A Demon in Heaven

[Cameron Centurion]

Cloud Nine

A pensive silver-green gaze drifted over the crystal waters of the lake on this particular level of the city. There were, quite literally, hundreds of people around enjoying their own parts of the respite given by Cloud Nine. The serenity of the waters...disturbed only slightly by the magnificent waterfall in the distance was almost...soothing to Cameron. In fact were his soul one that could be soothed to a point of complete tranquility, he might enjoy spending his remaining days in such a place.

However, the reality was that Cameron was not one to languish in any one place for long. Despite the cool, reserved exterior he so often portrayed, the greater truth was that his soul had been so impossibly contorted over the course of his life that his insides routinely churned with a burning intensity. Over the years, Cameron had learned to manage the power and emotion that swelled within his body. Just when he'd thought his control was absolute, it had deepened near exponentially at the unintentional and unspoken urging of [member="Amorella Mae"]'s literal existence.

That, however, was a story he recounted in his head each and every day, but it had little to do with his presence on Cloud Nine. Amidst the simmering of bruised egos and enraged reactions of countless corporations in the wake of the Galactic Republic's actions, the Sith Lord had seen fit to reach out to an old acquaintance. [member="Danger Arceneau"] had never been someone that Cameron would call a friend, his interactions with her being so limited. She was capable enough though to leave an impression, and that was no small feat. Also, the impression had nothing to do with her extremely voluptuous appearance, but she was no doubt used to that being a point of...ensnaring attentions.

Turning from the view before him, the Sith Lord turned and forced himself to sit on an unoccupied bench. Pulling back the hood of his dark blue and gray cloak, the Sith Lord allowed the warmth of daylight to touch his face as he closed his eyes and slipped into a brief meditative state. Cameron was sure he would not be disturbed into his contact had arrived to lead him to the meeting location with Miss Arceneau. Being a large, armed individual with tribal tattoos adorning his exposed upper body typically ensured the man's privacy in public.

 

[Cira]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

A few minutes later, the soft click of heels echoing upon the pavement. They came to a slight stop, awaiting the acknowledgement of the man. Once he would acknowledge her, she would begin.

"Good afternoon, Miz Arceneau is right this way, my lord." a coral hand would gesture for him to follow her. This was Aeri Vyn, the long time personal assistant of Danger Arceneau. During her years and because of her faithful worth ethic, she now oversaw the majority of Arceneau Trade's business dealings and contracts, most notably for the neutral and Galactic Republic sectors.

She was a full blooded Zeltron, a former Companion and Valkyrie. With legs as long as the Kessel run, and wide lavender eyes, the posh woman certainly was striking.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron's eyes opened the moment he sensed someone lingering in his vicinity. [member="Aeri Vyn"] had probably been standing there for roughly ten seconds before the Sith Lord stood to his full height and offered her a subtle nod of his head. He was not a particular fan of Zeltrons, but he could understand their presence in many corporate affairs. Part of Cameron wondered if there were any unattractive women left in the galaxy at all.

"Thank you," was the only throaty response he afforded the woman before falling into step beside her. More than a handful of eyes darted in their direction, and they certainly were not staring at the dark-skinned stranger.

 

[Cira]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

"My pleasure." Aeri would state. She wore a posh little dark grey number. A blazer with a deep vee and a pencil skirt. Around her neck, a small black pearl necklace and pendant that accented her cleavage almost as if it were a border of small ships protecting her neckline from her imposing breasts. Certainly would provoke the eye to that particular pleasent view, but a more discerning eye would take note of the sigil that was impressed upon the flat medallion.

One that would designate her a follower of Aatrox.

The Guildhouse had adapted the pantheon of the Moross Crusade years ago, in the wake of the events that unfolded at Aurum. Being a Valkryie, Aeri took to Aatrox. While not a diligent follower, she could respect the prestige and the skillset that came from the would be God.

"Right this way," Aeri would inform him, leading him towards a tall white building. One of the botanical gardens actually. A bit more private and served a two fold purpose for Danger.

The duo would find the woman standing in front of a plot of white orchids, the redheaded Queen of Trade lifting her head up with a cordial smile.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron was silent for the entirety of their journey to the botanical gardens where [member="Danger Arceneau"] was located. That, however, did not mean the Sith Lord hadn't taken passive note of [member="Aeri Vyn"]'s appearance. Just as they entered the tall white building, the former false-God allowed his gaze to fall on the fire-haired Queen of Trade. The Sith Lord appreciated redheads...which would be evident to anyone that even remotely saw the typical leanings of his romantic engagements...with limited but exceptional exception.

As Cameron and his escort passed within earshot of Danger, Cameron spoke a simple phrase directly into the alluring Zeltron's mind. The blessings of Aatrox favor you, my child. At almost the precise same time, he spoke a verbal greeting to his host. "Miss Arceneau, always a pleasure to be in your presence, and a sincere congratulations on your pending nuptials."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

Aeri wasn't normally one to be startled, but the low murmur was enough to slow her step. Lavender eyes met the viridian of the Aesir, and for a moment, she caught her breath.

Cameron would move quickly, moving towards the Queen of Trade in greeting, but not before Aeri would bring her hand up to gently caress the medallion between her breasts. Something would pass between that lavender gaze, and a slight incline of her head in reverence came next. The tattoo of her heels would alert her departure, while Danger would move forward to extend her hand in greeting.

"Thank you," she would say, giving a smile that actually brightened the glow of her face. It was clear that this particular marriage wasn't one dependent on boardroom contracts or mergers. "It is a pleasure to see you as well." while Moross may no longer be a government entity, their lore and pathenon still lingered. This was Aesir Aatrox, and she had met him personally along with the representative of Kuat Shipyards on Ceto long ago. While he may no longer be a god to the masses, that knowledge gave him a measure of respect.

"How may I be of service?"

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron's gaze had only lingered briefly on Aeri before his attention was directed to [member="Danger Arceneau"]. Given the reality that Danger no doubt had much more important things to attend to than his...boredom, the Sith Lord aired his request in a quite concise manner. "I had hoped perhaps I might be able to find employment with Arceneau Trade."

Cameron could understand it being an odd request. They didn't know each other that well, it certainly was not as if Cameron was short of funds to live his life. "I prefer not to have idle hands, but the challenge of life on an open battlefield...well let's just say times have changed." The age of true warriors had long since passed...even Cameron had found necessity to adapt to that fact. "I would like to return to the core of who I am, handling problems on a variety of scales discreetly. I thought perhaps one of the galaxy's largest organizations could benefit from such work."

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

Her interest was piqued.

A brow rose in growing interest, and she gave a slight inward cant of her head as she would listen to the former Aesir's proposal. It was a very little known fact that Danger held certain prejudice to Force Users. It took a while for her to grant them the same level of respect to one that had not used the Force to get into their position. The man before her had grown into the position where many still considered him a God. Danger was fairly certain that more than a few of her Companions who were of the more reverent sort could very well fall to his feet.

There was a time and a place for everything. Aesir Aatrox was not a man to be taken lightly, and having him work in a discrete manner with Arceneau Trade.. well, now that could very well be a mutually beneficial relationship.

"It could," she began to say carefully. "Very much so." she would admit to him. "Were this to come to fruition, what would be your conditions?"

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Little known fact...Cameron held a certain prejudice to redheads.

Just in all the right ways.

The Sith Lord, of course, didn't afford such thoughts more than a fleeting moment of attention in the recesses of his mind. Maintaining an intense, focused gaze on the Queen of Trade, Cameron allowed the corners of his lips to curl upwards into a thin smile. When he spoke, his deep voice dragged out every syllable as if each had its own distinctive taste on his lips. "Con-di-tions... I think you will find that I do not execute any aspect of my life with many conditions. However, were I in a position to truly make any demands or requests, I would ask only that whatever requests you make of me are clear and concise. If I have questions as a matter of clarification, I will ask. Otherwise - I expect to be left to my own devices."

Raising his left hand slightly, the Sith Lord's expression returned to normal. "That all said. This is your world, your corporation. I'm the one seeking a favor, so I suppose it is much more prudent for us to focus on your actual conditions rather than my hypothetical." Cameron did not really exist in the realm of threats or purposeful intimidation. In his experience, those with any level of mental clarity were quite aware of when they were flirting with the line between good and bad health as it related to themselves.

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

He was correct. As one of his station was wont to be.

They had an understanding, and in that Danger was grateful that the former Aesir would be so willing to ask for her conditions. A nod, and then she would state them clearly.

"I have no desire to see a child harmed or killed." her affection for children was well known. If there were any pet peeves within the women, it was those who backed out on their word and who needlessly would slay the life of a child.

"And above all else, discretion." She had a reputation to uphold. Nothing could come back to her or Arceneau Trade. Her reputation was all she had that made Arceneau what it is now.

"Those are my only two conditions." as they would overlap and make things simple.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron was motionless throughout the brief delivery of conditions provided by [member="Danger Arceneau"]. If she had a reputation about particular desires and dislikes, Cameron had never much allowed himself to be privy to them. Granted, he had done his fair share of homework prior to requesting this meeting as was only prudent. For the most part, she seemed to treasure and value that which, honestly, most women treasured and valued.

Centuries of experience did flavor his opinion with variety, however.

When Danger's full lips had stopped moving, Cameron offered a subtle nod of the head as he gazed down at the woman. "Very well. You shall neither see a child harmed nor be exposed to any of my actions on your behalf outside of your desire." There was a subtle beauty to words. The Sith Lord, despite his penchant for brutality or calculating decisions, was a completely honest individual.

Though the issue usually came from people failing to appreciate the literal meanings of his words. Danger would not find this to be a problem, and he saw no reason to publicly muse on the difference between seeing a child harmed and it happening through necessity of action or collateral damage.

Reaching into his pocket, the former Aesir produced a simple business card with a simple frequency contained embossed on the front. There were no words spoken of what it was for, he counted the fire-haired woman as exceedingly intelligent - certainly enough to recognize a communicator frequency as necessary. "I look forward to our interactions, Ms. Arceneau. Is there anything else you desire to ask of me at this time?"

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

Danger's fingers would gently pluck the simple business card from the former Aesir's hand. Her smile would grow wider, and there was a softeness to it that had been missing before. Perhaps it was simply the beauty of a woman in love, something that the man in front of her would understand considering his own bride.

Love had a curious way of coloring the galaxy.

"As do I, my lord." Danger would reply, simply smiling in turn. She gave a small nod of the negative, her hand reaching out towards a small silver case. Snapping it open, she slid his business card in there. "No, nothing more. If there is anything else you may require of me, please, do not hesitate to contact me at all."

In turn, she too plucked a small simple business card from one side of her case for him to utilize. It was her direct comm frequency.

"It is always a pleasure... as I imagine for the Companions as well." her lips would twitch at that. The Guildhouse still actively worshiped the Moross Pantheon.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron accepted the card from [member="Danger Arceneau"] and slid it into a pocket of his pants, partially pulling back the dark blue and grey cloak that covered the numerous Sith tattoos adorning his upper body. Keeping his gaze leveled at the Queen of Trade as he did so, he offered her another shallow incline of his head.

However, mention of the Companions did cause a very slight smirk to settle upon his lips. An entire organization of women still actively worshiping the Moross Pantheon... It made for a very intriguing reality...dangerous...but intriguing. Perhaps they could be of some manner of use in his activities for Arceneau Trade. Time would tell. In his younger years, Cameron might have been challenged by the allure of beautiful women literally worshiping what he represented.

Fortunately for them and him, he suffered no such vanity at present. With nothing further to be said between the two, Cameron turned and retreated from Danger's presence with a thin smile still adorning his features. This Sith Lord had taken no more than a handful of steps before his figure disappeared completely from view in a loud crack of dark blue light.