Ask Acquiring Muuny

[Karys]

Kaldar looked rested, it made Karys want to groan. However instead, Karys drew on the Dark Side and his cup of herbal tea to alleviate his slight hangover. Of course Kaldar’s night went uneventfully.

“Mine wasn’t so uneventful.” Karys grumbled even as the Force purged him of the hangover’s effects. “I’ll be fine though. You lead, I’ll follow.” Karys replied.

Karys paid attention to the ease of which Kaldar influenced the Muuns. He’d always found their race’s focus on profits to be a strong anchor point in resisting manipulation. To Kaldar, that didn’t seem to matter. Perhaps this was the power a Master of the Dark Side wielded? Karys felt like an acolyte again as he observed Kaldar and the way he operated, making mental notes and trying to glean whatever scraps of knowledge he could.

Eventually, the pair were sitting in the office of the head of the Clan. Karys took in his surroundings, wanting to be sure to find the nearest and easiest way out if the need arose. The pair were left to wait for almost half an hour, a common tool used to create unease or pressure. Karys was about to turn and express his annoyance when the door popped open.

“Good afternoon gentlemen.” A completely neutral feminine voice issued from the other side of the door.

A tall Muun strode into the office and took a seat at her desk. She clasped her hands together and glanced between them before speaking again.

“What can the Banking Clan Takinashi do for you today?”

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Got laid, huh? he asked as the man said that his night wasn't so uneventful. If that wasn't the case, then in Kaldar's eyes, the man's hangover probably wasn't worth it.

Kaldar didn't miss a beat as they were led into the office. People like the Muuns didn't like to have their time wasted, and neither did Kaldar.

I'll cut right to the chase. I serve as a fixer for some wealthy business ventures across the galaxy, and I have inside information that will make you a small fortune, he said. Insider trading was a minuscule crime compared to what had just been done, but no one cared about that. People only cared about what could be proven.

He laced his voice with the Force, nudging at the Muun's mind. In this case, Karys was completely right: he wasn't working against the Muun's greed, he was relying on it. He was relying on her desire to expand her own profits to not look any further, fanning it into flames.

This move will make your Clan the Fifth largest on the planet. Billions of credits of profit, he said. Letting that settle for a moment, fanning it into flame, and relying on what Raze had taught him. Raze had taught him to force a man to kill his own wife... comparatively, convincing a Muun to cut him in on a deal that would make her billions was child's play.

In exchange, I want 40% stake in the new combined venture, he said. It was a huge ask, but it was still only a fraction of the money that she would make off of the deal. It may well have been accepted without the Force... with the Force, well, things were much smoother.

You have a deal, but only if your information pays out, she said. Kaldar actually let out a quiet breath he didn't realize he had been holding.

The details of the operation were hammered out over the next hour, and the woman was all the more excited. To be honest, by the time it was finished and the conditional paperwork was signed, Kaldar felt exhausted. He had used no small amount of Force-reserves to keep up the influence, and he was glad to be out.

Once they cleared the office, Kaldar turned back to Karys. Is your loan really for Zygerria or... other interests? he asked.

 

[Karys]

Karys watched the exchange between the clan head and Kaldar in perfect silence. He paid attention to how Kaldar manipulated her, the way he used the Force to amplify his suggestive influence over her. It provided clarity to the young Champion and pointed out how someone’s greatest strength could also be a crutch in disguise. It was something he’d have to remember in the future.

As the meeting drew to a close and paperwork was signed, Karys would silently stand and walk from the room alongside Kaldar. He’s only speak when Kaldar turned and addressed him. There was a moment’s hesitation before Karys replied.

“When I was being trained, my master took me to Malachor.” Karys explained. “Something has pushed the nexus into over drive there. The dead no longer rest in stasis but posses the bodies that were once timelocked.” Karys continued. “At the peak of the temple there I found a holocron, I asked for ancient and forbidden knowledge…” His voice trailed off for a moment. “…it’s easier to show you…we should find a place to sit down. What you’ll see might be…jarring.” Karys stated.

If Kaldar followed, Karys would lead them to a table to sit at. He’d extend a hand for Kaldar to take and raise his defenses around everything that wasn’t the memory of one vision. Kaldar would see the same vision Karys had that day on Malachor, he’d experience every sensation as if he was there. He’s see the nexuses and the influence of the Dark Side spread from Hoth and Mustafar alike. He’d see the planet with the ruins and black obelisks. And then he’d be back sitting across from Karys at the table.

“Something calls to us but few can hear it…” Karys whispered. “…ever since that day on Malachor I’ve seen the visions in my sleep and heard its calls in my dreams.” He continued. “The money you give to me will be used to create new wellsprings of suffering to feed that source of power.” Karys explained. “So no, it isn’t actually for Zygerria. Nor is it for the Order.” Karys stated. “It’s for power.”

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar was more than a little wary of Karys's... plan and what he wanted to show Kaldar. He wasn't even sure he was willing to open up his mind to the other man, but he opted to... give it a try.

He let their minds touch and was no more open than Karys, keeping his barriers up against further intrusion. After all, the Sith were Sith still.

What he saw, though, was something that took him some time to contemplate. He wasn't sure what to make of the vision of the Son and of Darths Raze and Tempest. The Dark Side seemed to be calling, or at least that was what Karys alleged.

The fact that he saw a flash of Azar's face amidst the vision was also something that caught his attention. He supposed he shouldn't be terribly surprised, their community wasn't that large, but it did raise its own questions.

Kaldar was quiet for a long moment as he processed what he had seen.

So what then? You want to resurrect the Son? Control him? Absorb his power? he asked. He was doubtful about those latter ideas, but that didn't mean people wouldn't still try.

 

[Karys]

Karys shared the vision, he thought he controlled his thoughts and maintained walls but something slipped through. A memory with Azar roiled to the surface, ice ran through his veins as he realized what he'd done. He'd exposed Azar. How had that slipped through?

Karys' eyes flicked to Kaldar as he asked a series of questions. He shrugged in response.

"You're the Master, right?" Karys replied. "I've been trying to figure it out for months and can't sort anything out." Karys continued. "I figured if you're this powerful, you'd be able to give me some insight." He admitted. "So what're your thoughts?"

Karys leaned forward in his chair in interest. He wanted to hear what Kaldar had to say.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar was still kind of... confused. He had just been walking down the street and not really expecting all of this. More than that, he wasn't expecting for Karys to proceed to ask him about it.

Kaldar squinted at the pureblood, smiling and raising his hands in a "seriously" gesture as he expected Kaldar to suddenly furnish all the answers about what he had apparently been thinking about for months. And what of seeing Azar? Clearly he had another Master ally. And why had Azar hid this from him? Disappointing, although right in line with what he had said about not trusting his Sith... ally-friend.

Wait, so you expected to just drop this on me and then I shed profound light on it? he asked, repeating it aloud to see how it sounded. Ignore the fact that this was setting off all kinds of warning bells in Kaldar's mind, even if he had the answers he wasn't very inclined to share them. And he didn't have the answers.

Anyway, I'll give it some thought, he said. In the meantime, we both have some funding issues to deal with, he said, pushing to his feet. I'm sure we'll stay in touch, he said. And indeed they would because they were now in a form of business together.

Until then, he said, and tapped two fingers to his forehead.