A Zeltrochiss & a Zabrak Walk Into a Bar... (Zatten Black)

[Avery Rose Garter]

Kadrak titled her head and returned his wink. "So it's like enhancing someone or something else mechanically, but by more natural purposes. And from what it sounds like, the limits on what can be done with alchemy are much less constraining than anything involving machines. It sounds to me like it gives some people too much power. Influencing the biology or otherwise physical makeup of an individual or whatever else one might get their hands on is a bit dodgy, in my opinion. But I suppose if the powers are put to the use of the general good..."
She smiled at his touch and reached up to gently run her hand through his hair. "So you of all people had to get into a bit of trouble on one of the, quite literally, lawless planets of the galaxy just to build a factory there? I'm a bit surprised, but I suppose there has to be more of a story to it than that. It doesn't seem to me that you'd have much trouble getting along with the people there."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I smiled at the feel of Kadrak's hand in my hair.

"I don't deal in the occult side of it... I mean Sithspawn are so cliche. And you need to have constant control over 'em. If I was gonna be a Sith, I'd hire a whole bunch of really strong aliens for myself. I mean, what's more badass than having a seven-foot-tall guy in scary armor surrounded by more seven foot tall guys in scary armor?"

I squeezed her closer to me again, and ran my hand down her spine.

"Honestly, would you rather build a factory somewhere where everybody could get to it, or somewhere where the locals would probably shoot you down if you didn't impress them? I chose the more... fun option for myself, I think."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

Kadrak only smiled as he ran his hand down her back, leaning in to nuzzle him gently. "Sithspawn, hm? I've heard rumors sparingly, none of them very pretty. They're more or less created by the Force, like some kind of demon. If I was inclined towards the spiritual side of things I might believe that analogy, but alas, I only get close to that comparison by being with you, seeing as how people have dubbed you demonic. As for your armor, I might have to get a look at it sometime. And knowing us you'll have cause to wear it soon enough. I wouldn't dream of anything else."
She pondered his question for a moment. "With you that can mean two entirely different things. You're the type who's more inclined towards both the fun and the dangerous, so I would have to say the former. But maybe you're more straightforward in your business dealings than you are on the street. I can see you being the business type when it suits your needs."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I grinned at Kadrak, and leaned the side of my face against her horns.

"Another reason I don't like Spawnies. If I'm going to be a demon, I wanna be the demon. If I was spiritual, I could think of a million reasons why that would be wrong, but I don't happen to care for religion, luckily."

Winking at Kadrak, I pulled up a holo of the tower that was the company headquarters. It was on a mesa, surrounded by smaller buildings and houses.

"I had to cause a lot of mayhem to get that built. It's my home almost as much as this ship."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

"All of this talk of demons makes me think that maybe something akin to that would make a good name for this ship of yours as well. You get called it often enough, might as well make it official." Kadrak smiled and shrugged. "I'd still like to be there when someone does try to exorcise you, or vanquish, or whatever they're calling it these days. Mostly for the entertainment, if nothing else. I don't think I'd have cause to intervene, if they managed to really get under your skin. Then again, you'd probably get under theirs even more. I can see it now." She stuck her tongue out at him.
For a moment she studied the tower curiously, noting the smaller buildings beneath it. "After getting an idea of the general size of it, I can see why you might have an issue getting something like that raised up. But it's an impressive structure, regardless. You'll have to show me just what you're manufacturing in that factory of yours."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I tickled Kadrak's cheek, and hugged her.

"If anybody was really serious about killing me, they'd feel a sudden interruption in their breathing. I don't like murder attempts. Not on me or my friends."

Expanding the image, I pointed at the penthouse, close to the top of the tower.

"That's mine. You'll probably see it someday. On my own, I almost never go to Zygerria or Voss. Too many Silvers walking around for me."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

Kadrak smiled and sighed contentedly, just happy with being around him, let alone wrapped up in his arms. "More of that terminal case of death going around. You'd better be careful, I've heard it can be a bit dangerous. What with there being no cure and all that." She winked. "Well, no one would have a reason to want me dead, as far as I know. Unless they've tightened their restrictions on modifications to what I'd consider a ridiculous level. But I can't see that happening. Even the officials would rather use a modded weapon in certain situations rather than their standard issued rifle or what have you. Something about it being nicer having something with more firepower. But of course, what would I know about shooting anything?" She grinned slowly.
Once he pulled up the image of the penthouse she again surveyed it for a few moments. "If there's ever cause to go I wouldn't mind taking a look around. Other than that, we have the pick of the galaxy for places to travel to. Not that it wouldn't be interesting or fun, but with the majority of the Jedi around..." She shrugged. "They seem like the stuffy type, I guess."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I shook my head, sighing.

"Too many officials who think they've gotta uphold modification laws. They'll confiscate modified weapons, but they won't buy factory-built versions of the same thing because it looks bad to have the cops with heavy weaponry. Especially in the Republic. But I don't sell to them, anyway. Residual hatred, you know?"

I held Kadrak some more, and smiled.

"There are some fun Jedi. Not including me. I count as a Guardian, but not a Jedi, in my mind."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

Kadrak shrugged. "Laws are good when they protect people, and when they're imposed in that vein I couldn't agree more. Although one could argue that some modified weapons are better left untouched, much less uncreated in the first place, there are some that can end a dangerous encounter before it even begins, and not necessarily in the terminal sense. Of course, there are also those to make low-powered weapons more deadly...modifying holdout blasters is always fun, as is just taking them apart and putting them back together to see if you can't manage to get something out of place that time around. But I try not to blow circuits. Unintentionally."
She smiled and shrugged again. "I can see there being those who aren't as strict or bent on keeping things the same as the old ways. If you considered yourself a Jedi I'd count you among their number, but you're just a Guardian. Which I assume to be a subset of sorts. You'll have to tell me more about the Silvers someday, if you feel like it. They sound more at ease than the Republic's Order."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I smiled, and shrugged back.

"The Silvers don't mess with my business. Like I said, it's hotshots like Corsec and Protectorate security forces that like the whole confiscation schtick. The Republic seem to like that, too. I do rather enjoy making crappy weapons function better. Low-powered guns are no fun."

I ran my hand over Kadrak's ear, smiling wider.

"You can ask me about whatever you want. Certainly got the time."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

There were many directions Kadrak saw and knew she could go in with his offer to answer any questions, and she intended to take advantage of all of them. Whether at once or one at a time she wasn't quite certain yet. "Sounds to me like it's the businesses who manufacture weapons of some kind that have the tightest crackdowns. Not too surprising, when you think about it. They're just afraid that I'll end up making something better than anything they could think up in years with just a few minutes of messing around." She grinned. "It's good that they think like that. Because the chances are high."
Now on to the questions. "So, the Silver Jedi...did they just branch off of the Republic with no issue, or was there a set of civil wars within the Order itself before they decided to segregate themselves? It seems to me that it'd be too much trouble, just for them following a bit of a different code of ethics." She shifted position slightly, brushing a kiss across his neck. "And speaking from what could be considered a completely biased position, how is it that you manage to be such a gentleman and so handsome all at once?" She grinned again, kissing him on the lips.

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I grinned, and put my fingers up against Kadrak's. The kiss on my neck felt warm, and the one on my mouth was soft.

"The Silvers got exiled as an order when the Kuati senator decided to levy a bill against their participation in the Republic government. Nothing so exciting as a war, or so cerebral as an idealistic difference. Just an idiot senator who didn't like how strong the Silvers were getting. Kind of sad, really."

I returned the kiss on her neck, and worked my way up to her cheek.

"Every time I try to deny that I'm a gentleman, you shoot me down. You're as persistent as I am."

Putting my head back against hers, I grinned.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think I was in love..."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

With a grin Kadrak intertwined their fingers, brushing her thumb across the top of his hand gently. "So it was more of a political thing than a willing separation by both parties. Boring, but I suppose it's better for everyone involved than an all out conflict. Less lives lost, and whatnot. It just gives me another reason to hate politicians, though. Half the time they pass these bills for personal gain rather than the well-being of anyone else. There's a reason I prefer freelance work to anything else, but somehow I end up being the crazy one."
She kissed the tip of his nose as he rested their heads together again, smiling again. "Correction: every time you try to deny your gentleman status you go ahead and do or say something that contradicts your previous statement. But I won't go denying my persistence." She returned his grin. "In love now, is it? If I didn't know better, I'd agree with you wholeheartedly. But I think I might anyway."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I left my smile there, and let my fingers tangle into knots with Kadrak's.

"Thus, I think neither of us know better. Just to prove it, I think I'm going to sit here and hold you for a while."

I leaned back on the bed, taking her with me, my face still only an inch from hers.

"So, how have I proven myself a gentleman? I'd rather like to know. I like being here with you."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

"If neither of us know better than I would say it makes us both in love by default. Or at least by my logic, which could be considered either horrendously flawed or absolutely perfect, depending on your point of view. And I have a feeling you gravitate towards the latter." Kadrak smiled and leaned forward to kiss him on the lips once more, enjoying their close proximity. "It just so happens that I enjoy lying here and being held by you, so that won't brook any arguments on my end."
With a tilt of her head she pretended to deliberate for a moment, but in all truth she already had a lengthy list of reasons and more before he'd even posed the question. "I don't think you even have to ask, but since you insist..." She smiled and scrunched up her nose playfully. "You go out of your way to buy a lady a drink, then you warn her of a Nikto who happens to be sneaking up behind her, capping the night off by letting her take her own shots in a fight against a few thugs, and then allowing her to spend the night in your walker. And on the next morning, you take the same lady with you on your ship on the way to Coruscant." A pause, and a grin. "Oh, and you're an amazing kisser."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I smiled back, and held onto Kadrak, stroking the horns on her head.

"You know, I don't think I'll argue, either. Holding you this close feels wonderful."

Reaching my head up to kiss her nose, my smile widened.

"I don't believe in coincidences. You were never out of my way, Kadrak. If I were one of those serene bastards from the Temple, I'd say it was the Force. But I don't think it is. Whatever it is, we were meant to be here together, and I love it. My amazing kissing probably factored in there, too, somewhere."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

Reaching up one hand to cup his cheek Kadrak smiled and scrunched up her nose as he kissed it. "You're managing to become quite the sweet talker, you know. Keep this up and you'll have no shortage of jealous girls on every planet in the galaxy. But maybe that was exactly the effect you were going for. Luckily for them, I'm not the jealous type. They can look all they want, but as long as they're clear on boundaries..." She pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "I can't find cause to complain."
At his mention of the Force she shrugged. "I'm convinced they'll blame anything on the Force, whether it's good or bad. As long as they don't try to impose their way of thinking on anyone, let them call it what they will. I know exactly what the both of us have settled on, and that's all that matters." Smiling again, she gently ran her thumb across his lower lip. "What say we get on our way to Coruscant? It would be rude to keep anyone waiting for our arrival, after all. I'm sure they can't wait."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I nodded, and closed my eyes, holding Kadrak close.

"No, it'd be horribly rude of us to keep the various thugs, hired guns, and bounty hunters on Coruscant waiting. Let's fly, love."

Kissing her on the mouth, I slid my hand out to key the intercom.

"Little brother, get the hyperdrive warmed up. We're going to Coruscant."

And then I returned my hand back to Kadrak's head, stroking her horns.

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

A small, amused smile found its way to her lips at that. "Especially not the bounty hunters. The only thing that would make our trip there more interesting is if any of the aforementioned individuals were gunning for us in particular. Which, after our little display back at the bar, I wouldn't be too surprised about. We did rid the streets of about, I don't know...ten or fifteen gang members, maybe more? They were bound to have friends in high places, and none better than Coruscant."
Kadrak let her eyes slide shut as he held her, sighing happily. It was rare for her to let her guard down so completely, but she trusted him, and that was something that could hardly be said for anyone else in the galaxy, bar a few other exceptions. "On to Coruscant, then. I'm sure the entire galaxy is on their toes, just waiting for us to get there."

[member="Zatten Black"]