Clandestine Missions with Hipsters and Sith

[Spark Finn]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

"I hope it was a good reminder." She grinned but her expression quickly sobered as the door was opened to the speeder. She scooched out. The screen on her chrono was switched with a subtle nudge of her mind through the force to look ordinary. Heeled-foot wobbled on the uneven ground. Hand shot out to steady herself on the closest thing around - Cameron's arm.

"Sorry," she muttered.

Others were filing in. All manner of sith and beings. She was never good at sensing other sith in the force but it was too palpable here to miss. She was entering the nexu's den. And if anyone recognized her, well, Cameron would have his work cut out for him.

Hopefully they'd hold off any reckless attempts long enough for her to get to the tech. Neck craned as she glanced ahead. They were being ushered into a holding area, though lavishly decorated. Looked like they would be transported to the actual auction.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron allowed the briefest hint of a smirk to form on his features before the door was opened. Following Spark out, Cameron allowed his gaze to immediately sweep the scene before them. Quickly, he noted exits, personnel, viable avenues of approach or escape, any security, and-- A slight warning in the Force pulled his attention to Spark half a heartbeat before she reached out to grab him. Reacting on instinct, the Sith Lord closed most of the space between them, allowing Spark to loop her arm through his own.

Entering the rather lavishly decorated edifice, Cameron once again resumed his quick scan, committing various details to memory. Once that was complete, Cameron stole another glance at Spark. In another life... However his lingering gaze was fleeting as an unidentified man attempted to call the room to order.

"Greetings honored guests. If you will please follow me, there are transports waiting to take you to your next destination."

It was rather cloak and dagger for an auction...even a private one. With Spark at his side, Cameron followed behind the rest of the guests.

[member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Ashmedai"]

Even after being steadied, her arm didn't leave his. And she tried not to think about it too much. It was familiar in a deep friendship sort of way. And actually comfortable for the girl who shied away from all things physical.

Her senses were alert, her mind dipping into all the tech. All the security and encryptions. She felt a nudge of something familiar. Something twisted.

Arm tightened around Cameron's for a moment but she forced herself to relax.

It wasn't here. It couldn't be. Head swiveled.

Lord Orcus wasn't here either.

#itsokay

She forced herself to breath. And to not wipe clammy hands on her dress. She forced herself to walk forward. A woman in charge, seemingly so, stopped them. She glanced briefly up from her notepad but didn't really look. She was clearly not paying attention.

#oldschool

"I can put one of you in this shuttle. One of you can go in the next shuttle. The next will be here in a minute."

#omgee

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron felt [member="Spark Finn"]'s grip tighten, but he otherwise seemingly ignored the sensation. Silver-green eyes did momentarily drift around to the faces on the crowd. He'd sensed no impending danger, but that didn't mean there was not a rather skilled assassin after them. What in the world made Spark such a danger that she needed to be killed anyways?

She couldn't even function without caf.

"I can put one of you in this shuttle. One of you can go in the next shuttle. The next will be here in a minute."

Contrary to Spark's internal reaction, a deep rumble began to vibrate out from the depths of Cameron's chest. Though the deep tamber of his voice already had a tendency to vibrate throughout his body, no doubt to a degree that Spark would easily feel, his rumbling laughter seemed much more...foreboding.

"No. You can take someone off this current shuttle and give the two remaining seats to us, or I can take this up with your employer." Stepping in closer to the woman, Cameron reached out with his free hand and lightly touched her on the arm. Though the touch was light, it would be immobilizing as the Sith Lord manipulated a deadly sickness into her body and spoke directly into her mind.

Your intestines will rot from the inside-out before he ever has a chance to condemn your actions to separate Lord Ashmedai from his mate.

Ashmedai's marriage to another was only known in certain circles. The exact identity of his chosen mate was not. Congratulations, Sparky.

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Ashmedai"]

The woman's face turned whiter than Spark's skin. Eyes widened in fear. She gulped. But she had worked with sith so long, she didn't drop down and grovel, not yet.

"Please forgive me." She moved to the shuttle right away and pulled off a lone Zabrak. His own protests stopped short as he saw Ashmedai, formerly Cameron Centurion. She ushered them forward. Her arm reached out to Cameron's. But stopped short. Her fingers shook.

"Please Lord. Please forgive me." Tears began welling into her eyes as she begged. Spark's own blue-eyes widened. Sandy-brows shot up. If the slicer had known such nefarious acts were happening along with Cam's subterfuge about the whole wife thing, she would've bolted.

#runrunfasterthanmygun

Obviously more because of the wife thing.

Spark didn't have time to notice any further interaction between them. The technopath's heels clicked onto the plating of the shuttle's decking. Dressed-form slid into a seat by the window, leaving the Sith Lord the aisle seat. They were definitely being transported to a location above orbit or in the upper atmosphere.

When Cam sat next to her, she finally leaned in and whispered. "What did you do?"

Announcements were being made to strap in, etc. along with pre-flight checks. Spark fumbled with the safety belt around her own waist. There was a couple of Zeltrons behind them. Pheromones were definitely in the air.

Freckled-nose scrunched up.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron's silver-green eyes held no emotion for the woman's plight. Honestly, if she were at least attempting to do her job in the best way she could, it would never have been an issue. Further more if the people involved in this whole event had done their due diligence in screening the guest list, things would have gone off a lot smoother. Cameron wasn't exactly a widespread entity of power and authority these days. Long had it been since he graced the political scene in such a manner. In fact, Spark would not have even been born the last time he'd stood at the head of a sprawling Empire. Even then, it was Darth Ashmedai that engendered the...infamy.

As they were about to step past the woman, Cameron reached out with the same hand and grabbed her other arm, dealing the progress of Spark and himself only briefly. "Clarity of thought is the only way anyone survives this galaxy. I'm tolerant of many things, stupidity does not rank among them." Yet...he would give the woman the gift of a second chance, rapidly manipulating to mitigate the effect of what he'd only just done to her body. The woman still become quite ill as he'd not the time to stop the entire infection, but she would not die.

Releasing the woman, Cameron entered the vessel with Spark. He'd noted the Zeltrons visually before really sensing the familiar oddity in the air that was Zeltron Pheromones. [member="Spark Finn"]'s question drew the Sith Lord's steady gaze to her. Silence passed between them for a moment before Cameron leaned in to whisper into the woman's ear, warm breath gently teasing the side of her neck as his nose hovered rather dangerously close to her skin. "I gave her a choice, and she made the right decision." Cameron paused even as an all-too familiar sensation forced him to inhale deeply. "I find myself having no desire to be parted from your company so soon."

Pheromones. He hated pheromones.

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Ashmedai"]

Spark stayed completely still. Little goosebumps rose on her flesh from the Sith Lord's breath. Face soured. "You're being vague on purpose. And stop," arm brushed against his as she aimed her bony-elbow for a quick jab to his side. Unfortunately, if it connected, it would hurt her more than it would him.

#rocksolid

She felt herself sink back into the seat as their shuttle took off. The cityscape whizzed by out of the window in a blur of lights and durasteel. It was hard for her to focus. She purposefully kept her attention on the window and away from Cameron. She was pretty sure she was allergic to pheromones but it had been awhile.

Her nose was starting to itch. And her eyes water. But a larger part of her was feeling drunk. And hot.

#shuttlerideneededtoend #asap

Induced drunk feelings equaled loose lips.

"Y'know. I'm glad I'm aligned with you for this. Otherwise you'd scare the bantha codes right out of me." A nervous giggle.

#keepittogetherSpark

She still refused to look at Cam.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron's mischievous smirk lingered even as [member="Spark Finn"] shoved her elbow into his side, hitting mostly ribs and his flexed obliques given that he had to lean over to whisper in her ear.

Once he felt the distinctive rumble of the repulsors beneath them, he redirected his gaze towards the front of the cabin. It took a few minutes, but Cameron did eventually become aware of the steady physiological changes in Spark's body. Hazarding a brief glance at her out the corner of his eye, the dark-skinned Sith fought the urge to laugh. He was not exactly immune to pheromones himself, but he'd struggled against much stronger forces threatening to wrestle control of his body from him.

That didn't mean he wouldn't pretend the opposite was true. Like a professional.

The sound of Spark's voice pulled Cameron's attention once more, and the giggle that followed brought a sincere smile to his features once more. She didn't have to look at him. The poor girl made getting her riled up all too easy. Rather than give Spark a verbal response, he briefly utilized the Force to tease rather specific nerve-endings. His face neutralized rather quickly as he allowed his silver-green gaze to linger over a rather flamboyantly dressed Muun near the front of the cabin.

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Ashmedai"]

The skinny blonde squirmed in her seat and sneezed, rather loudly. Cheeks flushed, more red than they ever had been. She sneezed again, just as the pilot came over the innercomm. They were touching down.

#thankthestars

She caught Cameron's look, out of the corner of her watering blue-eyes. "This is your fault," she whispered. She didn't know anything. But it felt good to blame him. The shuttle touched down smoothly, inside a large, hanger. Spark wasted no time. Fingers plucked off the safety belt. High-heeled form practically climbed over Cameron's lap, hiking up the folds of her dress.

She didn't care.

She just had to get out. Away from the zeltrons. Away from those cursed pheromones.

#outOUTout

Her thin-form pushed past other sith, ignoring even the Muun as she nudged and pushed her way to the front of the line and away from the relative safety that Cameron provided. #hebetterkeepup

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron glanced at [member="Spark Finn"] and merely chuckled lightly. It was...more than she likely knew. He'd not, however, expected the expediency with which she made for the exit of the shuttle the second it had touched down. Silver-green eyes watched as the young woman hiked up her dress and crawled over his lap, briefly having little other choice than to straddle his body. A mischievous glint might have flashed across Cameron's features briefly...very briefly, but it was soon replaced by the original glint of amusement.

Remaining he seated, he watched with a curious brow as Spark shot off into the ground and was soon off the vessel. Glancing to his left, Cameron caught the eye of another couple that looked at him with judging eyes. The Sith Lord merely flashed them a thin, insincere smile. "Claustrophobic."

The man arched a curious eyebrow. "She appeared to be crying."

Oh...so now we were judging were we? "Allergies." Slowly, Cameron began to raise out of his own seat.

The man opened his mouth to respond again, but he found his voice curiously gone.

For his part, Cameron slowly stalked towards the now standing couple. Grasping the back of seats to either side of them, Cameron leaned in close towards the man's supposed wife and whispered into her ear. "Next time. I will take his life, not merely his voice." In the next instant, Cameron withdrew and released his choking hold over the man's vocal chords.

In the next few minutes, Cameron emerged from the shuttle and casually made his way towards Spark. When he found her, he wore the faint hint of a concerned expression. "You feeling better dear?"

It was for show.

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Ashmedai"]

Palm of her hand rubbed furiously against her nose. Blue-eyes flickered up to meet Cameron's vibrant green gaze. She quickly straightened. She wanted to swat him away but they were being watched now. Heavily. She would, obviously, have to play along.

She could blame him in whispered curses, later.

Eyes were dry again. She inhaled deeply and forced a thin-smile on her lips. "Yes. Much. Thank you."

"Everyone, please. right this way." A rather polite trandoshan gestured with his arm for all the passengers to follow into the corridor.

#thoughtI'dseenitall

The slicer looped her arm back around the toned and muscled arm of the sith lord. #escort #olderOLDERbrother

"I swear, if you make me blush, one more time," terse whisper was cut short as they entered a large, circular chamber with a small stage in the middle. Lavish chairs encircled the stage, placed in twos or threes. Brilliant stars lit the clear-domed ceiling from above.

Spark looked down, a light catching her eyes. The moonlight and stars were making her pale skin glow. She pulled her arm behind her back, trying to keep the light from dancing along her skin.

"This sith certainly spare no expense. Are you used to this lavish lifestyle, Cameron?"

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron maintained a faux smile as they proceeded down the corridor with the other guests. Spark's statement didn't draw the Sith Lord's eyes to her own. Instead, he quietly intoned, "You know that I definitely will, so you may as well just accept it." He paused for but the briefest moment as they entered a lavishly decorated chamber. Cameron had been used to the finer things in life, the priceless artifacts of civilizations long forgotten used to adorn his own palaces and estates around the galaxy. Now, he maintained a somewhat more modest collection on his home planet of Corstris.

"I'll stop doing it just as soon as you stop going to such great lengths to pretend not to enjoy it." He did not say to what extent as he, honestly, had no way of knowing. It wasn't really the point either. Silver-green eyes returning to scanning the crowd. The cogs of his memory churned at a steady pace, attempting to isolate individuals he'd known. There were not many. However, there were plenty that he filed away as being potential impediments to the mission if things went south.

As they arrived at their reserved seats, Cameron slowly turned his head to regard Spark. It was the first time he'd truly noted the casual glow of her skin. She may have preferred to hide it, but the Sith Lord found it quite beautiful. Spoiler alert - he appreciated the subtle beauty in nature more than almost anything else. He just didn't allow the need to preserve such get in the way of his greater objectives. Once they were seated, he leaned in to whisper a response into Spark's ear. "I've experienced a variety. Lavish was not something I knew until I was well until my sixth decade of life." The number barely scratched the surface of revealing his true age.

"Also. You really do look beautiful this evening."

Blush attack engaged.

"And next time you're going to straddle me in public, you may as well take your time. You know...to maintain the cover."

The Sith Lord was completely prepared to defend himself from retaliation if Spark managed to be so bold in public.

[member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Ashmedai"]

Yeah, he was totes old.

#OMGEEE

"Cameron," she gasped quietly at his comment. She knew everything he did was meant to draw her ire. And she knew she was making it all too easy. #shakeitoff She couldn't help it. All social situations...well most...were awkward for the little introvert. At time she wondered why she left the safety of her ship and ventured outside at all.

#bigmistakes

"But, thank you for the compliment," she glanced at him, always wondering which things he said were sincere. "It's hard for me. I've worked in the background, blending in. This is new ground."

And it makes me feel uncomfortable.

Several items were coming onto the main stage now. Index finger tapped her chrono surface. But she didn't need it to tell her which item they wanted because it hit her like an icy-wall. The same feeling she felt planetside.

Teeth-ground in her mouth. Lips set into a thin, determined line. "The third one over, that's the one we want." Silently, her mind reached forward through the force. Cautiously. But it was enough. A thousand trapped souls screamed inside her head. Fingers clenched into the armrests of her chairs as she remained rigid.

The item they wanted? A battery of enteched souls. If she had known, she never would have...

It didn't matter. She knew what she needed to do. This was too personal.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron most certainly was not joking, but there was scarcely a reason to let his personal opinion gain much traction. His devotion, mind, body, and soul were to another. However, he could still readily appreciate things that engaged his interest. Besides, there were a number of similarities between Spark and his chosen. Either way, the disparity between his desire and simple compliments was no small impediment to any honest physical interaction between the two.

"You're welcome. Though...perhaps you should spend a little less time among servers and technology. Have to break through your comfort zone one day."

Silver-green eyes shifted to the stage as items were brought out to begin the highly exclusive auction. Arching a curious brow, Cameron's attention was drawn to the item Spark eventually indicated before she'd even done so. To be sure...souls could be used for a great many things, and they were often the cornerstone of techniques and abilities sought through the varied, intensive disciplines of the Sith Arts.

Sensing the rising distress in Spark, Cameron reached over and placed a hand on her arm. To the casual observer, it may have appeared to be an affectionate move. Leaning in yet again, the Sith Lord whispered to Spark...though this time he made no effort to entice or flatter. "Calm your nerves, Spark. There is nothing you can do now, and you do not have the information necessary to take any action other than that which you've been charged to do." It was a simple thing to understand. The Sith Lord had been mostly congenial with the girl, but that could change rather quickly.

Not to mention...an ill-advised course of action could very well end up bring about more damage than good. Hard to know the quality of a soul.

[member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Ashmedai"]

His touch barely registered and for once, it didn't bother her. She was too focused on the auction item. There was a warning beneath his words. She felt it and just as quickly she masked her feelings and thoughts from the sith lord. The wall around herself was solid.

"Don't worry," she whispered without looking over or taking her eyes away from the item. "I'll complete the job." Fingers slowly unwound from their harsh grip. "And I'm sorry but, my first love will always be technology." The smile wasn't there.

The auctioneer seemed to drone of forever. Finally, he lifted the third item. "Now onto Lot Number Three. Don't let its casual appearance fool you."

It looked like a red-painted comm unit. Small enough to fit into the palm of her hand.

"This contains a thousand enteched souls and is said to power a large ship for a decade. Or picture a power source for a small battle-station. These lives were taken from those who did not support the One Sith's ways."

A cheer echoed through the intimate auction hall. Her bony-shoulders twitched, but that was all.

"We will start the bidding, now."

Without looking down, Spark traced the outline of her wrist-chrono. Mechu-deru was already in play as her mind latched onto the systems of the auction-house itself, ready to shut it down, or open everyone into space. One of the parked shuttles mysteriously started warming up. But she waited on Cameron's bid.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron certainly was not inside of Spark's mind. The young woman wore her emotions on her sleeve probably more than she realized. Well...she had been at least, but it seemed as soon as the object in question was cold to action...emotion avoided her completely. Still, the Sith Lord considered himself at least reasonably perceptive. Knowing what he knew of her background now...well...nothing would likely surprise him terribly much.

Unlike Spark, Cameron was not concerned about the disposition of the souls contained within the object. The words the woman uttered did little to strengthen his confidence in the veracity of said words. So...he gave her no response, releasing her arm.

Cameron's bid did not come immediately. In fact, he waited for nearly ten seconds as the price continued to drive upwards. When it seemed as if the crowd was going to stall just north of a million credits, the Sith Lord raised the small numbered sign they were given upon arrival.

The auctioneer quickly recognized Cameron's bid. "One million and one hundred thousand, do I have one million and two hundred thousand? One million and one hundred thousand going once..."

Silver-green eyes remained locked on the auctioneer. There was always someone to contest the bid.

[member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Ashmedai"]

Shoulders remained stiff through the bid. Going twice. Sold. A small exhale of relief escaped her lips but her shoulders didn't relax. Some patrons had already left, collecting their bids. Some remained for the rest of the auction. The slicer rose with her escort. #olderOLDERbrother

The item was quickly transferred off-stage, where the pair followed. Cameron would pay and she would wait. When the item was offered, it was bound in a small, satchel. The blonde reached forward quickly, lithe-fingers clutching tightly to the item. She clutched it to her side.

#notlettinggo

Her mind began to withdraw from the station's controls. She didn't need them anymore. Her focus was on the shuttle. It was powered up and ready to go as they walked on. She quickly slid into one of the front-window seats. She could trust Cameron to have her back. She wanted to trust he had her back.

The shuttle doors sealed closed with a whoosh-hiss and the craft began to move away from the station and back in atmosphere.

She immediately knew something was wrong because there were no friendly pre-flight checks and the shuttle was crowded. A shadow in the aisle loomed over them: a zabrak, two people in mandalorian armor, a muun, two men, and a trandoshan. The zabrak spoke, the others remained seated.

"Hand it over and we'll think about letting you live."

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron had allowed Spark to hold on to the package as they departed the auction site. Despite his rather jovial interactions with the woman since surviving the first attack together, his very first statement had been nothing short of completely true. This, however, was Cameron's way in life. There was no real method of pinning down his exact personality or opinions of others. He shrouded his own nature in complex layers of almost contradicting actions. The Sith Lord was happy to save lives and be a point of relief if it served a greater, more complete purpose.

Once they had returned to the shuttle, silver-green eyes instinctively surveyed their surroundings...to include passengers onboard. That was when an initial sense of...piqued curiosity washed over the Sith Lord. Forcing himself to maintain an even understanding, he quietly began collecting the power of the Force around him, slowly twisting and weaving it to a specific purpose. Following today, he would never again set foot in his apartment on Coruscant. He had made that decision well before they left, and he knew the rest of their belongings were already enroute to another location, to Corstris.

"Hand it over and we'll think about letting you live."

Exhaling softly, Cameron turned his vibrant gaze to Spark. Leaning in as he'd done countless times before, the Sith Lord whispered, "Just remember to breathe." Snaking an arm around the young woman's waist, Cameron pulled Spark's body tightly against his own before winking at her. In the next moment, the air around them seemed to bend and contort as time slowed momentarily for the pair. Suddenly, their field of vision was filled with an image of their bodies racing through a narrow tunnel of dark blue crackling energy.

The individuals onboard the vessel would have felt an odd shifting in the atmosphere of the shuttle before similar dark blue energy exploded into existence before quickly fizzling out, revealing the Sith Lord and the young woman to be gone.

Seconds later, a large dark blue swirl of energy erupted in the main foyer of the Corstris Palace, burning a number of canvas paintings lining the wall and slightly cracking the green marble flooring. When the energy had dissipated, Cameron stood, cradling Spark's body-weight with arm tightly. He knew what happened during the first-time experience traveling via the folding of space and time. She wouldn't be able to stand under her own power for a handful of seconds.

[member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Ashmedai"]

"Wha-," she sputtered as she was yanked against the Sith Lord, barely a degree of separation between them. Blue-eyes darted wildly around as she felt the oxygen rush from her entire body. Pressure followed from all sides.

#Ifeellikejelly

Just as quickly, it was over. She blinked, trying to focus on something. No shuttle. Green floors. Crackling energy. Black spots dotted her vision. The only thing keeping her up was Cameron's grip around her waist.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she resented that because she could only imagine his enjoyment.

#suchatease

"Don't...," she began. But that was it. Instead of receding, the black spots expanded. Head bobbed against his shoulder as she fainted. Fingers that gripped those tortured souls like a lifeline relented.

'Don't' could've referenced a variety of things like: Don't do that again. Don't take the souls. Don't hold me against you.

Or perhaps it was simply, don't let go.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Silver-green eyes quickly darted to the package as it dropped to the floor. The brief comment or protest that Spark had initiated went completely without acknowledgement as her body went limp. Carefully, Cameron reoriented his body such that he was able to cradle Spark's form in his arms. It was getting to be a startling common occurrence, Spark being carried by the Sith Lord somewhere.

Shaking his head slightly, Cameron carried Spark up the large, spiral staircase and into one of the guest bedrooms. After laying her on the bed, the Sith Lord quickly turned and departed the room. The woman was not a prisoner here, and she would find herself having free roam of the sprawling estate whenever she came to. Corstris itself was a heavily forested world, and it suffered no shortage of natural beauty and wildlife for that reason. If she was really adventurous, she could manage to find her way into the town of Destiny's Refuge...though that was a significant hike from the Corstris Palace.

Returning downstairs, Cameron collected the device that they'd just purchased at auction. Exhaling softly, the dark-skinned Corstris pulled out a communicator to contact an associate. "Where are you?"

"Departed the Citadel for the Palace the moment we received word you had...returned."

Cameron's expression was dead-pan. "I said where are you?"

"Apologies Mi'lord. We are staged on the south lawn, just inside the tree line."

Cameron offered no verbal response as he stalked out the rear of the estate and to the location of his forces on Corstris. "Make sure this package is immediately secured at the Citadel. Level 6."

The soldiers nodded before turning to set off on their task. For his part, Cameron returned to the Palace's interior and collapsed onto a plush couch.

[member="Spark Finn"]