An Offer

[Ra'a'mah]

Location: Vjun, Castle Bast

Her place within the Dominion secure and having been given a purpose, Ra'a'mah Numare lived in Castle Bast. It was not the headquarters of her position's office, but her home. It had once been a castle of Darth Vader, but most marks by him had been erased and now with Ra living there, she had made it more comfortable.

Carpets covered the stone floors and tapestries the walls. Her own rooms were a dark red, but most of her time was spent in her library.

The library was well furnished, had several chairs and a table in the middle. Shelves and cabinets lined the walls, not quite overflowing with books, manuscripts and datapads of information, but close to it. Ra hungered for knowledge about many subjects, but had not mastered one. Even now as a Sith lord, Ra knew she didn't know everything.

Having met a bounty hunter not long ago, but before she had learned of her past, Ra knew now would be a good time to contact him. He could provide her with a few things and she could offer him some as well. While right now, she didn't have a job lined up for him, she wanted him to know of the changes with her. She wanted to give him new opportunities outside of simple bounty hunting. A spot maybe close to her. Of course, she had no thoughts on tying him down into any sort of contracted work, but more of a partner in things. If he was interested.

When they had met, she was out on business and wore a black outfit. In her own home though, unless she was training an apprentice, she wore different clothes. Clothes that were actually more comfortable. She wore loafers on her feet, a loose black skirt that if she were to be standing with light behind her could almost be seen through and a dark green peasant top. She actually didn't have any weapons on her at the moment nor did she feel she needed any.

A few days before, she had contacted Kerx and ended up leaving a message for him to come to Vjun for this meeting. Now she waited on him. When he arrived and knocked on the door an old man would guide him to the library where she waited for him.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

While Kerx was travelling to Cato Neimiodia to turn in a bounty when he was given a message from a friend he had met on Concord Dawn. It was Ra. She had told him to come to Vjun for a meeting. He was intrigued. Did she want to take on bounty hunting? Or just a meeting? Whatever it was, he could not wait to see her. Ever since he left he wanted to meet her again and see how the future had treated her. After the message was played, he exited hyperspace and decided to wait on collecting the bounty and headed for Vjun.

He had heard through the years of hunting that Vjun was a like a dead planet. It had acidic rain and barely held any life. He was kind of confused why Ra was there, but he did not really question anything. He trusted Ra and he knew that if something happened, he had his combat skills to protect him.

When he exited hyperspace, he saw the planet before his eyes. Damn, talk about a planet. He whispered to himself. He entered the atmosphere and witnessed the arid landscape and weather of the planet. He put his ship on auto pilot to the coordinates of Ra's location. He was wearing normal human clothes. Pants and a shirt. He quickly changed into his bounty hunter gear before the ship landed at some castle.

What could this be? He was a bit baffled. He went up to the entrance and knocked at the door. An old man was present at the door and greeted him.

" I am looking for Ra, do you know where she is? "

The old man nodded and beckoned the bounty hunter to enter. The castle was very nice and decorative. He could see tapestries and other thingies that gave life to the place. He liked it. He followed the old man into what Kerx thought the library. He saw Ra. She wore loafers, a skirt that can make a man go red, and a dark green top. He gave her a wave.

" Hey there! I see you have changed. Last time we met we were on Concord Dawn helping a family from thugs. How have you been? It's been a while. "

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra heard Vincent bringing Kerx to the library and stood up when they entered.

"Have a seat, Kerx. Would you care for something to eat or drink?"

When they had met, they had talked on her ship where it would have been seen the galley as her favorite location. It was the same in this castle, only it was the library. If he did take her up on the offer of either or both, Vincent would depart to get them for him.

He wore the same outfit he had when they met and she hoped he would take the mask off again.

"I've changed quite a lot actually. Since we met, I've learned a great deal about myself. I've been well though. Every day I get to look down at the ground instead of up at it from below is good. Things didn't only change within me, but in my position is life as well.
I'm new appointed head of, to put it simply an intelligence agency. Something I did not tell you when we met because it never came up in conversation was the faction I belong to. Their new Archlord gave me my current position and with that in mind, I decided to reach out to you and see if you might be interested in working for me. I would not require you to sign anything unless you wanted to or join my faction. This is between you and I."

Even if Kerx didn't want anything, Vincent knew what Ra liked and brought in a drink for her at this point, she fell silent while he was in the room even though she trusted him with her life. He knew what she did as well as any of her employees.

"Where are my manners? How have you been?"

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

" I am good on food and drinks. "

Kerx had realized that while they were talking, he still had his mask on. He took it off to show respect to Ra. It was weird that he still had his mask on and did not bat an eye. It was weird. He heard Ra talk more about how she has changed. He was utterly astonished!

" An intelligence agency! That is a nice upgrade to the job you had when we met. On the topic on working for you, I would love to. But I would like some details about it first. This is just to see what kind of jobs I am getting into now. "

If the jobs were just between he and her, then Kerx would probably think it would be spy or assassination work. Maybe, unless there was something hidden that Kerx had not yet recognized. He heard Ra speak again and asked how he had been.

" Things have been getting around normally with bounties and such. I am thinking of settling down though in the near future what with all of the credits I possess over my hunting career. "

He strode around the library, looking at all of the books and admiring what Ra's life came to be over these couple of months. It made him very happy.

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Vincent nodded after Kerx answer and left to get Ra her drink and returned quickly with it. He exited the room silently.

Kerx realized he had his mask on and did take it off. She felt his surprise with her change of position since they met and she almost smiled. Just a little upturning at the corners of her mouth.

"There are certainly more responsibilities and duties. Right now, I don't have any specific job lined up. I more or less wanted to see you again and let you know about the changes that had happened. Instead of a simple freighter pilot, I'm much more."

He had gathered when they met, that she used the Force. At the time, she had now known her past and was just a beginner. Since then, she had been enlightened and that had changed her more than anything. However, even now that she was a sith lord, she was still business first.

"Settling down? We never really got into the topic of personal lives when we met before or rather they were lightly touched on."

It was smart business practice to not talk about personal lives much. Sometimes it was nice to just have a normal conversation though. Even Ra didn't have a job for him, a simple conversation would be nice.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

" Well I definitely can see that things have changed for you and I am very impressed. "

Things have definitely gone better for Ra and Kerx was more than happy for her. He heard her talk about personal lives and such. He did not realize this was more business. He talked while holding a book and flipping through the pages and contents of it.

" Well, we are talking about how you changed so I wanted to return the favor of telling you how I was. "

He put the book back on the shelf and looked over to Ra. His face was normal with a sprinkle of joy. But he was curious. He had known she changed. The castle could definitely explain it. But, she mentioned something about her change in life other than the I.A. thing.

" When you say you changed into something more, what do you exactly mean? I mean, you have changed with the nice castle and I.A. and all. But personally, how have you changed? "

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

"Ha you should have seen the place I came from. To say this is a castle in comparison, well it's the truth. This isn't even the headquarters. Those are at another location here on Vjun."

Ra rarely showed much humor, but she liked Kerx so allowed him to see a little bit more of her personality. More than even when they met. She watched him as he walked about the room, picking up books and glancing through them. The information and lessons in them would unlikely be of any real use to him, but to her, they explained or taught her more.

"Do you have an idea of where you might settle down?"

They looked at each other and Ra took a sip of her drink waiting on his answer. It gave her a few moments to consider the words for her reply to his question. Setting the glass down on the table next to the chair, Ra stood up without really thinking of her movements and stood in front of the fire with her hands behind her back. She faced the fireplace and only turned her head to look at Kerx.

"Well, you already know I can use the Force." She turned around to face him now, "when we met, I had something blocking me from remembering my true childhood. Since we met, I learned what really happened to me what I am."

Taking a breath in through her nose before continuing, "you asked me if I was sith or jedi then and at the time I was neither. Now though, I'm sith."

That now out between them, she wouldn't be surprised if he turned around and walked out. She didn't want that, but would accept it if that was his choice.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

To say that the castle is not even the headquarters just blew Kerx away. As a bounty hunter, he was not really used to thinking or being exposed to such locations. The only places that really expected his line of work were bars, gang strongholds and such. But a place like this, this castle, it really made him happy for Ra. She was a good person, and she deserved this.

She asked where he might settle down and Kerx responded with:

" Oh I don't know. Some place where there is no conflict anywhere. Some place nice. No city, no crowds. A perfect idea for me is in the forest living in a nice, quaint wooden cabin. At least, I want to settle down somewhere like that. Would not cost me that much, which means I would still have a fortune left. "

The Ra responded to his question of personal changing. He turned his head and gave her a look that meant disbelief. He was very shocked and almost in denial of this.

" You are a Sith? The ones that pillage planets and slaughter innocents? The ones that corrupt and act as dictators? You are not like that Ra. When I met you, you helped an innocent family from criminals! But now you have become one? "

He was thinking about the Mandalorians, Drax, the criminals' heads he would collect. He was a bounty hunter for the greater good of the galaxy. To keep bad and horrific people of off streets, to give good people the security and safety they deserved. Kerx was feeling frustrated. He was mad that a good person like Ra could take a path so dark...

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra listened standing in front of the fireplace to his answer to where he considered settling down.

"I hate to break it to you, but there's conflict everywhere. There's not escape. This is what I always dreamed of living in actually, a castle. The location could be better, but I'm half way there."

At her revelation, she felt the disbelief of Kerx, but he didn't walk away from her. His look was one of shock and his statement could have been taken offensively, but Ra just shook her head at them

"Not all are the same, Kerx. Many are that type, but I am not. If I was sith the night we met, I would have still rescued that family."

Not wanting to drive him away, Ra kept her distance from him, but opened her arms and held her hands palms forward at her sides. Not straight down, but slightly angled up, almost as if she was inviting a hug.

"Look around you, the people here are servants not slaves of mine. There are no children being slaughtered. As for corrupting, I could care less for the ideals of others as long as they do not try to harm me. I am a businesswoman and conduct myself as one before I would a sith."

Her voice displayed no anger or hostility, but showed how passionate she was about her own beliefs and ideals.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Kerx heard her reasoning of being a Sith. His frustration was the one who talked, not his common sense. He felt bad. He sat at the table in the middle of the library and put his hand through his hair. He was being rude to her in her own home.

" I'm sorry for lashing out like that. My frustration talked and my senses did not. I see your reasoning and I respect it. I am just glad you aren't the Sith I imagined. "

He felt very red in the face. He immediately went to the worst case scenario and assumed the very horrific. But Ra was not like that. He was relieved at her answer, so it ceased the flames inside of him a lot. He still sat down, trying to calm himself now.

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra watched as Kerx moved through the room and was prepared to stop him from attacking her if he tried. He was quite tense, but it was no surprise to her and expected nothing less. If somebody revealed something like this to her suddenly that she had met before, she would've reacted the same way...then. He apologized for lashing out and accusing her of sharing in the crimes of other sith.

He sat down at the table in the middle of the room and she went and sat next to him now. She looked at him for a moment in silence and nodded at him. If he allowed it, she would lightly touch his arm between his elbow and wrist.

"I can tell you my story if you want. May want a drink after hearing it."

The embarrassment he felt, Ra could feel too. Many, like him jumped to conclusions and acted out of those before wanting to hear the truth. If they even wanted that.

"You are correct, I'm nothing like what people think of as a sith."

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

After Kerx was now settled, he saw Ra sitting next to him. She put her hand on his arm and he allowed it. His guard was letting down now. Ra said she can tell her story of how she came to be.

" Alright. I'd like to hear that. "

He also heard of Ra's response of her not acting like what people think of a Sith. He looked at her and wondered, with his left hand over his mouth in a pondering way. If she was not like the other Sith, then why did she turn to one? For the gains? The power and riches that the title would ensue? That is what he wondered most.

Maybe after Ra would tell her story, then Kerx would maybe ask her. But on the other side of things he might sound too nosey. He now hesitated of asking her now, thinking of the possible scenarios that could become of it. Now he listened to her story of her journey to becoming a Sith..

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Should she got with the long or the short version? Taking a breath and knowing Kerx wasn't going to take off running for the hills or try to kill her, Ra stood up to return to her drink. Deciding on the short version, she returned to the table with her drink before telling him.

"I was born on some back water planet to parents that were not force users. My father was Echani and mother Thyrsian. It is where my appearance comes from. When I was between the ages of two and three, my town was swept off the map in an attack by a sith lord. Almost all people were killed, but he took me for some reason. Maybe then he could tell I had the potential to use the Force. For the next nine years he trained me and he slowly grew in political power. By the time I was around twelve, he had enough power on this planet that he was elected its ruler.

He kept me at his side, continued training me in the Force and taught me how to be a politician. Along with an education in the basics and languages. About five years later, other politicians became uncomfortable under his leadership. A small rebellion was formed and it took them an additional year to gain enough of a foothold to make an attempt at a coup. By the time that fifth year was over, our capital was captured. My master and I were forced to flee the planet. We managed to reach space and make a fast jump into hyperspace. We had rescued a few women and their children from the rebels that were invading.

They must have been prepared for our escape though. Very soon after we came out of hyperspace, a small fleet came chasing us. Our ship came under fire and we hustled the women and children into the escape pod. My master was a step or two behind me when our ship was mortally wounded. Some of the debris from the internal structure fell on him partially and we were unable to move it to get him out.

He knew we was going to die and he named me a sith lord then there on that ship. His next action was to somehow implant what I always thought my life was. An orphan that grew up on Coruscant."
​
She looked at him the entire time she spoke, not breaking eye contact except to blink when she needed to. When she was done, Ra took a sip of her drink and looked at the hunter next to her.

"You want the drink now?"

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

He listened closely on how her life was and her journey to this place and it seems that she was practically raised by a Sith Lord. It felt weird for Kerx to process that someone could be raised by such a person. But that was her life and he knew that. He would not speak of any of it out of anger. He did not want to upset her or anger her. If anything he is happy that someone was there for her. You never know, something might have happened to her as a child. Maybe that Sith would have killed her or something far worse.

But to implant a different life for her? How was that possible? It seemed a tad out of place. Maybe it was something she was brainwashed into believing in possibly, or something else. Kerx decided to think about it more before confronting Ra on it.

She offered him a drink and now would probably be the time to get some alcohol in him. He was feeling a bit bland for the last few days so something nice would definitely give him a kick.

" Ya, I'll take some whiskey if you have any. "

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra didn't know what was going on through his mind. She didn't ask and wanted to wait to see if he asked for further clarification on anything. He said yes to the drink. A bell near the door rang and about a minute later Vincent walked through the door.

"Would you care for some food as well?"

Letting Vincent know to bring some whiskey for Kerx and any food if he wanted any, Ra sat back in her chair.

"Have almost anything you could want here."

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Kerx sat back in his chair and denied any food. He was not hungry as of now. He looked over to Ra.

" So what are you trying to do now? I mean, you have a nice thing going for you so I am pretty curious to see what your motives are as of now. "

The bounty hunter was looking around the quaint room. It was very nice indeed. Whatever Ra was doing as a Sith and/or business person, it was definitely paying well enough for her to live in something nice. Although, the planet choice could have been better. Kerx was thinking about where he would he guess "retire". He was definitely wanting that cabin, but wondered on which planet. He was thinking something like Naboo or Endor. Those seemed like nice planets to stay at. But then he had to think if those planets were actually occupied by any sort of big world organization. Kerx was basically thinking of isolationism, but he did not want to stay alone by himself. He wanted someone to go with him..

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Kerx sat back in his chair after she did. Vincent returned almost as quickly as he had appeared before with the whiskey bottle and glass for Kerx. While he had been waiting, he asked what Ra was trying to do now and she looked at him a little confused for a moment.

"Trying to do and my motives? I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're implying. I run half of the darker side of intelligence if you will. My area covers assassins, spies, hunters."

She sat up in her chair as she spoke, when she mentioned hunters, Ra looked directly at him hoping he would catch on.

"Right now my motives fall into that line of work. However, I see a potential here I hadn't thought of."

Taking a sip of her drink as she formulated her thoughts to put into words, when she was done she set the drink down and placed a hand under her chin.

"I could potentially build up within this position a following and if I ever needed to leave would have relationships outside of the faction. Would that be something you could see as well?"

She was quite a few years younger than Kerx so hadn't given a thought to settling down for life and just staying put not keeping busy with something. Ra thought it would drive her insane if she did right now.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

When she repeated the word motives Jerit almost leapt out of his chair. He said the wrong thing. What he meant to say was something more on the line of what she will try to accomplish. In his mind he thought that motives was a more.. hostile word. Kerx listened to her more and Ra mentioned about hunters. That is what she covers. He immediately caught on to her and looked towards her way more. Then she mentioned of relationships outside of a faction. Yes that could work. If she left then Kerx would be more than happy to taker her under his wing. Maybe they could start something, but it would definitely take a long time for something like that.

" Yes I could see that. " He said while drinking the whiskey he had poured into the glass. It tasted warm for Kerx. He loved it. Whiskey was a beverage he would always drink after bounties and long days. He then realized about work and business. He was curious to see what Ra might have lined up for him in the future. He did realize that this meeting was more for seeing for himself what Ra had become of. He took another big gulp and spoke.

" So you said that you might not have any jobs lined up for me right now, but what about the future? What kind of jobs would you have me do then? "

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

From the way Kerx reacted to her repeating his words back to him that he may not have meant them the way she had interpreted them. As she spoke though and further expanded on what she did, Kerx relaxed back into the chair. When he almost jumped though, Ra couldn't help but get a small amused smile on her face.

"Relax, I'm not going to bite. Just maybe a little bit of a short temper at times. However, I don't just randomly go out and cause destruction just because."

That was probably the biggest personal change she actually felt other than being stronger within the Force. Her temper now had a much shorter fuse or maybe she was more touchy. She wasn't exactly sure which it was.

He said he could see her building that base and that perhaps they could have a relationship outside of her faction. Taking a drink of her own when he did, when he spoke again she had to think for a moment of an example to use.

"Keeping in mind this is only an example. Not too long ago I learned a person was going to assassinate the Archlord. It would be my job to contact you and have you hunt down the person that was going to do it. It ended fine, the Archlord lived and the man was apprehended. Waiting on a trial now."

There we likely others, but that was the most recent even Ra could think of.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

" I know you aren't, just a bit jumpy lately. Sleep has been an irrelevant thing as of late. " He fibbed to keep him saying the wrong thing a sort of secret. He did not know why, but it was true that he had not slept that much. That much contributed to him jumping.

He heard her about the example bounty. That sounded like textbook work to him. He had been on so many bounties that he practically knew every situation and how to deal with them. They all ranged from finding a runaway villager who might pose a harm to people, to executing a corrupt politician who is guarded by droids that have needle point accuracy.

" Well if the example is anything like the real stuff, I can handle those kinds of contracts no problem. "

He took another sip of his whiskey. That really hit the spot. Felt as refreshing as water. Anything alcohol was Kerx's weakness, especially at bars when the patrons would engage in competitions. Kerx had fond memories of those competitions. It put a smile on his face.

@Ra'a'mah