Public Bar and Recreational Zone

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre had noticed that an increasing number of people were traveling to and from the station to Bastion below. After pulling a few strings and getting permission from her master, she arranged a small treat for one familiar face. She didn't know what his name was, just that he had been hanging around often enough that even she had noticed him.

Giving one of her men the message, she sent him to find the stranger. He would be invited to join her and the other men in the cantina. If he accepted, there would be enough food and drink involved for him to have a full belly and a tipsy head, finally.

Making sure all the food was cooked just right, she waited for all of them to arrive. Even though her group would be around, they would leave the two of them alone. They just wanted to protect her and keep an eye on her. Allowing this, even if she could take care of herself, made it feel more like a family gathering than dinner with a stranger.

Saul Whesai

 

[Saul Whesai]

Saul resisted to urge to groan as he was once again turned away from the security gate. Either having an all-metal exoskeleton was enough to trip the sensors off, or the galaxy really hated him today. Sighing, he plopped down on the bench. wondering if his luck would get better just as he saw the man in a suit that screamed government security approaching him. Today was about to get a lot more interesting.

The Cyborg had half a mind to fight his way out of the station as the security goon escorted him into a sectioned-off table in one of the station's better restaurants, the kind of place that Saul in his ragged clothes was very not supposed to be in. The only thing that stopped him was that trying to escape would have... political consequences, and the last thing he needed was another crosshair on his head. The person who waited for him looked... young... like they weren't out of high school yet. Maybe it was just the braids making her look more like a kid rather than a romantic partner and apprentice to one of the most powerful leaders in the galaxy. Squinting, he wondered if this situation was one of those reality prank shows as he slowly approached the table. "Umm... Hi... I'm guessing you wanted to see me Miss...?"

Just by seeing his body language, Iandre could see that this new guest didn't know what to expect out of this meeting. It was also clear he wasn't used to the whole "escort" treatment, but as he was invited to sit down, Saul hoped this wasn't some elaborate plan to arrest him for going to that Starship Show with a fake ID. If that was the case, at least he would maybe get one last meal before being shunted off to the deepest, darkest dungeon the Diarchy had available.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

"Iandre Athlea. Don't worry, I'm not going to bite."

Offering him a seat, she took hers back when he joined her.

"Order whatever you want. Treat's on me. I'm curious."

Leafing through her menu, she made her selection and closed it. Placing it on the table, she leaned forward slightly. Her grey eyes were friendly, and she wasn't trying to be threatening to Saul. With a calm voice, she was not being confrontational either.

"I've seen you around. Both on the station and on the planet below. Relax."

Shrugging her shoulders a little, the former Jedi was at a loss for words. They were strangers to one another, and she was just trying to be friendly and wanted nothing more than to get to know the other people within the Diarchy.

Leaning back in her seat, she crossed her arms and drew in a breath to let it out slowly.

"I want to know more about you, I guess."

Saul Whesai

 

[Saul Whesai]

Saul couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, wanting to say "You might not bite but your security people most definitely will..." but refrained from snide remarks. Whatever this young woman wanted to know, she was going to probably get it. Fighting his way out of here would be more trouble then it was worth. Ploping into the chair, the Cyborg squinted as he tried to figure Iandre out. What could she want with a piece of junk like him?

After she introduced herself, he cautiously let his name slip out of his mouth. "Just... call me Saul." Her smiling eyes and posture did a little bit to calm his nerves and make him believe he wasn't going to get Greedo'd under the table. As she talked about how she was just curious about him, Saul smirked a little like she had made a funny joke. "It was the eyes, wasn't it?" Taking a lot longer to look at the menu as he tries to figure out what half of these items were, he tried his best to put his best foot forward, pulling his hood down to reveal his shaggy purple there. "Sorry, I'm just not used to the red carpet treatment or people wanting to know the ghoul that I am... Usually when I get people sent after me, it's to capture me or push me to someplace that doesn't disturb their daily life. So... What are you...? I'm guessing you aren't normal by the... guards surrounding you. Whatever she was, he knew she wasn't normal.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

He was looking at her as if she were a puzzle wrapped inside an enigma. Maybe she was to him, but all the while he was trying to figure her out, she wasn't keeping anything hidden. Even if the man couldn't use the Force and she didn't think he could, he should be able to pick up on her honesty.

"It is nice to meet you, Saul."

Her hands were clearly on top of the table, so if he was worried about her shooting him, that should tell him he was safe. While she didn't return the smirk with one of her own, she maintained her friendly attitude and look.

"Not just the eyes, Saul."

Shrugging slightly, she allowed him to finish before replying to the second part.

"You're no ghoul. Rakghouls hail from Taris, and you don't want to meet one of them."

The Diarchs also came from there, but that was common knowledge. Trying to get a read on Saul, she sensed he was telling the truth. Even if it reflected poorly on how others treated him. Iandre wasn't about to treat him like that. It wasn't polite or in her nature.

His question caught her off guard, and she was silent as she considered her answer.

"What am I? A former Jedi from a distant time, an officer in the Lilaste Order. My guards? Well, they go with me pretty much everywhere. I tend to get into trouble, and they dig me out."

Her master had assigned the guards to her; she just got to pick them out. They had been recruits with her, and they had trained together when they all joined the Order.

Saul Whesai

 

[Saul Whesai]

Saul wasn't worried about getting shot, atleast not right now. It was clear that Iandre was here for business, though Saul could only guess what that buniness is. Hopefully he would find out before the first course came out.

"Its nice to meet you too Iandre. And youre right, I don't want to meet one of those monsters..."

Saul's question tried to cut right to the core of why they were here. Why was a accomplished Jedi wanting to take with one of societies bottom feeders.

"Oh you are with the people who make the elemental swords. Always wanted to play around with one of those things. So... You still haven't told me why you want to talk to me."

He guessed it was to offer him an merc contract but who knows. Maybe this out of time Jedi would surprise him.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

"But I did tell you. I'm curious about you, Saul. What you do and what motivates you. The Diarchy and Order are home to me. Is there anything I can do to make you feel the same?"

Glancing over at him, Iandre tried to gauge his mood. Not using the Force on him, she was putting her people-reading skills to the test.

"Elemental? Nah, it's plasma. Emitted by a crystal. Mine is a dueling kind. After dinner, I'll let you look at it if you want. They are dangerous for sure. I'll supervise you, though, so you won't hurt anybody or anything."

A server took their order and walked away. When he was gone, Iandre looked at her uncomfortable guest.

"I'm exactly what I told you and curious about you. I've gotten to know a few people of the Diarchy; you're next on my list. I suppose."

Saul Whesai

 

[Saul Whesai]

With every word that came out of Iandre's mouth, Saul got more and more confused. This was the first time he had been told he was apart of the Diarchy. It was hard not to think of this as some sort of press gang attempt but Saul tried to push it out of his thoughts since he knew Iandre seemed like she actually wanted to get to know him despite not knowing what sword he was talking about. The Cyborg only hoped he could make this conversation less of a slog for both of them. It was time for him to explain the way out of this verbal hole.

Taking a breath, he decided to start slow. "I was talking about the LO-09m's. You know, the vibroswords you can put special capusals in the hilt to give the sword special properties but yeah, I would love to see what weapon you use." And now it was time for the hard part. "I'm not with the Diarchy, atleast not yet... I'm thinking about it, though, staying in the Diarchy for... someone." He wasn't sure if Liin Terallo would like to be talked about with strangers, but he had to give Iandre something to chew on. Lying probably wasn't going to get him anywhere with a Jedi being his conversation partner.

He didn't know where this Jedi got her information from, but it was certainly... incomplete. Guess they had both gone into this meeting expecting something that wasn't true. He only hoped the food came out soon because all this trying to explain himself was making him starved.

Iandre Athlea