Kolath


That he was a bit of a flake, Kolath had to admit (at least to himself), was the first thing Guruinath said that he agreed with. The Legionnaire often had doubts of the workings of his own mind and depended on Hollis to keep his thoughts pointed in the right direction.
After all, he thought wryly, she was the one who put the dent in his head originally.

"Do not hurt him so much that he cannot talk. He has, I am sure, many accomplices to name."

Hollis / Keila Champion

"Karmorki agents are everywhere," Hollis said. "If you think they cannot put together a crew to break him out of jail, you are kidding yourself. Have a care that one guard cannot overpower others without an alarm being sounded, and that help is always close at hand and can be easily called.

"I might instruct the guards to kill him at the first sign of trouble as well. And charge themn where Guruinath can hear you. That ought to slow them down a little."

Kolath


He frowned at Hollis, closed his eyes for a second and then nodded before glancing briefly at his superior officer. With no indication of refusal or disagreement, Kolath nodded again and turned to the two guards.

"Keep him covered by at least a squad of guards at all time." He looked squarely at Guruinath.

"If anyone tries to get to him, kill Guruinath."

Hollis / Keila Champion

Hollis bared her teeth in a feral grin, intended just for Guruinath. "How do you like that? *Someone* still cares about the people and the nation. And won't sell them out for prestige or power."

She regarded Kolath with undisguised admiration. "Now what, Boss? Tell the Academy what we have?"

"You're right", Kavarluis says to Kolath, "We don't know the extent of the conspiracy, or what resources they have. We can't afford to take risks. Although we must also consider the possibility that if he's outlived his usefulness they may wish him dead to protect their secrets".

Kolath


His lips twitched and, although he did not quite smile, there was a glint of approval in his eyes when he looked at Hollis.

"Perhaps..." but he paused as Kavarluis spoke and Kolath's expression firmed.

"Then I would think, Sir, that we should, as my associate here has recommended, acquaint the Academy with our findings... and see if they trust us enough to reciprocate."

Hollis

"You want me to carry the message? They might like it better from one of you legionnaires. More official sounding."

Kolath


"I thought we would both go," he said and then turned back to Kavarluis for his thoughts.

"Take this", says Lavuyl, handing a Kolath a palm-sized device, "Communicator, linked to the same channel as mine. Speak into it, and I'll hear. Range is anywhere in the city. Once you've spoken to the Academy, use it to report back to me".

Kolath


Kolath accepted the communicator and then turned to Hollis. Nodding his head and then gesturing toward the door he lead her out of the room and downstairs, out of the building and onto the street.

"How do you think we should approach them, Little One?"

Hollis

"I think if you tell them we have the Karazthani responsible for the airborne attack on their temple, they'll fall all over themselves to get a crack at him," Hollis said. "We can start with a friendly ear, and solicit her input as to who should be made aware of your prisoner.

At the Acadermy, Guernyla both treated us fairly, and was essentially sympathetic. She is aware I helped them with the Drarth, so we have some good will credit with her that someone else might not recognize

"So, I say we approach her first, and get her to help pick the right people to receive the message of a chance at interrogation. Then even if your commander decides to appoint a legionnaire to do the interrogation, or even chooses himself, the Wizards at the Academy can suggest lines of questioning which your interrogator can incorporate into an overall plan of attack."

Kolath


As usual, Kolath found himself trusting and agreeing with Hollis. Many of her thoughts and conclusions were the same as his own, but he counted on her to help him order his thoughts. His mind had not always been so... well, disordered was probably the correct term, but he did not like to use that in connection with himself. He thought he remembered a time when his mind was clearer, when he was more incisive, but he was not entirely sure.

The legionnaire reached out and patted her shoulder lightly as they walked and she talked. Once she paused for his response, he nodded again and spoke.

"That is exactly what we will do, Little One."

He took another couple of steps and then spoke again.

"I do not know what I would do without out you."

"Miss me, I would hope," Hollis said, secretly reveling in his touch. He wasn't a toucher, and engaged in such human contact with ridiculous infrequency, so each contact was to be cherished. "I would miss you terribly. You mean a lot more to me than ..."

When they first met, she had categorized him as a typical kandar in a position of power. Since then, he had evolved in her mind from generic enemy to respected employer to honored friend to ... to whatever he was now.

If she wasn't so dark-skinned, she would have blushed. "...than just an employer," she finished lamely. There. I said it. She tried not to wince, waiting for the inevitable coarse laugh and demurral.

Kolath


He was not sure what she meant and he slowed his pace as he thought about it for a few seconds before replying.

"I would miss you, too, Little One," he said, nodding, his lower lip slightly extended as he tried to order his thoughts and his words. After another few seconds of deliberation, he looked over and down at her, a slight smile on his patrician features.

"I do not think of you as an employee. Perhaps I once did, but you..." he cocked his head slightly to one side, a look of mild surprise overtaking his smile.

"Yes, you mean more to me than that, also. Perhaps you could say that our understanding of each other has grown and, with that, so has our... relationship."

Hollis

Hollis studied him intently for a long period, then nodded slowly to herself. "Good," she said. "That's ... ummm ... that's very good. Maybe when things camn down we casn ..,.just talk. Tell me about you, how you grew up, what you want to do with ther est of your life."

"I used to knowing almost nothing about the people I know, except what they can do for me and how to manipulate them. With you, I am hungry for the little things. What makes you laugh. What you like to eat. Sorry. that's more than you ever wanted to know, isn't it."

Kolath


"You always surprise me," he said as he lengthened his stride. And occasionally delight me... he thought and that thought came as a surprise, too. He was glad he had not embarrassed himself by allowing the thought to tumble out of his mouth as an ill-planned statement.

"I will tell you as much of that as I am able, Hollis, and, perhaps, you will tell me of your brother?"

Hollis Hunter / Keila Champion

Hollis' expression clouded briefly. She hesitated, then finally shrugged.

"Not here," she said. "Later. Somewhere private. You may change your mind about me, and I don't want anything to screw up this interrogation.

She held up both hands. "I'm not trying to be enigmatic; I ... I casn just focus on one big thing at a time. So ... humor me. PLease."

Kolath


"It does not have to be now, Little One," he said, nodding, the faintest of smiles on his face.

"And you are right to correct me." He again lengthened his stride.

"The job must come first."

Hollis / Keila Champion

Hollis nodded and squeezed his hand briefly in an unexpected show of support and affection. Now they just hasd to find Guernyla among the Academy people and get this going ...

Kolath


Arriving at the Academy, Kolath announced himself and requested an audience with Guernyla.