Riddles in the Dark (Hax)

[Karl the Unfettered]

"Drop out here," a voice in the darkness of the shuttle said lightly, the glow of instruments reflecting off darkly tinted glasses. "This is the place."

"Yes, boss," the pilot replied as he manipulated the controls; the soft hum wound down and ceased, replaced by the louder sound of sub-light engines pulsing through space. The pilot stood up, a towering bald giant of a man, military tattoos all over his black skin. "What now?"

"Now we wait," the man in the glasses replied, as he too stood up. "This woman is not to be taken lightly, Kurtz; if she is even half what she claims, this will be interesting indeed." He hardly came to the giant's neck, yet the giant was clearly subservient to the man in the glasses. "Her ship will of course be larger than ours, so do not be put off," he went on as he walked down the short hall.

That went without saying, though. Kurtz and the man in the glasses had flown here in an armed shuttle, one that could be operated by two men; granted they had to be capable men, but still. It was fast and agile, with a hyperdrive that was probably illegal and a few tricks to make anyone think twice about pursuing them, but that didn't change the fact that it was small and the armor wasn't too thick.

"She won't try anything stupid, however," he went on when they got to the inner airlock. "This war isn't so far advanced that they would risk murdering a Dark Lord, after all. Besides, I am certain this will go well; the Force said so."

"Sure, my Lord Memnon," Kurtz replied passively.

There was no need to look out the window, as there was nothing there. They were to meet on her ship, fine, but Memnon had chosen the meeting point; a random spot in the middle of empty space, with the galaxy a bright band of light in the distance. This was the very edge of known space, a bland and unclaimed region with no significance whatsoever. The nearest star was parsecs away, it was just that empty.

Yet this was where he had chosen to meet.

[Deleted]

Inky blackness replaced streaks of light as the Yacht Temrarie slipped out of hyper space. For most the abscene of stars would have been a little unnerving but if Tivari was put off, it didn't show. Her face betrayed nothing as her dark blue eyes stared into the abyss. Her presence exuded a calm confidence. She could tell her crew was unsettled and she knew why. They were a long ways from anywhere and many strange things lurked out in these dark places, or at least those were the rumors.

Tivari was unconcerned with rumors. Dangerous mysteries were nothing next to the individual who she had come to meet. He was dangerous and he was real. Still she couldn't deny the trace of fear that raced around her gut. Perhaps it was the unrelieved black she looked into, but something felt off. She pushed the feeling out of the way as a sharp beep resounded across the bridge.

"Contact" one of the men said from his station behind Tivari. She stayed silent as the Captain queried after what it was the scanners had detected. "He is here" Mien said from Tivaris right. The old woman's senses were a great deal more refined then Tivaris own. "What do you feel?" She asked her former mentor. Mien was silent for a moment. Leaning heavily on her cane the old woman shuffled her feet slightly and said so quietly only Tivari could hear. "Only little child, The distance is very great. That I can feel him at all tells us a little of his power, and make no mistake he can feel us as well."

Tivari felt the familiar cloak of force concealment tug at the edge of her mind but she squashed the impulse. The time for hiding what she was had long since passed. Doing so would defeat the purpose of being here. She needed to find the Sith and she would need allies once she did. She would achieve neither goal if she hid who she was.

"Ms.Rezz" said the captain in his deep carrying voice. "We've detected another-" "Signal them to come aboard" Tivari cut in. She knew the captain wanted to verify they were who they were supposed to be, but Tivari wasn't in the mood for delays. If anyone but a Lord of the Sith was on that ship they had better explain very quickly why they were here.

Ignoring the look on the Captains face Tivari gestured for a few of her aides to come forward. "Prep conference room A and send someone to meet our guest at the air lock to show him the way. I'll be along shortly"

A dark robed man stepped forward after the aides had left but Tivari spoke as he opened his mouth. "Your presence will not be necessary at this meeting." She had a few Dark Jedi in her employ now, all of them picked up from rim worlds after she had fled republic space. None of them were very powerful and they had a tendency to muck up her more delicate dealings.

A brief pause from the man and then slowly he nodded and without a word turned and left the bridge. Tivari watched him go and wondered why he had not attempted to argue with her. Most of the Dark Jedi she had met were good for that. "Hopper, is my gift prepared?" She said and an old man limped forward from a small knot of Tivaris servants and faced her "It is Ma'am, and awaiting your orders"

Tivari hadn't expected anything less. Hopper had never failed her. She nodded to him and turned to leave the bridge. The shuffle of Hoppers limp and the quiet thud of Miens cane fell in behind her.
The sounds were comforting and with that comfort Tivari steeled herself for the meeting ahead.

[Karl the Unfettered]

"They're coming," Shard said, half to himself. He saw them, sensed them through the Force; still a ways off, but coming closer all the while. "Several of them... she has picked up stragglers, I suppose. Kurtz, they will send us docking instructions," he said to his bodyguard. "Stand by to receive and follow them, then accompany me aboard the vessel."

"Yes, my Lord," the former soldier said with a deep bow, returning to the cockpit. Shortly the contact was made, and Kurtz replied as he directed the little shuttle toward the much larger yacht.

As they docked, Shard reflected on what he was doing. Normally, someone of his stature would not do such a thing without extensive preparation; background checks, small fleets, pomp and formality, safeguards and backup plans out the wazoo. Not this time, however. This time he had simply alerted Iniquitous, Madora and Phaestus that he was investigating something promising, appropriated a military shuttle and went off into space with but a single bodyguard. His most trusted and capable bodyguard, the retired Colonel Kurtz of the Sith Special Forces.

He felt the ship thump as it settled into the bay of the larger yacht, and he heard the hiss as the mag-screens activated, sealing out the cold vacuum of space. Shortly they were cleared to disembark, and Shard walked down the gangway as it swung down; at the foot he encountered a man in a white naval uniform, no rank or insignia. "Lord Memnon?" he asked, sounding slightly unsure of himself.

"In the flesh, cully," Shard replied smoothly, brushing right past the younger man; he made some sound of protest and tried to follow, but one ominous look from the towering Kurtz dissuaded him of that notion. In truth the Miraluka had no need of guides; he could see Tivari through the Force, and almost all ships had standard deck layouts.

In short order he swept up to the doors, though he paused before the doors opened. "Wait out here, Kurtz," he told the Colonel in a very low voice. "Your presence, reassuring though it is, would be... unnecessary, for this meeting." Kurtz nodded once and leaned against the wall, burly arms crossed over his wide chest, as Shard waved the doors open and swept inside.

"Madame Rezz," he began simply, as the doors closed behind him. "I... I am at a loss for words." He paused, observing the three individuals before him, and allowing them a chance to observe him in turn. He was a sight to behold; blond hair neatly swept back from a proud, narrow-boned face, a trim goatee framing thin lips and an aquiline nose. Darkly shaded glasses obscured any view of his eye sockets, making it difficult to immediately ascertain if he was anything but a human.

He wore finely tailored black robes, designed to obscure the close-fitting body armor he wore at all times beneath them; they were trimmed in dark gold thread, presenting a finely tuned mixture of confidence and arrogance that few people could effectively pull off. He wore genuine leather gloves and boots, and as one would expect his two lightsabers hung from his hip, off to one side; an armorweave cloak hung from his shoulders, glistening slightly in the light.

"My lady, allow me to introduce myself," and he bowed formally, one foot in front of the other. "I am the Dark Lord Memnon, of the newly arisen Sith Order; you can call me Shard, however, if you would prefer to dispense with titles." He straightened again, and awaited permission to sit down; this was her conference room, after all, not his.

[Deleted]

Tivari stood gracefully as the door opened and in a glance took in the mans appearance. The thought handsome flickered through her mind but it was just that, a flicker. She had little time and less patience, neither of which she was willing to devote to romantic thoughts. "Lord Memnon." She greeted him. The light pleasant tone accompanied by a slight nod.

Beyond a cordial grin she gave no indication of what she thought at being offered to call him by his first name. "If it suits you, I think I will compromise with Lord Shard." She gestured briefly to the gray robed old woman on her right "This is my former mentor Mien" and with her other hand directed attention at the white uniformed old man standing stiff as a board near the wall off to her left. "and this is the foremost of my advisers, Hopper"

Tivari allowed a moment for greetings to be exchanged before gesturing at the seat at the far end of the square table and then took her own. "I'm honored that you came to meet me yourself, I don't know if I would have done the same in your position"

Tivari leaned back in her chair slightly as here dark eyes looked over the Sith before her. "To thank you for the trouble I have brought you a gift" The last word emphasized by the hologram of a ship appearing in the center of the table. "The crew has been paid in advance for the next five years, every one of them has had formal schooling and graduated with honors. Modifications and repairs are also included in the gift."

She watched him looking for signs of how her gift would be received."It is en route as we speak. The crew are expecting you aboard after we finish here." Quietly she pondered if he was receiving her message. She hoped he would draw the same conclusion as most businessmen would. That her resources were formidable and that she would make a valuable ally.

"I'm sure you're a busy man and I recognize that you have done me a great honor in coming all this way, So I will waste no more of your time. I asked you here for two reasons. I propose an alliance between you and myself. Access to my resources and contacts in exchange for aiding me when I'm in need." Tivari paused briefly before continuing on

"And I would like to learn the location of the Sith" and there it was, her true aim laid out on the table. She had wondered at how things would proceed from this point on. Information like this was delicate. "I'm sure you know of my status within the republic. They call me a traitor and with them I cannot disagree." A slight smile played across her face. "I had hoped to come to the Sith a little later and with more to offer, I'm afraid due to recent events my plans have changed" Tivari leaned forward resting her head on the knuckles of her folded hands. Her dark eyes boring into the glasses hiding Shards own. In silence she waited for him to say his piece.

[Karl the Unfettered]

As Tivari spoke, Shard walked forward and placed his hands on the table, leaning forward. But he did not sit down. It was a subtle trick, but one that could prove decisive in tense meetings; remaining on one's feet not only provided a greater line of sight but a physical position of superiority. It said that one did not need to sit down and rest, that one was above such trivialities; more importantly, a man on his feet could react much quicker than a man seated in a chair.

"I see," he said quietly, and Tivari would feel the queer heat of his gaze boring into her. "You must be in quite a bind, offering so much in return for so little. A ship, a network, in return for... 'aid'." He said the last word in a peculiar tone, one that could not be construed as offensive, yet a peculiar tone nonetheless. "Recent events being your ousting from whatever position you held within the Republic; no doubt this ousting has weakened your reach, the extent to which your network and your resources can perform.

"But that is of no immediate concern," he went on, his tone lightening as his mind raced. Clearly she had very little idea whom she was dealing with, in calling out Shard in particular; even more clearly she had even less idea of who was truly in charge of the Order, and the Empire. All to the good. "In the immediate you offer me a ship, and you ask for the location of our Order." That she felt the need to ask indicated Korriban's new significance was not yet known, or perhaps that they had yet to even rediscover it; this was momentous news, and the Miraluka made a careful note of it.

"Our Order... and, I surmise, you wish for it to be your Order as well, hm?" One eyebrow perked up, and it was easy to imagine a sardonic, knowing expression beneath those impenetrable glasses. "You certainly are 'in need' right now... freshly cast out of wherever you were before, I have to wonder: is this a properly thought out and executed plan? Or a hasty decision, a grasping at of straws as it were? You wield the Force, it is true, but are you truly ready and willing to come to our cause? We do not suffer half-hearted commitment, you know."

He was silent for a few seconds more, then his mouth quirked up in a smirk and he chuckled softly. "I am intrigued by your offer, but I must know more." Now his tone was direct, businesslike. "You mention networks, resources: what is the nature of these networks and resources? And what is the nature of the aid you so desperately require at the moment?" He did not speak in a demeaning manner, rather his tone was that of a man seeking clarification. Which he was. "Your status as a traitor must make it difficult to reach these contacts you mention: what would they provide, were you able to reach them and bargain as normal?"

[Deleted]

Tivaris eyebrow rose slightly as she listened to him. a mental note of the fact he didn't sit. She was familiar with the tactic although had never used it herself. It was intended for those more physically imposing, and so it suited Shard rather well. While the message was not lost on her she did find it a bit unnecessary. Simply knowing who this man was could chill the blood of most.

quietly she waited for him to finish speaking and then with a pleasant smile she said grasping at straws? I can't say that had ever crossed my mind. My plan has been to join the Sith from the moment I heard of their return" Her tone still light and pleasant. Not a correction just clarification.

Then they reached the portion she knew they were both interested in. "You speak as if what I'm offering is to great a price for too little a reward. I think you're selling yourself short my lord." Before Tivari could continue Mien thumped her cane against the floor. "Is this what this was all about? you two prattling on about how-" "Silence" Tivari cut in, the word cool and ringing of authority.

Mien humphed but fell silent. "I apologize, Mien is very ill-tempered in her old age" Tivari took a second to collect her thoughts and find where she left off. "You are of course correct in saying that my situation has left me less powerful then I had been previously, but accept my assurance that I am not destitute in any sense of the word. As for what I can do with these contacts more specifically...

at a gesture the white clad hopper stepped forward looking levely into the Sith lords lens obscured eyes. "We have contacts with weapons, vehicle and ship manufactures along with a large number of smuggling operations. We can move Weapons, Slaves, Drugs and a variety of illegitimate merchandise from one end of the galaxy to the other."

"If you need something my lord. I'm confident I can get it for you, within reason." Her position hadn't shifted in the chair. She looked evenly at the Sith lord despite the uncomfortable feeling that rippled back and forth over her flesh.
She was now glad she couldn't see his eyes. She doubted she would like what they told her.

[Karl the Unfettered]

"I see," Shard said again, contemplatively. "I was wrong about you, Madame Rezz, and I apologize." He bowed contritely, and straightened with a small smirk. "Rest assured if your hands are in as many pies as you claim I shall make good use of it. What I and the rest of the Order need above all else, however... is intelligence." He paused, and regarded the old spymaster. "Weapons, troops, ships, contraband... I have my own ways of acquiring these things."

Another pause, and he gently slid into a chair, leaning forward with his hands clasped on the table in front of him, in a manner that clearly implied secrecy and confidence. "Intelligence, Madame Rezz, concerning our eternal enemy, the Jedi Order. Movements, numbers, decisions, High Council members. This is what we require, this is what could raise your star within the hierarchies of the Sith. We have spies all over the Republic, and doubtless they have spies in our ranks as well, but we cannot penetrate the true enemy.

"No doubt you can guess why," he went on, leaning back, his voice sardonic. "They have this nasty precognitive habit that lets them sniff out rats. At least, Sith rats. If your networks, your contacts can bring us what we need, well... as I said, your star would rise.

"In return I can sponsor you into the Sith Order, give you a hearing with the greatest ears, and perhaps find you a place to hide away from the hunters that will doubtless be coming after you, as well as protection without equal." One corner of his mouth quirked up again. "We both know the Republic does not suffer traitors lightly, do we not?"

The Miraluka shook his head and was serious. "I believe we have an accord, then. Shall we sign a contract, or simply shake hands and have done with it?"