Ask Desert Denizens

[Cairo Kisufi]

"Pawa jee na da Boots? Pah! Siku nee Bunko!" The door to Xendor the Hutt, leader of one of the remnant clans of Mataou. The world was fractured, split between warring gangsters, religious fanatics, and money-grubbing corporate types who wanted to bleed the planet's trade potential dry. Of these factions, Xendor was amongst the most notable. She controlled sizable territory. Had the unlucky trio of Sith sent to this desert world, Cairo, Ashla and Carmilla, convinced her, it would have made their task of somehow seizing the world much easier.

Unfortunately, this was the third time in as many days the team had failed to negotiate. First, it was an enterprising franchise of the Blackwell Technologies corporation. A couple of mid-level corporate stooges thought they could advance their standing in the company by seizing the world. When the Sith had appeared in-person to court them, their attempt ended in a shootout with their droid army.

Second was the Denizens of Shadow. A powerless, but ambitious, Dark Side cult that had nestled its way into the hearts of Mataou's most duplicitous denizens. Most shadowy denizens. Cairo thought that would be an easy foothold, but somehow, an at-length discussion about the finer points of the Sith Code proved disagreeable. So disagreeable that the city they were housed in...burned to the ground after the Sith incited a riot.

Today was day three. A third opportunity to convince someone that the Sith Empire could improve their lives. When that failed, as it had just now, Cairo kicked the sandy earth beneath their feet and wiped sweat from his brow. He was dressed the part of the desert wanderer - in large part, because it was so damn hot and dry. He loved the heat, but there was no respite from it. He wondered how his two compatriots were doing - Carmilla practically looked like she had never been in the sun before.

"I told you two, we need to lean into the benefits angle more. 'Join the Sith Empire, we have a great pension plan.' It would work!" Cairo crossed Xendor's name off of his data pad, exhausting the three warm contacts the group was given on their assignment.

"Either of you have any ideas on what we do now? Tell the Empire we failed?" The Empire did not reward failure - that much each of them knew. No, they would have to get creative, today.

@Altaria @Wit

 

[Carmilla Styria]

The dry sandy environment of Matou reminded Carmilla of Korriban, it was just much hotter in Matou. She wore her usual outfit, her long revealing red robes and jewelry. Fortunately the Anzat do not feel the effects from the sun as much due to their advanced healing; the Anzat operate much differently than they do in those old horror movies. It was humorous to Carmilla that people believe wooden stakes, sunlight, garlic, and special water could actually affect her.

Carmilla was in the background of the mission for the most part. Choosing to observe how her partners operated. They were the first two sith she has really met outside of her own home. For the most part, she was rather disappointed at how foolish they seemed.

"Well we can't do that. Failure is unacceptable." Carmilla responded to short, dark skin man. She was already taller than him, but towered over him as she levitated. It was more comfortable for her to traverse this way. "Although, I'm curious as to why you didn't request that I hypnotize all of them. I could have done so easily." The inner-workings within the minds of inferior beings was beyond the comprehension of Carmilla. "By the way, what is a pension plan?"

@Wit @Fine Dining Set

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

Carmilla was, in Cairo's eyes, the prototypical Sith. A fairy-tale monster. A wicked witch. A persona to inspire fear and respect across the galaxy. It was a selfish image of their great Empire, and it further encouraged the cruel and capricious behavior that the Lords of Sith were prone to.

He knew when to respect power, though, and Carmila was one such being. She had kept a cool silence throughout the past few days as he had desperately tried to convince any of these. When she spoke, he half-concentrated, expecting little more than derision from the senior Sith. But then, she asked her questions.

"Wait." He spun around to face her, his gaze burning through his robes. "You can hypnotize people?" That was a game changer. "You didn't think to mention that?" Mind control would have been useful, but it only worked as a temporary solution. Mind control could produce slaves, as simple-minded as droids, to be obedient. But if the Sith Empire wanted to actually rule, to have a population that showed true spirit, it was a decidedly unfavorable answer. Her powers could be useful, though...he began to consider strategies.

"Okay, a pension plan is like...let's say that the Hutt hired you and said 'if you work for me for forty years, I'll let you retire and I'll pay for your retirement.' You offer an incentive to someone, and it will inspire long term loyalty." Precisely what they needed now. They couldn't just go back and mind control each of the people they had already seen, it would be too obvious. But they needed to convince a powerbroker on the world of something. If only they had one, already in their pocket.

The idea struck him like a bolt of lightning. "Can you implant false memories in people?" They could invent one. "We can make up a crime boss! Say we're their representatives, you can use your powers to attract a couple followers...." It would be less obvious than the Sith just invading the world. It was the kind of subterfuge that he imagined the Sith of old undertaking - false political movements, schemes within schemes, lies so deep you started to believe in them. It could also give the Sith a finger in the drug trade, long absconded since the Empress's public feud with Preef Callo.

@Altaria

 

[Aria Rosalie]

[[OOC A bit heavy on the personal details/backstory, but this is my first post with this character.))

Winter, Aria's Preybird, screeched through Mataou's upper atmosphere, its black wings casting a shadow upon the desert as she approached the city. Her droid did the flying. She sat on her bunk, donning her black robe. The Selonian didn't have much taste for politics. They were necessary to secure power, but power wasn't what had led her to find salvation in the Dark Side.

It had been Brynjar, the old Champion, her teacher, who had given her this task. She wasn't there to debate, nor to influence. She was there to observe, and kill if it came to it. If she wanted to become a champion, Brynjar had said, she would have to learn to work with other Sith. She didn't care about becoming a champion, she didn't care about the Sith. She was an acolyte of the Dark Side, and the Sith were but a pale reflection of that greater, cold desolation that she so desired. Sorrow, longing, weaponized, a daughter of the cold, unfeeling. Damn the passions of the Sith, she thought.

But Brynjar had given her this task, and Brynjar had been her savior, rescued her from the cold, brought her frostbitten, skeletal form to Korriban to learn of the Force, of the Dark Side. She owed him a debt, she often felt, and so she had done as he had commanded. She ran a clawed hand over her whiskered muzzle, back to what was left of her frostbitten ears. She coughed, holding onto the side of her bunk, an awful, hacking cough, an unyielding reminder of the pierced lung that had begun her journey to the dark side as she had lain bleeding in the snow. She drew from it for a moment, inhaling deeply, banishing the awful cough, if only for the moment.

Engines flaring, blasting tumbleweeds from the old landing pad outside the city, Aria's ship touched down on Mataou. She emerged, clawed, bare feet against hot sand, a lightsaber and a parrying dagger hidden within her black robe, a blaster on her leg. She raised a comlink and spoke, her voice a weak, pitiful rasp, like that of a ghost. "Aria to Cairo, Carmilla. I am an Acolyte under the guidance of a Champion, and I have been tasked with assisting you. I can provide credentials upon meeting. Do you have a rendezvous point?'

She tucked the comlink away, breathing in the hot air. She coughed again.

 

[Veles]

He stood on the deck of the shuttle, eyes peering outside at the desert planet below as they approached its atmosphere, the ship having only just boomed out of hyperspace. The orange wastes below did not inspire much emotion within him, and Veles silently wondered why it was that they needed to negotiate with any insignificant crime lord for control of worlds that were fragmented under the control of several war lords regardless. It would be far easier to simply send a small force to take it over and set up a garrison in one of the trading posts. But he did not have the resources nor clearance to make such decisions, so here he was yet again, making his way toward the surface to clean up the mess that two Sith had managed to make even despite the simple assignment.

"Lord Veles, we are approaching the coordinates. Please prepare for landing," his new pilot droid declared into the comms in a flurry of beeps. It had been a good investment that, truth be told, he did not know why he hadn't made earlier. Droids were far more consistent when it came to flying, and though they would not be traversing routes in half the time as was the case with more skilled sentient species, at least he knew they would not be crash landing. Besides, the droid's memory could be easily wiped if need be to ensure no sensitive information got out. After the death of that pilot and co-pilot on Sullust, he preferred the idea of a hunk of metal and circuits transporting him around, since he could simply remotely detonate it and blow it to smithereens before any bad actor could even consider extracting information from it.

"Thank you, 4UM." Veles pulled out his datapad and used it to reroute his channel. "Southern Command Center, this is Darth Veles reporting in. I am minutes away from making contact with the forces assigned to Mataou. Stand by for mission report, over." After a brief silence, a voice buzzed back.

"Roger that, Lord Veles. Good luck out there--over and out."

The ship came to a smooth landing a few dozen meters away from the duo that were standing in front of the Hutt's palace, and he could already sense their anxiety even before the craft touched down, the delicate ripples in the Force easy to distinguish and interpret for the skilled Sith Lord. This was his forte--it was no wonder he had been sent, but the Dathomirian could not help but wish that there was some way for his skills to be put to better use.

"There will be no need for that," he declared, emerging from behind the Acolyte as he inquired whether they should report their failure. Veles nodded to the Anzat Champion. "Carmilla Styria, you are hereby relieved of your duties on this mission. Regroup at base and report for debriefing." And disciplinary measures, though those consisted of a chewing out from someone slightly higher up the command chain than her. It would not be Veles himself, because he had already wasted enough time traveling to the desert world. Lucky for the Empire that they had one Sith Lord in the Galactic South. Hell, it was lucky for them they had any Sith in that part of the Galaxy, because it seemed most forgot that there was more to space than just the territories in the North.

"Acolyte Kisufi...you may stay." No use in depriving himself of back-up, and it was not like the Empire's expectation had been very high when sending an Acolyte in. It was the Champion that would be dealt with, because it was the Champion that was higher ranked and thus considered responsible. "We've heard of your failure with the Blackwell franchise and the dark side cult, and I take it Xendor the Hutt was equally unimpressed."

He looked at the palace gates and then at the two Gamorrean guards. They were nervous, he could tell, the presence of the Sith Lord making them work up a cold sweat. As he approached the gates, one of them made the smallest effort to grip his spear and attempt to move it to block his path, but seemed to change his mind halfway, and the two simply ignored him as he strode inside, black cloak waving in the breeze.

"Come. The Hutt may need a bit of persuasion, but I believe a little difficulty for us is better than the Empire being forced to raze down what little there is left on this planet because you weren't able to convince some money-grabbing scoundrels that they want your money."

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

A new Sith Lord, huh? Alright. Finally, some firepower to back up negotiations. Someone with a little more firepower. While Cairo respected his gumption...

"My Lord." Cairo paused outside the gates to her palace. "I believe that would be an...unwise course of action." In his time here, he had learned that the factions on the world enjoy a delicate balance. A Sith strong-arming one of the Hutt warlords would effectively turn the rest of the planet's factions against them. "If we return without a gift, I don't think we'll make any more progress." He thought hard.

They could always do a Weekend at Ber'Nie's type thing. Kill the Hutt and impersonate her? That could work. He looked back at the face of the Darth - he certainly looked the part. But if this world wasn't secured properly, the crime lords would be a weak link for their enemies to exploit. A weak link for the entire Souther Expansion of the Sith Empire. They needed a better strategy than going in blind, so Cairo thought.

"Taking the world isn't as simple as buying the Hutt, my lord. Even if she wanted to support the Sith Empire." He said, following dutifully behind the lord when he stepped back into the palace. "It's not just about money, it's a cultural difference. Unless we want to invade this planet, commit battalions of our armies to this..." Throw away lives while the Empire fought a three-sided war. Cairo thought it...wasteful.

"Unless you have a different strategy here, my Lord."

@vamp

 

[Veles]

Veles stopped in his tracks at the entrance of the palace as the Acolyte spoke up, the Sith Lord standing between the two Gamorreans. He turned around to face Cairo and raised his eyebrows as the boy began speaking. Was this Acolyte... implying that he knew better than the Sith Lord? It was, truthfully, the first time anyone had argued with Veles aside from the Empress herself, and he was a bit taken aback, though he did not so much as blink, his face set and unreadable.

"A gift?" he asked. "What do you suggest?" It took all of his self-restraint to not go off on the Acolyte. He had been busy and pulled out of his work so that he could come here and dig the duo out of their mess, and would have liked to get it over with as soon as possible. Talk of bringing gifts and kissing the Hutt's ass was making him grow impatient, but he prided himself in being one of the more level-headed Sith, and that meant not Force choking the first person to disagree with him.

"As for the 'cultural difference'," he added. "I don't believe cultural differences were an issue during the negotiations between Darth Vader and Jabba the Hutt. I don't believe they'll be an issue here. The Hutt culture is money, as much as it is deception, excess, and wanton brutality. I highly doubt this Xendor will decline a handsome payout on moral grounds, but by all means, let's bring her a gift."

He walked away from the entrance, where the Gamorreans had been staring at the two speak, walking nevertheless into the palace and ducking to the right into the first open doorway. It lead to an empty staircase, and Veles stopped, his gaze set on Cairo, waiting for the Acolyte to continue his plan. Because he clearly had one, since he was so confident in it that he would propose that they do something different.

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

New ideas? He didn't have any of those. Cairo had just wanted to be a little bit of a shit, because this mission had been off to such a shitty start. Perhaps a poor choice, to be insubordinate to a Sith Lord, but...hey, he'd done it a bunch of times before without dying.

His prosthetic hand pulsated painfully from his arm, a firm reminder of how his act of insubordination had severe consequences. Real pains. "No, my Lord, you're right. I apologize. I just want to appreciate the challenge we have before us. But...let me introduce you to Xendor." Cairo shifted his look of dull pain, painting a mask of joy as he strode ahead. Perhaps, with a Sith Lord rather than an acolyte and a weird-ass vampire, they would do better this time around.

When they entered, the palace was...austere for what one might expect of a Hutt. While the fledgling Hutt daimyo was surrounded by a veritable army of mercenaries, brutes, and beasts within her cave hideout, it was otherwise devoid of the trappings of a Hutt throne room. No extravagant riches, no musicians, no slave girls or boys forced to dance for Xendor's pleasure. It seemed more like a base than a palace, a staging ground for a clandestine guerrilla war or a heavily armed drug lord's fortress. Perhaps on Mataou, everything was just the worst version of itself.

Xendor narrowed her eyes as she saw Cairo's face, and all the room's blasters turned on Lord and Acolyte as they entered. "Uba pankhobatkoy Xendor bu Yih, kaae Beh? Uba caiit yom woy mi wa fankeuala an kahka du bu wahuota. Ateema, Jee hatkocanh gee bai ciheu mee kouieiiua doi mah cuona." Despite her harsh language, none of her forces made any moves towards the Sith. She was curious to see what had brought the Sith back so quickly.

Cairo cleared his throat, changing his pitch for his well-practiced Huttese. "Lhonu an cakanle Xendor, Jee chayanh bai uba bu cenka dee Beh Kacmahea baa koee: Wa nay kotka dee laraa, wa bankobaii see saiotkoba an sakhee, an wa mala hanei dee kanay an semuacoka. Jee chayanh bu Beh Lorda..."

Ah, fuck. He had never gotten the Sith Lord's name. He turned his head with a look of concern, "Apologies, my Lord. You wanna introduce yourself?"

The Hutt seemed to perk up at the mention of Magicks. She had heard tale of potent drugs created by a fusion of Sith alchemy and chemical engineering. Highly addictive, highly powerful, highly profitable. It was a skill she could respect. She took a long drag from her pipe as she waited for Darth Veles to speak.

@vamp

 

[Veles]

The Acolyte backtracked, which was all the better to Veles. The last thing he wanted to do was to head out into the desert in search of an unattainable treasure to bring to a massive slug. He had no respect for or fear of the Hutts, small militias aside. He could note that Xendor was more martially-minded than most others, judging by the look of her palace, but that was not particularly important. Their strength extended only so much.

"Veles. Mee am darth veles of dathomir, warden of mustafar. Mee appear unko humbly before u noleeya hopes da u shal acc do negoticc ." The Hutt was visibly surprised to hear that the Sith Lord spoke perfect Huttese, a skill that Veles had learned before he even joined the ranks of the Sith. It was good to have a experience in the lower levels.

"Ree well. Speak," the Hutt replied in Huttese mixed with basic. So she did speak it, if motivated enough. Veles supposed the negotiations wouldn't go so bad.

@FineDiningSet

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

She said, narrowing her bloated eyes down to slits.

Cairo took the opportunity to speak. Having already genuflected once in Huttese, he returned to Basic for this conversation. "Mighty Xendor, we come before you to, again, propose that the Sith Empire join you as partners in your expansion across Mataou. Already, the world is broken between factions, all too weak to withstand a joint alliance of our forces. And Lord Veles, as Warden of Mustafar, is capable of rapidly mustering a force of great strength to conquer your enemies." He didn't know if that was exactly true, but he imagined the Lord could substantiate this claim. Lords had power. Acolytes didn't. It was the way of the galaxy.

The Hutt, in turn, spoke in Basic herself. Her voice carried a heavy bass, aided by a metallic edge to it. "I am skeptical of the Sith's ability to deliver me this world. Obviously, Mataou is of some strategic importance to your people. You wish to turn the the whole of the Galactic map a bloody shade of red. And this territory unites your holdings in this corner of the galaxy." She shifted her weight as she spoke, leaning her head onto her bloated fist.

"I am more skeptical that you even want to give me my home. As it stands, Xendor rules her domain. But if I accept your aid, I become little more than your puppet, and an intermediary for whatever your whims are on this world." She scanned the pair, appraising their ability. A Sith Lord was a powerful individual agent. But their whims were always there - making them flighty business partners, at best.

"The reason, then, you stand before me is simple. Now that you have brought an appropriate force, I'm happy to comply. That requires an exchange greater than whatever paltry bribe your whelps had brought here earlier. You see, Darth Veles, despite these vulgar surroundings, I am not interested in war. I am interested in business. If the Sith Empire can guarantee new business opportunities...I would be inclined to listen." She gestured to her heavily armed guard, a necessity for such a cesspool. Even the Hutts were unsafe on Mataou.

But she had heard tale of the Lilac Thorn, also known as Wildfire. Potent drugs manufactured by Sith hands. She knew that a new power bloc in the region could, if given some time, could expand her aspirations far past Mataou as well.

@vamp

 

[Veles]

Cairo did not say anything that Veles did not particularly disagree with, though it was interesting--almost humorous--the amount of respect he bestowed upon the Hutt, leader of a small faction in a backwards planet otherwise ignored by the Galaxy. The Sith Lord did not believe her claim to rule was substantiated by anything other than her military might, which, also wasn't spectacular. Truth be told, she would benefit greatly from Imperial involvement, but of course that would not be enough. It never was.

And rightfully so, he thought as she voiced her skepticism. You should be happy we're negotiating peacefully in the first place. Veles didn't care who it was that wielded power over the planet, whether it was this Hutt or some corporation or any other equally unpleasant ruler that would nevertheless make life a living hell for the world's citizens, just as those before them had. Such was the way of life for planets like this. He didn't voice any of this, since he could sense within the Hutt that she was salivating at the opportunity to negotiate with the Empire, so it was likely they would come to an agreement--even if with some additional terms and conditions.

He craned his head ever so slightly toward Cairo when the Hutt mentioned business as if to say "told you so." All of these creatures were the same because it had been effectively engineered into the core of their very being to be scoundrels and greedy credit-grabbers, regardless of whether they lived in Hutt space or not. They were willing to claim just about any desert hellhole where they could operate without oversight from law enforcement. Which, probably, was the reason Xendor was so hesitant. The Empire may deal with characters like these, but they were not push-overs and would not allow unsanctioned activity. Hutts, if anything, were even more flighty than Sith, since their entire several centuries-long lifespan revolved around drawing as much pleasure as they could from the worlds around them.

"I can assure you, the Sith Empire can usher in a whole new world of opportunities that would otherwise not be possible. From weapons to soldiers to construction materials, we have access to supply lines stretching across the entire Galaxy, and if it exists, we can get it." But it had to be worth the time and effort. Shipping goods from one corner of the map to the other took resources, and he would categorically refuse to cater to every single one of the Hutt's wants. "Though, considering you bring it up, I assume there is something you have in mind?"

The Hutt shifted again, taking a few seconds to reply, as though she were thinking even though her mind had already been made. After a brief silence, she exhaled loudly, the foul air coming out of her mouth wafting over even to the Sith who were a great distance away. Veles had to bite down on his tongue to prevent himself from turning up his nose. Then, she spoke.

"Very perceptive you are, Sith Lord. Yes. I do have something in mind, and I have no doubt it is certainly within the realm of Imperial possibilities." She waved a massive, tub-like and slime-covered hand and one of her attendants approached her throne with a covered plate that had a hole on top. The Hutt reached inside and tugged a bullfrog out by one of its legs, throwing it into her gaping maw and chewing eagerly. After swallowing, she waved an arm and continued. "There is... a new drug on the market, that I believe can provide a very profitable business opportunity on this world and in this small stretch of space. It is called Wildfire, and it is created, I understand, through the use of your Sith magic."

Veles almost sighed and rolled his eyes. Leave it to a Hutt to find the most difficult to accommodate condition and make it an obligation. To put out Wildfire in quantities the way Xendor would request required a sizable force of Sith alchemists working on it, one that he would only have access to once the construction of the Academy on Dagobah was complete. Of course, the Hutt knew that such things took time, so he doubted it would be an issue. "Very well," he nodded. "That can be arranged."

The Hutt clapped her massive hands, wet slaps echoing through the chamber as she rocked her hulking frame around, clearly pleased. "In that case, Lord Veles, I do believe it is time for me to declare a jubjub!"

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

Xendor's goons brought out many plates, music, and seats for the guests. The atmosphere changed almost entirely in that instant - the dour, militaristic surroundings turning into the lavishness of a Hutt palace once more. The disgusting appetite of the Hutt was brought to a full display, as makeshift tables filled with exotic meats, cheeses, and spices. The best spice, though, was the one with the capital S.

Cairo had never done spice before. He didn't want to start. He had seen what a spice addiction could do to people - how it could rip someone from their dreams and send them spiraling through the pits of despair. He had known many beggars who could only think about the next hit, parents who ignored their children for a taste of spice.

"Come now, Sith. Try my product." Her tone sat somewhere between 'request' and 'demand.' While it was always a bad idea to go into business with a spice addict, Xendor trusted those who had an operating knowledge of the drug industry. If the Sith were to help manufacture a potent new drug, surely they wouldn't be averse to a taste of the spice?

At least, this was the implication in Cairo's mind. Perhaps it was guided by his curiosity, to see the potency of this mineral that had driven entire systems to ruin. How strong could it be?

When presented, Cairo nervously wet his finger, dipped it into the baggie of spice, and rubbed it around his gums. They went numb almost instantly, as a creeping euphoric sensation began to crawl across his nervous system. He turned towards Veles, to offer him the same.

"Mighty Xendor, Sith alchemy is capable of a great deal of feats. Drugmaking among them. I must ask - if you already have a market for Spice, why would you want to try a new, untested product?"

@vamp

 

[Veles]

Jubjub? Veles had been to a single other jubjub in his life, and last time he hadn't been a participant; this had been back on Coruscant when he was a chef. He'd been paid handsomely by a Hutt crimelord from the lower levels to cook for him and prepare a massive buffet for a jubjub he was to hold with an old rival. As was custom, the Hutts had drank, eaten, negotiated, watched gladiatorial fights, and there had been only two assassination attempts, both failed. All in all, it had been an average jubjub and great preparation for what was to follow. Veles would have never thought something like that could come back and help him in such a way.

As the servants wheeled in carts with plates stacked into towers on top that seemed to topple and lean with every turn, a group of them brought a massive table seemingly out of nowhere, setting it up in the center of the room along with padded chairs. The Hutt motioned for them to take a seat and Veles complied, not before stopping for a moment as Xendor raised her stubby hands.

"Jubjub!" she greeted, announcing the commencement of the meeting. Things like this, Hutt traditions, were very important to the slugs, and entire negotiations could hinge on one's knowledge of their culture. Veles, with his past rubbing elbows with those in the criminal world, was somewhat acquainted, so he knew to greet the same way, and they all sat down.

Veles' eyes darted to the bowls of spice as they were brought in and set right in front of them, different variants of various consistencies, colors, sizes, and effects. He could spot glitteryll and glitterstim, along with a dozen other variants he had only heard of. The Hutt invited them to sample it, and Veles didn't need to be told twice.

"It would be an honor," he declared, suddenly feeling a bit more cheerful. Sure, he'd been pulled out of what he was doing to come here, but at least they got to do spice that only a Hutt could source. It was, all in all, a success.

Veles did not share Cairo's reservations or prejudices around the substance. He was well acquainted with the drug and its hundreds of spin offs, so he knew instantly which one to begin with. While the Acolyte simply rubbed his gums, Veles picked up the spoon on the side of a bowl and scooped out some of the powder, spreading it down onto the table. He reached into his robe and pulled out a plastic card that read "IMPERIAL IDENTIFICATION" on the top and got to work cutting it into two thin lines.

The Sith Lord moved with the sheer precision and skill of a Syndicate drug peddler, his movements short and direct, having everything laid out in front of him within seconds. He grabbed a straw out of a cup and in two quick motions, had sniffed the powder in its entirety, looking back up without even blinking. He simply sat there like that for a moment, his gaze set on the Hutt, his brain judging.

Then, his pupils dilated ever so slightly and pleasure washed over his body from head to toe. Giving a faint shudder, his face broke out into a grin. "What purity," he noted. "This is spectacular product, Xendor."

He sat back in his seat as the Hutt, notably gleeful, clapped her hands a few times and smiled back, an expression that looked more like the slug was constipated. "It means the world to hear that from a man of your renown, Lord Veles."

Her eyes flitted to the Acolyte as he spoke up, Veles likewise craning his head toward him. He already knew the answer before Cairo even stopped talking. Xendor chuckled a little.

"Ambition, my dear boy. Why settle just for spice when I can expand? Why settle for less when I can have more? There is no horizon for the ambitious, no barrier or border that can hold them back." The Hutt reached into a covered bowl and grabbed another bullfrog, popping it into its massive maw and chewing before she continued. "With help from the Empire and intelligent planning, I believe the product of Xendor the Hutt could reach as far as Coruscant."

"Will you be supplying the--" Veles put a finger on his nostril and snorted deeply to dislodge the spice in there. "--raw materials?"

"Yes. I will be paying out a 20% cut to the Empire for the service as well." 20% was not a lot, but Xendor was sourcing, shipping, distributing, and selling the product, which left the Sith with the simple task of making the drug. He couldn't say it was a bad deal.

"Tell me about this drug." He already knew about Wildfire, but not the specifics. Of course, he was planning to reaearch it later and find the recipe and process, but a summary would be good.

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

"An auspicious plan, mighty Xendor." Cairo nodded as he watched Veles snort an inhuman amount of spice in one line. Was Veles a spice head? Was that why he looked so bad? Cairo had assumed it was the weird ass magic he practiced, but maybe it was just a run-of-the-mill spice dosing that did it.

"Wildfire is an...unknown. That is why we need your help in supplanting it." Its reputed creator had fallen off the face of the galaxy, leaving only the drug's reserves. As it was a highly addictive drug, those who got a taste guarded their hordes jealously. "We know one component, the Lilac. A mild stimulant, often powderized or liquified to cut stronger drugs." He paused, glancing towards the Sith Lord. "The magickal components, however, are unknown." The Hutt snapped his fingers, and an attendant produced a small vial of a deep purple, glowing substance. Wildfire.

Cairo's eyes lit up. He had never seen the drug in person, and, with the effects of spice now taking root in his body, it seemed all the more tempting to experiment with. "Surely there is risk, though. Wildfire is volatile. It could kill your customers, like a bad batch of spice." Penny wise, pound foolish, Cairo imagined. The Hutts thought in centuries - like the Morellians, but even longer.

"You think I do not know the risks of my own product, child? What does Xendor care if some spice junkies die from their habit?"

"I ask that you allow Lord Veles and I to refine this product. It was not made by Imperial hands, and as such, has none of the high level of quality that one would expect from our hands." More time to study the product, more time to experiment with it - Cairo and Lord Veles could make something entirely different from the potent hatred that Wildfire was distilled from. They could make a better drug.

@vamp

 

[Veles]

Veles' eyes darted to the vial as it was produced by one of the Hutt's attendants. Its allure was palpable, but he was not that desperate for drugs that he would sample it during a negotiation. He would have to sample it, regardless, when experimenting with its make-up. Or he could, of course, just use the Acolyte as a test subject. It all hinged on whether Cairo would upset him.

The Sith Lord raised his eyebrows as the Acolyte voiced concern regarding the dangers of Wildfire, sharing a knowing look with the Hutt for the briefest of seconds. He almost chuckled out loud, but he knew to restrain himself and remain stoic. Of course it could kill customers, just like blasters, spice, and half the other things that were sold in the Galaxy. Who cared about that? Apparently, a Sith did. So altruistic was the Acolyte that he requested that the Hutt let them experiment with it, and Xendor' eyes flitted from one Sith to the other as she thought.

"Well, so long as the product's quality increases as a result of your meddling, I will allow it. You will not have many vials at your disposal, unfortunately, as the extent of even my collection has its limits." The Sith Lord shrugged. He didn't particularly care how many lifeforms died as a result of the drug, but he would never pass up an opportunity to make a drug even stronger, maybe add some effects to it and remove the unpleasant ones. He knew, however, that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to reduce the risk of Wildfire. Alchemy always required that something is given in order for something to be made, and there was no cheating the rules. Either the drug worked, or it was harmless. The realization would dawn on Cairo eventually, when they began the experimenting, but until then Veles decided he might as well let the Acolyte live on in blissful ignorance for a little while longer.

"In that case, I believe we must get to work as soon as possible to ensure a speedy process." He rose from his seat and the Hutt nodded, waving a hand as the servants all began to gather the things set on the tables.

"Very well. I thank you for your presence, Lord Veles, and look forward to our continued collaboration."

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

Cairo remained oblivious to the nature of Alchemy, it was true. But soon, hopefully, Veles would appreciate the opportunity that Cairo could negotiate. The true inventor of Wildfire was, largely, a mystery. Without his guidance, left only with magickal experiment, they couldn't create the exact same product. It was important to set that expectation ahead of their work. "Yes - Xendor, it's been a pleasure. Next time we meet, be ready for a whole new kind of product."

Xendor's eyes narrowed as she appraised the pair once more. This was a radical departure from the kinds of matters usually appeared on her world. She had no interest in ruling Mataou - so the Sith were welcome to hold the planet for her. Instead, the fortunes of the drug empire she would build would propel her from a minor Hutt to a major player in the Cartel's activities. It was an auspicious day, deserving of a jubjub. But, she didn't want the Sith to make themselves too familiar. "My guards will escort you out. Lord Veles, I will expect a progress report in a month. Good luck to you both." She tipped a cocktail glass towards the pair, as Cairo and Veles rose from their seats.

Cairo was surprised as he walked down the hall, casually, just as they had entered. "Gotta hand it to ya, Lord Veles, you were...totally right." He checked back to the sandy dunes that awaited them outside the fortress of the Hutt. "Can I fly back with you? I, uh, don't have my own ship. And I've got some ideas for different hallucinogenics you could use as a base ingredient to test the effects of Wildfire."

@vamp