Enter the Dragon (Dire)

[Deleted]

Temraire drifted lazily around Korriban. Tivari had ordered her ship to hold on orbit three days prior and so here it hung. Tivari sat in her office. One finger gently rubbing her temple. Some time had passed and yet she had accomplished so little. Today would be the end of that she hoped. She had arranged a meet with one of her fellows. The reason for the meeting had yet to be disclosed but the truth of the matter was she needed some help.

The few Dark Jedi in her employ had proven too impulsive and largely incompetent. One of which was the source of her current headache. This indivdual had started a fight down in one of the cantinas. Amongst her live in staff and the ships security force dozens had been injured. A few had died and more were in critical condition.

After several failures on the part of security to put a stop to him, Tivaris own mentor Mien had gone down to deal with him. If he had simply come quietly when Mien arrived he'd have been detained to his suite. Instead he had chosen to try and fight and was now floating in the vacuum. Mien having jettisoned him from the nearest airlock.

Tivaris head pulsed and she sighed. Force users willing to work for her were hard to come by. Finding ones that met the above criteria; who weren't out to cause trouble was even more vexing. The Tapani women took a deep breath. The loss of what she had thought of as a valuable tool weighed on her.

Of course his usefulness to her had ended right around the time he had started killing her staff. To Tivari the names were unimportant. The people themselves didn't matter. Just the services they provided to her. They had usefulness.

Her dark eyes gazed coldly at the planet beyond her office window. The Sith... time was running short to do something where they were concerned. So far she had done very little to aide her new "allies". She suspected it wouldn't be long before they started to wonder why she was here. What she was up to. This was a sort of attention she could not afford.

With infinite grace she turned towards her desk and hit the button on her PA. "Captain, has my guest arrived?" She let go of the button and wondered briefly how much longer she was going to have to wait.

[Dire Wolf]

Irritation was a word that could aptly describe Vesperia's temperament as she sat on the shuttle she sat in. Icy blue eyes watched the lifeless husk known as Korriban whiz by as the head attached rested against the bulkhead. Everything grew smaller as the shuttle gained altitude, and after small show of fiery lights they were through the atmosphere. Those eyes flicked to the reflection in the thick transparisteel viewport of the shuttle. The inner sanctum had told her to

What they saw was not the same woman that had arrived on Korriban as a dark jedi months before. Years. She didn't really know. Time had its way of moving slowly as Vesperia passed through it, but after looking backwards in her wake she saw that it had moved at a breakneck speed.

"Lady Vesperia," the pilot announced over the ship's comm unit, "we'll be docked with the Temraire in just under a minute." Lady. Lady. Lady had a helpless, unauthoritative connotation to it. Vesperia was no lady of the Sith. Vesperia was a Lord. Her jaw clenched as the irritation mounted within her body, though she quickly squished it.

Anger against one's ignorance was almost always misplaced, as she doubted that he would have the testicular fortitude to call her lady if he knew the ire it caused within her. She shrugged. The issue was neither worth her time, nor was it worth her patience.

Once the ship had docked, Adara made her way through the belly of the ship until she was lead to the bridge. Or what she assumed was the bridge, anyways. Regardless, she entered through the door once it was opened and regarded the tiny thing with a crooked brow. One might expect Vesperia to speak at that moment. What she did instead was cross her arms, keep her brow crooked, and wait for the frail little girl to speak her peace.

[Deleted]

Tivari looked up as the Sith women entered her office. Tivari met the other womans eyes and put on her most diplomatic smile. It was an easy fit. "Welcome aboard my vessel" she said evenly. Her tone giving away nothing. Not excitement nor fear. "I'm glad you could make it" Tivari continued in the same tone as she took a seat behind her desk and gestured for Adara to sit as well. Whether or not she actually sat wasn't Tivaris concern. So few of these Sith characters were willing to get off their feet. As if someone meant to attack them aboard her ship.

"I expect you'd like to get to why I asked you here" Tivari said, settling herself into her chair. Leaning forward, elbows propped up on her desk Tivari took in this Lady of the Sith fully. She was a monster of a woman and her appearance was that of a wild barbarian. Ornate trinkets adorned her here and there. Tivari studied the women over clasped hands and found herself impressed. The women carried a raw power around here. Perhaps simply what one would associate with this womens size and outward appearance.

Tivari knew she herself looked near this womans polar opposite. Hair done up in a braid, her clothing clean and neat. Considerably smaller in stature. It was an idle musing. Tivari was confident in her physical appearance but something about how free this Sith woman looked appealed to her. "I have a proposition for you" Tivari finally stated. It was a calculated pause. Just long enough to encourage impatience. Short enough so as not to truly annoy her guest.

"I would like to create an... alliance of sorts between us." now Tivari paused for another moment. This time to gather her thoughts. This was the part of any deal that was crucial. The wrong words could make or break all of Tivaris plans from here on out. "You see, I am what many would call a... non-combatant. I've even heard the word "useless" muttered from some mouths..." Tivari met Vesperias eyes, her gaze firm. "I am not useless however... in fact just for taking the time to come see me... I have this for you" Tivari slid a Datapad from in front of her across the desk and gestured for her guest to take it.

"Its a ship, similair in nature to the one on which you now stand" Tivari said simply. "This is not the sort of thing I would give away lightly. These vessels are custom built, the design patent owned by my company. As a show of gratitude I'm giving it to you... and to prove my point. I am not useless"

Tivari unfolded her fingers and layed her hands out flat on her desk. Her eyes running briefly over them, inspecting her cuticles before returning her gaze to Lady Vesperia. "I do not fight, it is really that simple. I make due with other skills. However; the longer I've been amongst the Sith the more I find that this inability is truly a weakness... a chin in my armor if you will. I'd like to see that gap closed and I'm willing to pay."

Tivari leaned back in her chair. "I want to make it clear you will not be in my employ however. I see this as more of a partnership. Under no circumstances are you required to do as a I tell you. I may request your services from time to time but its up to you whether or not you wish to lend them. The only thing I ask in return for payment is that in the event a physical confrontation between myself and another individual or organization should arise, that I could count on your protection. Of course, this only comes into effect if there is a direct and immediate threat to my person. Staff and property are not included in this bargain. You may protect those at your own discretion."

The time for Tivari to speak was now done. She had said all she intended to say until she heard the other womans thoughts. It would not surprise her to be thought of as weak, or even to be called such. In this one particular instance that assessment was correct. It irked her only slightly but she had made her choice. Mien had be fully capable of training her in the use of a lightsaber and Tivari had chosen not to. This was the result of her choice. She needed a protector... and a powerful one given the nature of Tivaris enemies.

[Dire Wolf]

Adara Caen's eyebrows rose when she saw the ship that had been given to her freely. There was no cost to this gift. There were always strings, though, and Vesperia seriously doubted that this 'gift' was any different. Trust was not a thing that was spread around within the Sith. Even so, the woman took the datapad with no qualms or quibbles.

Instead she listened to what the frail little flower had to say with rapt attention, and when she was done the barbaric woman took a moment to collect her thoughts. "You are not weak, nor are you useless," she sat down as the words were uttered. Despite her rather barbaric, brutish appearance the woman sounded more akin to a Coruscanti or Vjunese noble. "One might say that you are stronger than most of the fools down there," she motioned her head towards the dead orb below, "Regrettably, however, I do not even speak of business with someone without first knowing their name. It would surprise me that you didn't ask for mine, but I believe that you already know it.

"Lord Vesperia, if you do not already know it." Vesperia waited for the woman to give her name before she spoke again, "Well met, Tivari. Now, onto the matter at hand: I believe we can do business. Should there be no fine print to the contract, of course. If there is, I have a set of unique talents. The same ones that you're interested in employing me for, as a matter of fact." The Sith smiled the sweetest smile she could, "I think the terms are acceptable. Should they stay that way, consider your Achilles heel mended."

[Deleted]

Tivari's eyes widened briefly at being reminded of introduction. Outwardly she took it in stride. Nodding to Lord Vesperia as she introduced herself and responding calmly with her own name. Inwardly she scolded herself. Forgetting introductions? She thought. What next? Forgetting to pay your staff? Such complacency could not be allowed. Tivari prided herself on her diplomatic and social skills.

She thought if her mother could see her entertaining a potential business partner and never exchanging names. She no doubt would have disowned her daughter on the spot. the embarrassment burned through, causing an almost physical pain as her mind recounted her mistake again and again. Despite her folly the Lord before her seemed to care little when the exchange of names took place, just that it had.

In fact rather abruptly Tivari found her terms agreed to. She remained silent for a moment before nodding. "The terms of our agreement are exactly what I've said." It would be foolish to attempt to change them. Tivari mused to herself. If she could manipulate someone into doing more for her than they had intended she would do it... however this was a special circumstances. The women before her was far to dangerous to be the victim of such manipulation.

"I am glad you have accepted; and now that we are in agreement I can give you this" Tivari slid a second Datapad across her desk. "Once every Galactic Standard week this amount will be deposited into an account specified by you. Fair compensation for services rendered" Tivari leaned back in her chair and observed Vesperia. It was a very generous offer Tivari was making.

Perhaps an underhanded attempt at garnering further services from this Lord of the Sith. It had crossed Tivaris mind, to offer Vesperia so much in the way of money to she would feel obligated to respond to most any request Tivari might make, but no. Tivari had decided that wasn't the reason. In truth Tivari felt she was getting exactly she was paying for.

"Again I'm glad you accepted... and now that we have settled this I do have a request... I have mission I'm putting together. One of my Hydroponic stations has gone silent. Normally the mundane research my company does is of no interest to me... however this is a special case."

Rather than explaing Tivari tapped a few buttons on her desk and figure appeared in the form of a hologram. Roughly 1/10th the size of an actual person it was hard to make out an defining facial features. The only thing really noteworthy about it was the fact he was laying on the ground rocking from side to side. Knees drawn up to his chest.

"They're coming... I can hear them. Not long now" He whispered urgently to the ceiling. "Didn't know what we were dealing with... thought they were bugs... they are bugs... nononononono don't think about them. If I think about them they'll find me. Wait here and don't think anything. Wait here and don't think anything. Not a single thought no no no. Not from me. I'll just lay here and not think of anything. They'll send help. They always send help... yes thats what will happen. I'll be rescued from the bu- no no no. Wait here and don't think of anything" from off screen there was the sound of wrenching metal and the mans voice could be heard screaming over it.

"I am thinking about them! They're here! Why didn't I just forget them. Maybe if I forget them they'll go away... they'll leave me-" and than something enterd the holograms view moving quickly. Showing up as only an indistinct blur darting forward, snatching up the man and carrying him away to the other side.

Tivari had observed this portion of the recording several times. Whatever had snatched up the man had done so with incredibly ease, not even slowing as it passed through their field of vision. No amount of doctoring to the hologram could give them a clear a picture of what it was.

Tivari looked up at the Lord of the Sith. Trying to gauge her reaction to the clip. "Something on this station has obviously gone wrong. Some sort of beast or creature of which there is no record of has become loose on my station. I am mounting a mission to find out what... I honestly have no interest in the station itself or the staff that worked there. Whats important is what this thing is. That station had over 50 live in staff. A number of them well trained security contractors. Former high level military. As best we can make of it they're all dead. I want to know what did this... and I'd like to offer you the opportunity to lead the mission." Tivari had grown a bit more eager now but she calmed that from her voice and posture.

Whatever was on board was dangerous and potentially of great value to her... if it could be harnessed and pointed at her enemies. If this was possible than so were weapons contracts. On the other end of things if it was simply that dangerous and impossible to control than it must be killed. She needed to gauge the level of threat this thing presented to the Galaxy. Even if she couldn't control it, someone would know doubt pay her a high price just to keep it locked up.

[Dire Wolf]

Vesperia's elegant eyebrows raised in surprise as the datapad was handed to her. The sum that this woman was willing to pay for some muscle was exorbitant, to say the least. If money was power, and power was freedom, this Tivari was handing her freedom on a silver platter. This sum alone was enough for the Epicanthix woman to live the remainder of her life in leasure without having to work ever again.

Lord Vesperia didn't want leasure, though.

The look of surprise was discarded as quickly as it came, and Lord Vesperia tore her gaze from the datapad to the frail woman across the table. That was when Tivari elaborated on her first job, and more importantly played the hologram of a terrified man for Vesperia to see. "I would surmise that you don't know what that is, then?" The tone of her voice suggested one of detached disinterest, though underneath that apathetic veneer lied a woman who was curious about the creature that slaughtered the hysteric man.

Despite her acceptance of employ underneath this frail, physically weak flower of a woman she wouldn't accept the job until she was confident she knew enough of what she agreed to. "Before I accept your offer, I not only need to know how many others will be with me, but also just how big this station is. Furthermore, how do you plan on me capturing something so swift and powerful while it still draws breath? I may be a Sith Lord, but I am not a goddess. Despite what I may have you think."

Arrogance had no place in the galaxy, and Lord Vesperia practiced what she preached. She may have been confident and a little egotistical, but the woman was a realist before everything else. To move faster than a holocam can effectively capture is to move as fast as most Sith. As far as she could tell this was suicide, but she would risk suicide for such a hefty sum of money.