Private Deals with Devils

[Aaaine]

Location: Nar Shadda; Planetary office building
Time: 2321 Hours

Giving the Zabrak a task, that also seemed to be something that excited Zenva, at least partially. That was also something that Aaaine would keep in mind moving forward. Little tasks, or big ones, in this case, anything to keep Zenva’s attention so that she could slip in other things that she needed. “Perhaps a ship or station of some sort. I don’t know if you have the facilities to build something like that, but I would be more than happy to help with the planning at a future date.” She responded, nodding along to what the Zabrak was looking for. There had been little to no engineering ever taken by her during her time in college, but maybe she could at least help with the brainstorming process.

The credits that Zenva spoke of, she understood. She expected it, honestly. That would be a portion that her benefactor would have to start negotiating personally with the Blood matron, though Aaaine was in a position to work up to a certain credit amount without oversight. That was, of course, if it within her budget. But for a project like this one, the benefactor would almost certainly want to be a part. And within good reason, Aaaine didn’t disagree.

It was the next sentence that began to worry the Chiss. Of course, it made sense. The harder to get too contacts, or the more groundwork that got put in, the more expensive it would be for Aaaine. This wasn’t something that could be disputed in any way. It was the insinutation behind it, that the thing that would be asked for wouldn’t necessarily be minute credits, that worried her. What more could this zabrak want? She thought that the only things that ran through these criminal type’s bloodstream was liquidifed currency.

Aaaine licked her lips, shifting for a moment in her seat. She could always back out. Leave this place with Alecari and find someone else that could do this for her. But there was something about this Zabrak. Something hypnotic. She absolutely couldn’t trust her, but for now, she was willing to play the little game that had been started the moment that her feet fell into this room.

“Fine. Fair. But I expect clear and concise communication and requirements so that I can inform you if what you request is possible or not.” Leaning back in her chair, she gave a sidelong, sad glance at her empty cup for a moment before returning her attention to Zenva. “How shall we notarize this contract of ours?”

| Zenva Vrotoa |​

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

A smile curled Zenva's lips as Aaaine weighed in on the topic of military facilities. A laugh boiled from her when the Chiss questioned her ability to facilitate any need Aaaine, or the organizations she represented, might have. "I assure you, Doctor, I'm more than capable of providing you with all that you desire." She paused, flashing serrated teeth in a grin. "I'll be sure to plan something nice for our future date." She lifted her drink in a mock toast, finished it in single swallow, and set the glass aside.

The Zabrak's attention returned to the datapad, still scrolling slowly with a single crimson digit. She spoke briefly in that harsh language of hers once again. From the side of the room, her Droid chirped out an affirmative and immediately set about making new drinks for the ladies as they spoke. The longer Zenva examined the documents Aaaine had provided, the more confident her smile became. There was very little that her personal collection of companies could not directly manufacture for this so called Collective. If she found something she wasn't able to provide, she would have been surprised, and likely forced to "aquire" a new facility.

As she read, Zenva reclined deeper into her throne like chair, one foot bobbing in the air. The sharp stiletto she wore hung from her toes as she bounced her foot. When Aaaine finally agreed to her conditions of payment she didn't move beyond her eyes darting up to look at the Chiss from under her brow. Zenva was silent for a time, so long in fact, her Droid returned with new drinks for them. She remained there, silent and still, even her foot had stopped moving as the Droid handed Aaaine a new drink.

Only when her Droid held out her new drink did the Zabrak finally react. Taking her drink and a sip, her gaze fixed on her Chiss guest the entire time. Zenva finally straightened, a long, slow exhale escaping her as she looked Aaaine full in face. "I don't see how I have been anything except clear and concise. You seem rather aware of who, and what I am, Aaaine." She turned to look at her Droid, "F-three, begin a new contract for our guest. The standard agreement is fine."

Again the Zabrak paused, sipping her drink before continuing. "In the documents F-three is preparing, you'll find several secured lines of communication to reach me directly. You'll find account details for any transfer of credits that you'll have to make. As well as a frankly vague description of what constitutes a favor to me. You do understand by now that I really don't give a chit about your money, don't you, Doctor?"

Zenva's right hand came up to gesture around them, "I have credits. I could retire yesterday, and live on the best meat and drink in the galaxy for the rest of my days. Only, that would be boring." She took another swallow of her drink, setting it aside without ever taking her eyes away from the blue woman across from her. "I want things, Aaaine, just as you want things. You have me at a disadvantage. You're desires are already in my hand, neatly listed for me to pick and choose from. I don't yet know what desires you can satisfy for me. So for now, you will owe me favors. Access to your research and any practical application of it for example. Introductions to benefactors and important persons belonging to this Laboratory Collective against the Force, or whatever it's name was. Things of this nature are so much more important to me than further lining my pocketbook, Darling."

Aaaine

 

[Aaaine]

Location: Nar Shadda; Planetary office building
Time: 2321 Hours

Deep red eyes bounced from the droid, to the stiletto bouncing on the Zabrak’s foot, to the women that stared absolute daggers in her direction and finally back to the droids that came in hand from the droid. Her gaze eventually settled into Zenva’s keeping and holding that stare while she took her new drink from the droid, bringing it up to her navy blue lips and sipping it silently. The silence that flowed through the room was thick, heavy, as if either of the women were waiting for their dance partner to make the next move.

Upon hearing the woman speak again to the droid, Aaaine’s gaze shifted to watch as the droid brought over a new holotab, one that she assumed contained this standard agreement, whatever something like that meant. “Vague descriptions fill me with very little confidence you will not abuse the terms of our relationship, my searoten'i.” She let the chiss filled venom drip from her tongue with the last word, settling back into her chair to begin to read over every detail of the contract. “I understand that my money has very little meaning to you at this point. My point in hitting on that was to show you I was serious about our relationship. Though agreeing to these…favors would also seem to be good enough for you.”

She returned to the datapad, continuing to read down the contract. Aaaine allowed the other woman to speak, at least until she heard what the woman said in regards to her research. The crimson gaze slowly shifted upward, a cocked brow following as the scientist began to speak. “Access to my research..I can agree to. With stipulations.” She placed the datapad on her lap, followed by taking a sip of her drink. “I will grant you access to our database outside of a list of projects that I will create. Those projects you must receive my verbal agreement to access too, either through holo or while I am in the same room. This list can be updated to take off or add additional projects, with a 24 hour window for me to tell you of these updates.” Pausing, she licked her lips to attempt to calm any anger that had flared in her chest at the gall of the Zabrak to just assume she would get access to all of her research. Perhaps that had been something that Aaaine had said, or given off, but she was extremely protective of what she had created.

“If we can..agree on that point, I will sign your contract, and we can spend the rest of the night celebrating or however you wish to commiserate our partnership. I am protective of my research, dear matron. I just want that to be respected and accounted for in our relationship.” Leaning forward, her eyes cast deeply into the gaze of the intimidating woman. Her head tilted to the side, taking a sip from the drink, while she awaited the response from the one she had just tried to stand up to.

| Zenva Vrotoa |​

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

The Sapphire and Ruby skinned aliens stared at one another for a time. Behind the glowing deaths head, the Zabrak's sharp features were held in a careful mask. No hint of a smile, no scowl beyond the narrowing of her caustic yellow-red eyes. In silence she studied the Chiss, unconsciously mimicking her movements as they sipped their new drinks.

Behind those corrosive eyes gears turned, and scenarios played themselves out. She needed to be sure of Aaaine, her cause, her sanity. The difference between mad scientist and genius doctor was a small thing, and sometimes easily overlooked. If Aaaine was right, and actually sane while being so, then this was real. A cure for the sickness infecting the galaxy, plaguing the minds of it's people.

Plaguing her mind. The unending noise of the galaxy around her, like the constant droning of running water, or someone's breathe on her neck. Her entire life she had been manipulated and abused by those who could touch the energy of the Force. Ever aware of the ebb and flow of the galaxy around her, yet never able to touch it. If this was real, if Aaaine could find a way to cure someone of this plague, then Zenva needed that medication.

When Aaaine answered she dropped a word in another language, unfamiliar and dripping with toxicity. Oh, such spine, Zenva mused as she looked to her Droid for a translation. The Droid looked back and forth between the two women a few times before turning to the Chiss. "Lady Trea'aain'elis, is there perhaps a more respectful term."

Laughter interrupted the Droid's question, vibrant, and ringing with amusement. Zenva's fingers flicked at the air, dismissing her Droid. "I knew I liked you, Aaaine." Still chuckling, Zenva sipped her drink again before continuing. "You're very sharp. That contract is very much designed to let me abuse it's terms and conditions." She said with a smug smirk curling her lips. "Credits at times are needful, your list of desires is expensive, but I do prefer my methods when appropriate. Don't fret, Doctor, I intend to prove just how seriously I take our relationship."

Aaaine continued after a few moments of reading through the documents F-three had provided for her. She immediately set conditions regarding access to her research. Doing well, in Zenva's opinion, to protect herself with careful wording. Again, that inner fire betrayed the Chiss, anger or something near to it, melting through that cold demeanor. By the end her conviction had her leaning forward, almost daring the Zabrak to argue with her.

Slowly the Zabrak inclined her head, an air of seriousness settling over her for a moment. "Believe me, or don't, but you do have my respect, Doctor. Of course I agree to your terms." Zenva smiled deeply a moment later, serrated teeth gleaming between her full lips. "I anticipated access to these, and perhaps a little more. Instead you're giving me access to nearly your entire database. How very generous of you. You should sign. I already have ideas to help prove my intentions."

Aaaine

 

[Aaaine]

Location: Nar Shadda; Planetary office building
Time: 2322 Hours

For a moment, Aaaine allowed herself to bask in the feeling of taking a small win from the Zabrak. She seemed to have, at the smallest amount, have dictated the terms of their little engagement. Her research was precious to her, and allowing the Zabrak to run away with it willy nilly seemed naive at best, and negligent at worst. To put those restrictions helped protect everything that Aaaine worked for.

By the end of those long few minutes, spent scanning the contract, taking in all the small details and stipulations that the Zabrak would be sure to abuse, Aaaine set the datapad on the table and scrolled to the bottom. “Well,” She said, taking the glass to her right in hand and turned Zenva with a cocked brow. “I see plenty in there that’ll let you…get what you want. Yet, I’m inclined to sign. But abuse these terms, abuse our relationship, bat'sabibi, and you will wish that you had never allowed me in these halls.”

Allowing those words to linger in the air for a few moments, the Chiss then set her drink to the side, setting to work signing the contract that would dictate her life, the Unblessed’s direction, for the next few years. This also took a few minutes, Aaaine scanning over the contract once more as she signed. Eventually, it was done, and the datapad was retrieved off the table and handed to the droid.

Crimson eyes turned to the Zabrak, a tilt of her head as she grabbed her drink and took a small sip. It seemed like the doctor was having trouble picking her body position, whether to lean back into her chair or lean forward, ready to leave. “I believe that concludes our business side of things, my dear matron. Did you have something else in mind, or should I begin to show myself out and let my team know outside that I am not dead on your floor?” A little smirk peaked at the edges of the Chiss’ lips, her tone betraying the sarcastic nature of her question.

| Zenva Vrotoa |​

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

Aaaine's answer earned another smile, shark like teeth gleaming in the neon lights. Again the Chiss dropped a word in her own language, instantly souring the Zabrak's sharp grin, a scowling knitting her brow. Zenva glanced to the golden Droid for a moment. The moment the Doctor finished speaking the Droid translated. "It means Predator, or near enough, Excellency."

Rich, ringing laughter filled the apartments for a moment. "Doctor, I promise, you'll come to savor our relationship." A wicked smirk smoothed away the annoyance she had show for a moment. As the Chiss took up the datapad once more to finalize the documents, Zenva finished her drink in a single swallow, setting the empty glass on the table between them.

Leaning forward, her feet both finally planted on the floor again, Zenva met Aaaine's crimson gaze with something nearing excitement filling her serrated grin. The Chiss seemed to writhe under her stare before making an attempt to escape their meeting. A fit of nearly girlish giggles escaped the Zabrak in response. "Team, how cute." With a heavy exhale, Zenva cleared her throat, giving herself a moment to remove any humor from her tone before speaking again.

"Now, Doctor, how could I possibly let you go before I've had the opportunity to show you how seriously I take our new relationship?" Straightening, Zenva glanced to her Droid once more. "F-three, bring my Speeder to the front doors, and have my Ship readied. Lady Aaaine doubts my ability to provide for her." She turned to look the Chiss in the eyes. "You should accompany me to The Quarry, my Shipyards. You can see for yourself what I am capable of. And of course, I would enjoy sending you away with a proper gift. A token of my enthusiasm for our budding relationship." A smile curled the Zabrak's blackened lips.

Aaaine

 

[Aaaine]

Location: Nar Shadda; Planetary office building
Time: 2324 Hours

Something about those giggles screamed at her the danger she was in. This was a predator, one that would easily snap her in two and devour her whole. Even the laughter that rung throughout the hall sent a chill up her spine. She couldn’t tell if that was because Zenva didn’t believe there was actually a team waiting for her, or if their presence mattered so little that even if there was, it wasn’t going to do anything to deter her.

“I hear this, Aaaine.” Alecari’s voice cracked in her ear, startling her momentarily from forgetting he had even been listening. The conversation with Zenva had taken so much of her mental faculties, the knowledge that her security could hear every word had been pushed to the back of her mind. “You’re ok going out of the city like this? I don’t know how long we could follow you for. Specs has a speeder ready to go but..” A pause in the crackling noise, conversation heard in the background that the chiss couldn’t make out. “You’re talking about going off world with this woman. Unless we blow cover and follow in the ship..”

Those crimson orbs took Zenva in for a few moments, letting her mind mull over her options. Denying the offer would almost certainly tick off the Zabrak, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to be anywhere near an angry Matron. “I…am interested.” The Chiss started, slowly standing to her full height. Even then, the Zabrak still stood a head taller than her, forcing her to crane her neck to look up. “I will be frankly honest, however. Our relationship is just beginning. I would feel much more comfortable if you allowed my team to follow, take up refuge on your..Quarry. We have our own ship they can follow us in. They’ll be model guests, even stay confined to the ship if you so please.” Her words were spoken with a confidence that had only come out a few times in their conversation. A tinge of nervousness could be heard, but still, she was making it known these were her terms.

“It is not that I do not trust you for my safe return, Zenva. Call it..stacking the deck. Allow this, and I’ll submit myself to whatever doting or gifts you so plan on giving.” A small, soft, genuine smile cracked through the cold facade that had been planted on the Chiss’ face for the majority of the meeting. The desire for Zenva to know this wasn’t being done out of malice, only abundance of caution. Though she knew well and good how this might damage the trust between them, her own safety was at the forefront of her mind.

| Zenva Vrotoa |​

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

Theme Song: {X} Warning Adult Themes​

She jumped. Zenva's smile died as quickly as her laughter had. Her caustic yellow-red eyes narrowed as a scowl settled on her glowing mask. For a time Zenva was silent, rising as her guest did, and staring directly into the woman's eyes as she started her reply with a measure of hesitation. As Aaaine set her terms, though clearly unsettled, her voice held some of that fire, that conviction, Zenva was learning to be hidden just beneath that cold exterior. Her scowl smoothed away, an expressionless neon skull concealing the Zabrak's sharp features.

Slowly Zenva began to circle around the table separating her from the Chiss. The sharp report of her stilletos against the marble floors echoed through the apartments as the Chiss spoke. A smile, sweet and earnest, curled Aaaine's lips as Zenva moved towards her until the Zabrak stood ominously close to her guest. Abruptly Zenva's coal painted lips peeled away to flash an exaggerated smile.

When she spoke, her voice was low and sultry, a whisper compared to the enthusiasm her voice typically held. "You're team is very welcome to follow, Doctor. They will stay on their ship. They will have their weapons and shields powered down when they approach my Shipyards. Failure to do this could alarm the Captains among my Fleet. Nal Hutta is our home. Do not make the mistake of threatening it."

Zenva's off hand came up, rolling through the air to gesture towards the elevator which had brought the Chiss to her apartments. "Stack your deck, but do keep up while you're at it." Again that sinister sweet laughter filled the chamber as the Zabrak turned away to start across the room. The golden Droid known as F-Three moved to stand behind the Chiss as Zenva moved towards the lift. It too gestured for the Chiss to follow it's Mistress, unwilling to allow the blue woman out of it's field of view while the Zabrak had her back turned.

In silence Zenva lead Aaaine down once more, cutting through the nightclub with a confident stride. The smoke and neon lights never seemed to touch the Zabrak as she moved, the very air around her rippling with energy as she went. Security around the Club's entrance had increased during their meeting to include a half dozen soldiers in heavy armor. As the Matron crossed the threshold of her domain, the soldiers fell into columns on either side of her, trailing a few steps behind.

On the street below, a Speeder Car that was rather obviously her's, sat waiting, doors open, and engines growling. The Soldiers following after their Matron broke away from her as she took her seat behind the Speeders controls. Each of them moving in silence to mount the six Speeder Bikes that sat in a tight ring around her vehicle. "Come along, Doctor! I am looking forward to making your team work for their pay." Zenva called, smiling as she closed her door.

Aaaine

 

[Aaaine]

Location: Nar Shadda; Planetary office building
Time: 2325 Hours

Following the Zabrak was something that much easier said than done. She moved swiftly through the crowds at the bottom of the club, slithering through them like a snake in the grass. Aaaine, for her part, felt much clumsier. She could’ve sworn she took an elbow or two to the midsection, earning the offenders some extremely pointed and ticked off stares as she passed by. It felt very pointed by the Zabrak to make her do this, another method of control, she assumed.

Making it where it was infinitely less suffocating, the outdoors, was welcomed with a deep breath by the Chiss. What welcomed her sight though, was something much more unexpected. A line of guards, a number on either side of the isle, greeted herself and the matron. Glancing around, Aaaine moved over to one of the guards, looking them up and down. “Impressive little color guard, dear matron. Do they serve drinks too? Perhaps hold your bags?” Her sarcasm did it’s best to hide any sort of nervousness she felt. That same nervousness spiked when the guards fell into line behind Zenva, prompting a huff as she moved around them to catch up.

She watched, from afar, when the matron climbed into the speeder and was surrounded by the guards. Only when prompted by Zenva did she move forward, tentatively climbing into the speeder alongside the Zabrak. “Try to keep us alive with your driving, will you?” Quipping at Zenva, hoping that would distract her long enough for Aaaine to subtly reach down, tapping the outside of her boot that faced away from the Zabrak twice, activating the tracking devise hidden within.

—

The datapad in front of Alecari lit up, showing Aaaine’s location momentarily in a small box before expanding, automatically plotting a route to the doctor’s location. “Alright, we got it. Specs?” He turned to his left, watching as the twilek adjusted the pair of oversized goggles while regarding the speeders center console. “Yep…yep. Got it. Just waiting on-” her voice was cut off by the sound of someone slamming into, then opening the door of the speeder.

All three occupants turned to regard the new attendee momentarily, a gungan with an sniper rifle slung over their back. He struggled to climb into the speeder, eventually practically flailing into the backseat next to Honderc. Specs gave the most notable reaction, rolling her eyes with an annoyed sigh. “Fins.” Barely even waiting for Fins to get situated, the Twi’lek was gunning it down the crowded city streets, desperate to catch up to the Doctor before she got carried away too far.

| Zenva Vrotoa |​

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

The Sapphire woman's quips earned her an exaggerated smile. This one rather obviously sneering in response to the suggestion Zenva would allow herself to die so easily. "Oh, yes. Do please continue to mock the woman literally in control of your life for the next few minutes." Before the Chiss was given the opportunity to respond, Zenva slapped the accelerator to full. Zenva's Speeder bucked fiercely, driving the two women back against their seats as the crimson machine raced out into the streets of Nar Shaddaa. The escorts on bikes quickly racing after them.

"You really aught to strap yourself into that seat!" The Zabrak cried out, laughter causing her words to stammer slightly. "And to answer your question, no they don't serve tea, but they have a tendency to stack bodies for me." Zenva's teeth flashed once more in a wicked grin before her attention shifted to actually keeping them alive.

The Zabrak's driving was a frightening thing to be made to endure. Rarely did she slow down, powering through turns and coming dangerously close to a collision with other Speeders or a building on several occasions. Alarms flashed across the displays after a minute or two of Zenva's "driving". The Speeder's security measures fighting against a tracking signal somehow fixed on the Matron's vehicle. Zenva's fingers flicked across the screen for a moment before a growl of annoyance boiled from her.

As they exited the nightclub district, or more accurately the district under the control of the Hutt's, Zenva's face slowly began to change. As the neon glow of her stronghold began to fade, so too did the multicolored skull concealing the Zabrak's face. The sharp swirls and thorns of her ebony tattoos still decorated her sharp crimson features, as they did for a majority of her body. The pattern naturally drawing one's gaze towards her bizarre yellow-red eyes or shark toothed maw, which now clearly featured plump coal painted lips curled in a delighted smile. "I take it your being tracked somehow, Doctor? I wonder how good the signal is!" Again Zenva's laughter rang out. "Between having to keep up, and my Countermeasures, it might be better for them to just track my ship."

Another minute of white knuckle speeds, and heart attack worthy turns, and abruptly Zenva began to slow her Speeder. Another turn, this one finally with a measure of reservation in it, brought them into a private Hangar Bay. A number of soldiers in matching equipment to those escorting the Matron guarded the place, scattered about and activity patrolling. Waiting in the center of the chamber was a Gunship, it's landing ramp open, and engines humming.

"Come along, Doctor." Zenva said again, smirking as she threw open her door to step out. She didn't wait, not for her escorts to finish catching up, nor for Aaaine to collect herself. The Zabrak all but marched, her stilleto heels clicking sharply against the duracrete floors, towards her waiting ship. Supremely confident that a full crew and escort pilot were already aboard and simply waiting for her and her guest. "Tell me, what did you think of my Roadster? It's fun, right?" She asked without actually turning to ensure Aaaine was following.

Aaaine