No, There's No Place Like Corruscant

[Gar]

"Yes, just the thought of her floating in a Bacta tank does not sit well with me..." Ni's smile did not leave her face as she followed him back to the desk. "Actually, the taping shows the exact opposite. But it is a pity that you feel you must lie about your feelings to the rest of the world," Ni said quietly, "Your diplomatic immunity makes you incorrigible.." she leaned her arms on the desk and tilted her head to the side. "Why else would you tell me the story of how you killed a poor fellow Zeltron like myself? What was her name? Zera?" she giggled, "You have nothing to fear, dear Merrick. The laws of the Republic protect you from ever being held accountable. So why are you afraid to admit to something as simple as attraction?" The Zeltron slowly climbed up on the desk and sat in front of Merrick, a daring look in her eyes. "Why are you afraid to admit that you wanted me, and you want me still?"

[Akirapryde]

His smiled faded, "bocta," he said with confusion in his voice. "What happened to her! If any harm came to her, I will make sure you and the Chancellor will be held accountable!" He said slamming his fist on the desk. His concerns appeared sincere.

He stepped back, "you come in to my office and accuse me of lying," he said showing a bit of his hand as a masterful performer would handle an audience. "While my doctors couldn't identify the toxin you used, they did detect it. Go back and give the Chancellor this warning. Let no harm fall upon my flower or else she will be made responsible."

[Gar]

Ni matched his performance with her own, although it didn't take much effort to show that she had been startled and worried by his outburst. "I only wish for you to face the truth so that you can stop denying yourself," she insisted hysterically, "You had no trouble showing all that were present at the party how you felt. And they even encouraged it. What is this poison you speak of?!" She felt a revulsion and resistance within herself as she played the part, but she pushed past it. 

The Zeltron climbed off the desk so that it was between the two of them. She straightened her shoulders and expressed to the man emotionally, "You dismiss the truth with these paranoid accusations. You shouldn't have to deny it!" Ni waved her hand in front of his face but moved it in a way that would not appear as using the Force (Nat 1 Bluff), "You want to confess to everything you've lied about or concealed." (Affect mind 40, Will Save DC 25)

[Akirapryde]

Miss Marizen departed the office as the door closed behind her. She rushed over to her desk and pressed a button. A quiet voice filled the outer office. "How surprised were you when you found out you fucked a Jedi?"

"Harlot!" She cursed under her breath.

She bit her thumb nail not knowing what to do. Fear filled her heart as she knew Senator Merrick would never take a private meeting with any of the Chancellor's goons. Especially not one who was a Jedi. Merrick had always warned that Jedi has no place in the Senate. She feared the worse.

She rushed to the door and search up and down the corridor. She spotted two blue armored clad Senatorial Guards. She motioned them to rush her way while trying to be silent, "hurry! I fear Senator Merrick is in trouble!"

She returned to the outer office with the two guards and continued to listen in on the conversation. Things appeared worse than she had expected when blackmail was mentioned. But Merrick was strong and resisted the harlots obvious attempts to seduce him. She felt pride in her boss as he showed concern for the clone that the Chancellor had stolen from him. She had seen Zay being treated like the daughter he never had. But then it happened.

"You want to confess to everything you've lied about or concealed." they heard the Jedi say.

Then almost motionlessly he repeated, "I want to confess to everything I lied about or concealed."

Miss Marizen rushed for the door screaming as the door opened, "Sir, don't repeat what she says. She is using some kind of mind thing on you!"

Senator Merrick blinked and appeared confused,"what?" He saw his secretary and a pair of blue Senate guards standing at the door. He turned his attention to Ni and pointed his left hand, "arrest her!" His other hand reached under his desk.

[Gar]

The Zeltron had expected this to happen eventually. She wasn't surprised when the Secretary burst in with the guards. But this was the reason why she had set an elaborate cover up for her attempt.

"What an outrageous accusation," laughed Ni, calm and collected. "This is a personal matter between Merrick and I. I only wished him to admit his feelings for me." She looked to the guards and smiled pleasantly. "There are no grounds to arrest me. You will see that I've done no harm, nor have I intended it." She turned her back to Merrick and waved goodbye, blowing him a kiss. "Maybe one day you won't be so ashamed of how you really feel." Then she proceeded towards the guards amicably.

(Diplomacy 47)
(Bluff synergy 28)

[Akirapryde]

Merrick smiled as he withdrew his empty hand from under the desk. The pair of guards appeared confused at the over all situation. "Hold on," the senior guard said. It was clear he bought the story. "You can't just run around the Senate bending others to your will."

Merrick moved from behind the desk still showing some signs of confusion. "Officer, I know this woman," he said moving up to Ni. "She is hardly dangerous. Confused, misguided but not a threat. Please forgive my previous statement. I didn't mean to demand her arrest."

"Senator!" The secretary said in shock, "you are still under her influence!" She turned to the guards, "do something!"

"No no no" Merrick said moving up next to Ni, "this is nothing more than the product of a night of drinking and foolish hopes" he said glancing at Ni.

The senior guard sighed, "this matter is better handled by the Jedi." He turned to his partner, "contact the Temple and have them dispatch someone to get to the bottom of this."

[Gar]

Ni waved her hand as if to wave away their worries. "Don't be so dramatic, Miss Secretary," she giggled, "If you are truly concerned about his state of mind, then I'm sure any experienced Jedi master would be happy to look him over, search his mind, and give their professional opinion of his mental security." She couldn't help but grin at this, knowing that is the last thing Merrick would want to do. He obviously did not have an affinity toward Jedi. Plus, feigning her willingness for Merrick's examination would only further convince the guards of her innocence.

When Merrick drew closer she looped her arm around his waist and cuddled up to him playfully. As she touched him she felt the chilling fear that now seemed too familiar. His scent was nearly paralyzing and she had to struggle with a stream of memories that competed for her attention. Everything within her wanted to scream and run.

"Oh don't hurt my feelings, Merrick, sweetheart," Ni said loudly, smiling slyly up at him, "You don't just know me. I'm certain I mean more to you than you're willing to admit."

[Akirapryde]

After starting to show signs of recovering he glanced over at Ni. "Ma'am Jedi" he said as Ni still playful held to his side.

"I don't think so,"sneered the secretary. "You Jedi are all the same. We have our own professionals."

Merrick waved his hand to silence the secretary. "As I have said," he started and gazed at Ni. "What happened was a product of drinking too much." It was then, his hand moved out of sight of the perception of the others. It's location became a shocking realization for Ni. Her dress offered no protection and her position only added in preventing the guards or secondary from noticing what was happening. "You are a lovely and gifted woman," he added as his hand completed it's violation of her and moved back. "But as I have told you before. I am happily married, and truthfully I am old enough to be your father."

He stepped back from her and turned towards her, "I am honored you would have vest so much energy in to courting me. But I beg of you, please use this energy to seek the happiness you deserve. I am sure there is that special man out there that will bring you the mind of happiness my wife has brought me."

[Gar]

(Will save Nat 1)

Ni's body stiffened when she became aware of his invading touch. Her breath caught in her throat and her feet shifted uncomfortably. For a second her mind was transported back to the night of the party and it was difficult to breath. She was frozen, only vaguely aware of her current surroundings.

Once Merrick moved away the Zeltron was finally able to pull herself back to the present moment enough to where she understood that she needed to leave. Now. Ni cleared her throat and blinked to bide time to recover. She knew how to manipulate her facial expressions in a way that would give onlookers the impression that her upset state was a result of Merrick' rejection of her advances.

(Bluff 27)

But she was remembering the hands that squeezed too tight, the faces that laughed as she cried out, and being robbed of the right to breathe. 'You wanted it, you always want it,' she insisted to herself desperately as she attempted to gain control of the situation once again.

"Pardon me, I'll need to use the restroom before I get sent to the Jedi," Ni said meekly, unable to mask the tremor in her voice, a bittersweet smile defensively flashing across her face.  She couldn't look at Merrick, instead she muttered her goodbye and quickly exited the office.

Ni didn't care if the guards escorted her to the restroom. She felt as if the walls were caving in around her and she was slowly falling. She could sense some neglected, unknown part of her growing inside and violently trying to force itself out. Ni could hardly even lock the door to the stall, her hands were shaking too much. But she was alone.

And that is when it happened. Her breathing reached its peak and refused to slow, her eyes burned and her vision clouded, she sensed a cramping in her chest. She suddenly felt weak and light headed. Her hands and face tingled, then went numb. The next thing she understood was that she was voicelessly sobbing uncontrollably, occasionally holding her breath to gag herself from making any sound, and the tears would not stop.