Ask [Kinyen] Of Scales and Ships...

[Celeste Stythani]

Celeste couldn't help but to roll her eyes when he so audaciously ignored her suggestion and simply stormed forward. She had dealt with them before and so she knew that they had been rather well organized and equipped. Thus, she was pretty sure that a very aggressive offensive wasn't the most intelligent thing to do...On the other hand though, those assailants were probably not expecting such a direct opposition, so she forced herself to calm down. She let them all storm out and stayed behind, the Force wrapped all around her while she was ready to strike if needed. As long as she could however stay in the background, she would do so and she tried to be as calm as possible as she also had the doctor's words in the back of her mind. Stress wasn't good and neither was the fact that those negotiations had gotten out of hand...again.

It was impressive to watch how the Trandoshan senator had suddenly gathered such a number of forces around him and Celeste realized that if had planned to lie a trap on her, the fight would have been more intense than expected, but she was indeed glad that everything had went so far. At least their negotiations had gone smoothly...She went into a crouched position and slowly made her made around the furniture until she could inconspicuously Force pull a blaster without anyone noticing. She then did the same as the Trandoshan and his guards by shooting into the direction of the attackers, but the chaos that had erupted in the corridor was slightly convoluted and so she had to rely on the Force to guide her bolts into the direction of the foes. So far it seemed like those assailants would receive a short trial, but this was not over yet.

@Issachar

 

[Rrodossk]

The battle was brief and furious, with the attackers losing many more men than the would-be defenders, though both sides did have casualties. Only three of the potential assassins remained, though one of them was rapidly fading due to a missing arm. Rrodossk had to call off a few of the bounty hunters from trying to pick some of the weapons or armor from the fallen, or trying to take one final kill from the new prisoners.

Rrodossk dragged the surviving terrorists inside, a few of the bounty hunters administering first aid to the one with the severed limb. The Senator grinned a smug grin, less for being right and more for the amount of fun he had. He ejected the magazine from his pistol and swapped it for a fresh one, setting it down on the coffee table before kneeling the two assailants infront of the two.

"The galaxy hasssss become a very cruel place. Thessssse punkssss sssseem to be the norm for asssssssassssssins of this time. Carelesssssss, sssssloppy, yet ssssstill efficient. Thissssss isssss why one mussssst invessssst in deterrentssssss and defencessss, to ensssssure that thessssse clownsssss do not have a ssssssuccessssful job, or atleassssst not an eassssssy one. Now, who do they work for?" He simply raised an eyebrow and turned to the female. He made sure that one guard held a weapon to the upper back of each of the prisoners who kneeled infront of the massive lizard. He had another feeling: she knew why they were here. The comment before showed she had experience with them, but how she knew.... she either had a great gut feeling or was hiding something. A secret he could use against her... or to help.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Celeste watched and oberserved from the background, neither giving away her Force sensitivity nor her concealed lightsaber and it was good that she wasn't forced to present either of those. Instead, the senator and his men handled the situation quite well even though she feared for the guards from his side that ended up badly injured. The fight wasn't particularly long, but as he soon called them off to escort the last remaining assailants in Celeste knew that she had to place her words carefully now.

She acted slightly frightened in order to keep her appearance as innocent as possible, because it made sense that the Senator of Rattatak wasn't necessarily a skilled killer if needed. The other senator on the other hand looked not only pleased because of the won battle but it also seemed as though his bloodlust was satisfied for now. Celeste cleared her throat and acted as though she had just regained compusre even though all she felt was a subtle rage directed at those bastards. Celeste stepped closer to the wounded men that were now forced on their knees but there was confidence and authority in the way she approached the two lightly armored figures. "I thought your boss is dead" she said to them, her voice ice cold, but both just started a scornful laughter. "So you do want me to set another example?" she then added as her tone clearly turned into a threat, but still no answer came besides the weak, mocking chuckles. "They are an organization scattered across the galaxy. Ruthless in their pursuits but also slightly predictable. They won't talk so we're probably wasting out time. I know how to track them back to their next base, so leave that to me. I thank you kindly for your effort though" she now politely told the senator as she was indeed happy that she hadn't gotten her own hands dirty again wit this scum.

@Issachar

 

[Rrodossk]

The Trandoshan smiled even wider and moved behind one of the terrorists, a soft crocodilian growl rolled from his powerful lungs. It was low and deep, like a soft and terrifying drone. He slowly circled the pair, his upper lip softly quivering in anger. If they would not talk like this.... he had ways of breaking spirits. And if that wouldn't work...he would atleast have more fun.

"I shall keep thesssse two in my cusssstody for now, but I believe we have buisnessssssss to attend to. Asss we sssee here, the galaxy isss in a sssstate of chaossss. Where armed terrorisssstsss can jusssst walk into a hotel and attempt to asssssssasssssssinate sssomeone. Much like how my men and I ambushed them, I wish to create a defence sssso great that thossse who would wish to harm thosssse protected would be afraid to sssstep one foot clossser. No innocent blood shall be sssspilt, only thossse of thosssse who wish to commit violence." His growl had subsided when he spoke, his voice still confident and as powerful as ever. He kept circling his prey, yet his eyes remained locked on the woman.

"Sssso, if we deal with the chaossss at the highesssst levels, who'sss to ssssay the chaossss under it won't atleassst calm down?" After a few more circles he moved back to the couch and slowly sat down. To an observer it would seem the excitement got to him, but that was just an act. Rrodossk enjoyed the violence he was allowed to indulge in, it got the cold blooded flowing through his reptilian veins. It felt like he was still a youth, invincible and as strong as a Rancor. He knew he wasn't, but sometimes it's still fun to feel that way.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Even though Celeste felt not a single hint of sympathy for the two remaining assailants she wasn't quite sure whether she would leave them in his presence. First of all, she had her own way of making people talk and second of all, she wasn't sure whether they didn't at least deserve an abrupt death. She didn't even want to think about what he would possibly do to them to make them talk as the pure thought of him trying anything brutal caused her nausea to flare up, but she was not showing any of her doubts in her professional fassade.

The way he circled his prey reminded her of the predators she had seen on Rattatak, but she didn't show any other reaction than a mild smirk. "If you want, you can keep them and try. Perhaps they'll speak when tortured" she began, looking one of the attackers intensely into the eyes while the man seemed to understand the loomimg threat behind her sentence, but she was not done yet. "However I can assure you that I have a way of getting my information out of them. It's guaranteed I'll figure out where they're hiding now" she then added calmly as she followed him over back to the couch for now. She didn't want to start any mind tricks as long as his men were here as well as she didn't need anyone to find out about what she was truly capable off. "And I see. This attack comes in handy if you want to point ot that parable. It is true, we still have chaos all around and I'm a firm believer in mutual support. The FWA planets should help one another, after all that's what an alliance stands for, so it's like I said before we were so rudely interrupted: As long as we are talking about defensive matters, I'm on board. I've transmitted your designs to my holopad and I'll consult with my people to discuss the prototypes. Then we'll start the planning and production processes" she then concluded as she sat across him again, legs elegantly crossed. It didn't seem like there had been a fight a few moments ago. They were back at business.

@Issachar

 

[Rrodossk]

The scaled lips of the Trandoshan curled into a seemingly not quite familiar shape: a genuine smile. He genuinely seemed happy this deal was seemingly coming together, this was what he had wanted more than the blood he still smelt in the air. He had certainly earned points for this act alone, but the fleet bring built would be itself a miracle. This feels like when his sons were hatched from their eggs: he was proud of giving life to something with such promise.

But giving life to something wasn't the same as seeing it blossom. He knew he had much work ahead of him but these fleets will bring order to the galaxy. Not through tyrrany and conquest, but through being a deterrent. Seeing as his old mate was gone, and he was gaining in his years, the major legacy he wanted to leave for his children would be this plan. He wouldn't see the plan finished in his lifetime, but he knew he would see it from the afterlife.

"Then shake my hand Madam Ssstythani, and thissss galaxy will become a ssssafer place already. If you would like, I can bring you into the next Alliance meeting ssssso the other memberssss may meet their new comrade." He leaned his torso forward and stretched out his clawed hand for it to be shaken. His heart pounded differently than when he was fighting. He was in the thrill of battle, his heart pounding from excitement. But this was... excitement. The idea of this plan excited him more than any fight or combat he had ever been in. And now... it was so close to becoming a reality.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Seeing the Trandoshan senator smile was oddly infectious. She had no idea why she felt this way, but perhaps it was because she had not expect to ever see him smile with such a genuineness. She had been aware of the fact that the Trandoshan senator had been more than interested in striking a deal with her and that this had also been the reason for his immediate interference with her assailants, but she also knew how important this was.

Countless of lives and planets were at stake and their trade deal could mark the beginning of something bigger. If she was to become an official part of the FWA -and admittedly, that was very likely- they would both strongly profit from this deal and so her smile was also based on her own positive excitement. Just like him, she was demonstrating genuine emotions now as she reached to meet his hand with hers and not a second later her soft, human skin was in touch with his rough scales. So the deal was sealed.

With an affirmative nod and the smile still on her lips she opened her mouth again. "Yes. I would appreciate that. There is, however, still one question left. Do you want to keep the spoils of the battle you fought or will you hand them over? I would have them escorted onto my ship and I will have my information by midnight. However if you want, I'll leave that pleasure to you". Celeste didn't care too much about that. She would find them anyway. However if he would leave that fun to her, she would rummage through their minds and she would thereby probably acquire the information needed faster.

@Issachar

 

[Rrodossk]

Now that issss a tricky quesssstion, the reptile thought. He pulled his hand back from the shake after a few moments, which partially had been for the appearance for respect and partially had been to give him time to think. On one claw, he would have so much fun torturing these two creatures. On the other hand, she would probably be on better terms with him later on if she did get them. And she would owe him for that gracious act after all.

"You should take them. Ssssseing asssss you know about their organization more than I, and they mosssst likely have been trouble for you in the passst, you may take them with you. I wish I could have my fun with them..." and as the lizard's sandpapery voice paused for but a moment, he was obviously side eyeing one of the poor prisoners, "... I believe you would know what to sssstrip from their poor mindsssss more than I." Having a Trandoshan give away one prisoner was as common as an alligator simply letting a prey swim away from its wide open maw. And it took quite a bit of restraint from the old Rrodossk, but he knew in the long run he could get more points than either would be worth.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Celeste's gaze still lingered on the senator, trying to read his mimic but it was indeed more difficult than reading humanoids. He still seemed happy and excited, yet it looked like he had to contemplate whether he truly wanted to leave the 'fun' part to her. However, when he finally agreed her smile widened and she nodded approvingly.

"I thank you kindly, senator. Perhaps we could come to another compromise? I might not need more than a few minutes until you can have them back" she suggested with slight wink in order to lighten the mood again, and to be fair, she found herself in a rather good mood as well since they had come to a mutually beneficial solution quite quickly.

She could sense how difficult it had been for her to come to this conclusion in the first place, so why not taking another step in his direction as well. "I am glad that this meeting went as planned. I'll stay in contact with you". As she got to her feet, she made her way over towards the two captives who already looked like they wouldn't last much longer. All she needed was a few minutes on her ship so that she could focus and gather the information she wanted and so she put her bag over her shoulder before she grabbed both beat-up assailants at their cuffed wrists and yanked them upwards, the Force fortifying her strength.

@Issachar

 

[Rrodossk]

Rrodossk nodded to the female as he slowly stood behind her, bowing his upper torso to her as he rolled a wrist before letting it flow outward. He was obviously trying to add a bit of a flourish to his bow, but beyond the slight theatrics he was genuine with the motion.

"May thissss not be the lassst time we greet you in good health. Now have a ssssafe trip back to your ship, esssssspecially after thissss event." And there was the typical Trandoshan speech. Barley veiling a threat under what would be normal greetings, yet it seems he is doing this more as a soft jab than an actual threat. He motioned for one of his men to go and open the door, which they quickly rushed over and swung that door open. Outside, security and the police had taped off the corridor. An investigation was going on, and it seemed they were mostly just cleaming up at this point.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

She shoved them forwards before she glanced over her shoulder with a smile again. "I hope so too. May the FWA flourish on the ground we have established. I'm looking forward to our collaboration". With that she turner around to leave, pushing the two defeated captives in front of her as she made her made through the door. She had never been a promoter or supporter of torture, but she knew she could simply extract the information she needed anyway. She was slightly frustrated that there had, apparently, still been remnants of this terrorist group, but she was now closer to destroying them once and for all on the other hand, so their attack wasn't fully unnecessary. As she led the captives to her ship the conversation she shared with the Trandoshan senator echoed through her head. Perhaps things were indeed about to change for the good...As she walked through the corridors her undercover guards slowly followed behind until they all made it back to her ship.

@Issachar

//Exit thread