. She wouldn’t have any way out then. Groaning and wincing a little she went over to the side of her bed and pulled out a large travelling bag.
She was ready to move, she had the plan open enough that she could go and make it out and way tonight, she hoped. This scared her, she was actually thinking of doing this. But what was she left with as choices. The marriage was set, and she had no voice in it. Damn him. Even Liya has had a voice up to this point. Why me?
Moving around her room she collected what she needed, and a few things that she’d suddenly decided she’d like to keep with her. Loading it up and closing the large bag up, she noticed how cold she suddenly felt. Her entire body shook. She’d always thought she’d be invigorated and thrilled when this moment would come. It wasn’t so. She actually knew what she was about to put herself through. She knew what she was giving up, maybe forever.
By the Force, I hope it’s with me tonight. She headed towards her bedroom door quietly, balancing the bag on her back. With that, her life was forever changed.
Book One Index