Growing With Friends

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Alicia Drey"]


Galven had contacted the individual that he once met a little while ago, offering up a very serious proposition and asking for a meeting with her to settle things out. The offer comprised of taking the lead in a Subsidiary he would offer her, complete rights and ownerships to whatever she made, as long as it helped out the GOMM cause and its entirety, even later on doing personal and private endeavors without the watchful eyes of himself or GOMM. Since they had met each time on poor stances due to outside entities forcing negative outcomes, he felt a nice, casual and relaxing bar visit would fit them properly for a formal introduction so they could start as friends, and not business partners. But of course, this wouldn't be a pirates den, it would be one of those smaller restaurants with a bar where people could sit at or take a seat at a table.

Galven was waiting patiently at the bar, being kind to wait for the individual before seeing if she wanted a seat at a table or not, in which case he'd escort her like the gentleman he is and offer up some food if she was interested, otherwise, the drinks were on him tonight, and hopefully they could get past all the discrepancies they witnessed in the past.

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Galven Solomon"] |

The recent excursion that Alicia had undertaken in the Esstran Sector still showed their signs. Before she had departed Sojourn and traveled to the Horuset system, she had been vibrant and in good physical health. But the Stygian Caldera, which protected Korriban and the other Sith worlds had lived up to it's infamy, causing catastrophic damage to the Initium. What followed was three days of starvation, combined with a perilous trek to Dreshdae.

The results of all of this left Alicia near skin and bones. She appeared gaunt and sickly, taking away the natural beauty that she had been gifted, leaving her a shade of her former self. Since returning to the fold, Alicia had been in a state of recovery, with her appetite slowly returning. But it would be weeks, perhaps months, until she was back to her former self. It was the price that she would have to pay in her indomitable quest for power.

It wasn't the first time that her lives begun to merge and fold onto one another, causing discrepancies and questions. She had lived like this for twenty years, forwarding her agendas to service one life in favour of the other. This was the nature of her existence, no doubt unnatural and cruel to the ignorant, but suffice to say, Alicia paid no attention to it, choosing to focus all her time on the completion of her life ambition.

It was why she had agreed to Galven's proposition. The two had worked tirelessly to secure Spaarti Creations. The failure had left a bitter taste for them both, but Alicia had done what she needed to do to exercise that failure out of her system on the night before she had departed Sojourn for Korriban, and so as she searched for Galven, she was already focused on the next stage of their partnership. Spotting him at the bar, Alicia crossed the space between them and came to a stop beside his chair.

"Galven?" Alicia asked. Her voice was low and it wasn't on purpose. Those three days had damaged her throat, as her water rations had been destroyed in the fire that had crippled the Initium. Swallowing salvia, so as to soothe herself, she climbed into the adjoining seat. But it did not help. It still felt like she had swallowed a handful of nails. "I'm sorry we couldn't meet under better circumstances. But we'll just have to get over what happened with the auction and press on."

 

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Alicia Drey"]


When Galven was raised to attention by the individual behind him and realized it was Alicia Drey, he went into shock. He watched as she climbed up into the high chair and saw the pain she held. "Sir, sir! Get me some water, now. A pitcher! My goodness woman, what happened? I've never seen you in person, when did this happen? Would you rather lie down? Are you hungry? Sir, call for some fruit, some food, whatever is ready right jow, I'll pay for it and the person who ordered it. Nothing spicy or dehydrating, please! Oh dear..."

Galven was almost in literal shock as he was not ready for this. He put his hand over his fafe as he tried to calm himself, past memories throwing themselves at him and he was severely unprepared for this. Suddenly a steak and alfredo noodles dishes had to the woman and the waiter sat them down along with water while Galven reached to pay. "Why did this happen, what happened miss Drey?"

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Jeron Verity"] |

Alicia wasn't prepared for this either. During their previous contacts, she had assumed Galven to be a hardened man. He appeared to be blunt and straight to the point. She was normally a good judge of character- her work required her to be so- but she hadn't expected him to kick up a fuss. Perhaps a question or two, such as a polite 'Are you okay?' or something along those lines, but certainly not this. Licking her lips, she turned her gaze to meet his.

"A week ago, on the way back from a business trip, my ship was caught in a nebulae that caused my engines to short circuit. I don't remember much. There was a fire, which destroyed my supplies. I was adrift for a long time, until I was rescued by my people. I'll just say starving isn't fun and something that I'd like to forget. Let's change topics."

It was close enough to the truth, without divulging too many of her secrets. Picking up the glass of water, she lifted it to her lips and sipped a mouthful down her aching throat. Putting it back down beside the plate, she disregarded the food. She didn't feel like eating at the moment.

 

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Alicia Drey"]


Galven was stricken with a desire to help this woman, and he had the power to. But that would require opening up an entirely new can of worms that he was hoping to open to everyone at the Ball, still having his Galven appearance on. He's a very serious man, but he cares too much. "Alright," he cleared his throat, "we'll change the subject."

He took a breath as he adjusted himself." If there is anything you need, request it and it shall be yours. Now, taking from your response, you must be ready to talk business, let's." He started forward, not looking at her so ad not to come off staribg at her. "Even though we did jot gain Spaarti Creations, I will be making another company under my own here soon. Some biological research and development, my own personal cloning manufacturer. Gomm, miss Drey, needs to be fielded by clones. My proposition to my people was that I would make them and their families safe, and the first step is to get those who don't want to fight anymore off the conscripted list. Majority if not all of my armies, filled by clones. There will also be other areas of expertise that will hold the operations of this company, which I would expect the owner to have a fond time with on her own time. If you would take it as a gift, I'd like you, miss Drey, to take full ownership of the new company. Of course, I would have minor shares, but that is a given. What does this sound like to you?"

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Jeron Verity"] |

How generous, Alicia thought. Picking up a nearby fork, she begun to play with the noodles. She thought over the offer and the other implications that Galven couldn't even possibly fathom to the offer that he had just given her. Debating internally, formulating possibilities and coming to conclusions, Alicia nodded.

"Thank you for including me in this. I would be happy to do this. All that we would need is to sort out the logistics of the company. If it's main focus is to generate clones for GOMM, then it would be a private based company and would require funding to meet the quotas that you require. We would also need to sort out the guidelines. Would I be allowed to supply clones to other entities, such as corporations or factions?"

 

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Alicia Drey"]


Galven nodded as he listened to her, pulling his hands together as he ran his fingers to his own. "While the primary purpose is to provide me with clones, I will not restrict you from whatever else you would like to make. However, you must adhere to GOMM law -- we do not aid murderous foreign invaders. I could go on for days of that definition, but I am sure of an individual of your status, you can surmise we do not aid or service those like the Sith or Criminal based. If you ever become confused, you may ask me. On very rare occassions, depending on the leaders actions, we may choose to watch them and perhaps attempt communications -- but that is very rare.I will never force you, miss Drey, to sell, contract, or what-have-you to someone you do not wish to, but you will have to respect the rules of GOMM - and that is basically the only thing you need to follow. The rest is entirely yours. If you commit to any major projects, all you need do is ask and I shall support."

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Jeron Verity"] |

"That sounds acceptable." Lowering the fork, done fiddling with it, Alicia picked up the glass of water and took another swig. Keeping her throat constantly wet held back the pain. She knew that the damage would heal over time. "We'll need a facility. I prefer to keep my business discreet, so we would need a secluded system. Do you have any ideas?"

 

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Alicia Drey"]


"I trust you," Galven started, reaching a hand over to place on her arm, "you will have ownership of this company and I will have little force over what is done or how it gets done. If I've learned one thing from my past... the rough way gets shit done. Just don't kep me in the loop of how unless I ask or it concerns me. You are also not a workhouse that goes into work just to get paid, I want you to explore and expand with your own methods, theories and experiments." He turned to gesture to the barkeep to bring another glass over before giving her another look, "I'm sure you'll know what is best for the company. And... when we're finished here, I'd like to speak to you in private, away from wandering eyes and over listening ears."

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Jeron Verity"] |

"Sure. We can talk outside. Sorry for the food. I wasn't feeling hungry." Alicia pushed aside the noodles and stood up, ready to leave the bar. When Jeron was ready to leave, she followed her new partner out of the bar, to a secluded place where they could talk. Away from the prying ears and eyes that Jeron was eager to avoid, Alicia looked up to him. "Okay. What was it you wanted to say?"

 

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Alicia Drey"]

Galven shook his head with a little smile, getting up to follow behind her, "Don't worry, Miss Drey, I didn't plan a dinner date or anything. I barely had a drink myself. I merely wanted to make your stay a little more bearable." He left some credits on the bar to give a nod to the bartender, thanking them for their courtesy. As he followed behind he, he started think of his next move... No matter what, he was a man who cared, and his reputation didn't matter when he had the ability to help someone. Though he would always think about it, he feels he should do what he can to help.

"Miss Alicia Drey, I hope you forgive me, but I must confess a long time secret before it is truly time to expose it. You see, this... Galven you see. He is a facade, something I used to hide my past and my troubles. But..." he reached out and grabbed her arms with an-inhuman strength, holding her. "I will explain everything at another time, for now... I can not witness you in pain, whatever the reason may be. Please, forgive me." As soon as he finished speaking, his face grew into something menacing; fangs grew from his teeth and his eyes surged red like a beast. He lurched his neck forward with stiff speed and bit into Alicia's neck, but it wasn't painful... He began healing her damaged body, releasing his force energy into her, quickly healing her wounds. Just as soon as he committed the act, he finished and pulled away. He quickly released her and began coughing, becoming weak and bending at the knees. He hadn't fed enough for a very long time, and using that power drained him significantly.

 

[Alicia Drey]

[member="Jeron Verity"]

Alicia watched Galven apprehensively. At first, she thought the man was going to make a play. The subtle changes in behavior, his nervousness and the slight apprehension in his voice led her to the conclusion that the man wanted something more from their partnership. But that train if thought was quickly put to bed. She went to resist his grip, surprised by the strength that he showed. There was something more to Galven Solomon- no, whoever he was- and as the facade was pealed away, so too did Alicia edge closer to revealing her own.

He leaned in quickly. Alicia released a gasp as his teeth sunk into her neck. Her left hand clenched, ready to drive it through the mans stomach, severing his spinal cord so as to put an end to this attack, when suddenly, she felt a burst of energy run through her. The weariness left over from her pilgrimage to Korriban was replaced by a renewed feeling. She felt strong and powerful again, quicker than she had expected.

As Galven leaned away from her neck, Alicia instantly lifted her hand towards the place she he had sunk his teeth into her. She held her hand there, frozen momentarily by another feeling she hadn't felt in decades. Alicia felt fear and it was because of the man- no, monster- who was heaving before her. She watched in awe, brought to silence by the fear and she had to lean onto the wall for support.

 

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Alicia Drey"]


Galven took a knee purposely to breathe clearly and in an attempt to compose himself, his beastial face still stuck in place. He closed his eyes as he gasped and groaned slightly before concealing his sounds. He was tense and in pain, he could potentially fall back into his murderously unrelenting hunger, but he had trained enough to control himself, as he still hadn't tasted anything but the blood of the woman in front of him, and not her force energy which he would have craved.

Even weaker now than before, forcibg him into his reserves of strength, he struggled to stand. Alicia could tell from the way he carried himself that he wasn't weak from old age, and that this event had pushed him to his absolute weakest state - before death, and he trusted her enough that he could put himself in this situation. "I..." he breathed, "apologize, dear Alicia. My name,".... "is Jeron Verity," he said looking up at her, his beastial face receding, his fangs slowly pulling back, albeit painfully, "there is an eternity of knowledge you do not know about me, but two factors that will give you an idea are thus; I am... What they call... An Energy Vampire, I feed on others energy to live and," he stood, slowly but shakingly straightening his suit and pulled himself together, "I don't feed as much as I should now. My life it... Depends heavily on how much I consume, and I've used almost all I had to heal you, because I want you to know my intentions are true, to save others. And the other fact being," he swallowed his pride as he regained enough strength to stand. "I have lived long enough to witness the Civil, the Clone, and the Old Wars. I am somewhat a danger, but I swear I am no danger to you. This was incredibly early to reveal myself, but you see I trust you, Alicia. You've done nothing but good for me while others have slammed the door in my face." By now ger blood still lingered on his mouth and her neck, but he quickly wiped his mouth with a cloth from his jacket. And the wound which was his hite that was on her neck slowly began to heal itself. "I am sorry, please forgive me, I am only doing the best that I can"

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Jeron Verity"] |

Alicia deciphered what was happening here. He had tried to help her. In an odd way, she knew that from the moment he bit into her, and yet, it was a concerning thing to have someone, a being such of this, ready, willing and able to attack. She sensed he was genuine. He didn't want to help her. But what if he were to lose control? What if he couldn't help himself?

She understood the facade. She played the same thing. In her own way, she was hiding the monster that she was. She had conducted unspeakable acts in the name of her quest. The nature of her work required it. Here was a man- a monster- trying to fight, so that he could hold onto the good. In stark comparison, Alicia accepted who she was. Relished it. Embraced it. Perhaps I could help him embrace it as well? she thought to herself.

"I've... I've never heard of those wars." Lowering her hand from her neck, she studied the crimson red that was on her neck. She knew that within her blood existed the cells that made her Force-sensitive. Did Jeron now know who she was? "Galve-" She caught herself. "Jeron... You can't do that again. Not ever. Do you understand?"

 

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Alicia Drey"]


Jeron had lapses in his past, many times accepting and embracing his monster, and then rejecting it and sinking into depression. He fought himself more than he fought any war or any battle he had ever been in, and at any time he could lose control and shift. Although thankfully, there wasn't enough power to gove him back his bigoted arrogance that would cause him to abuse his powers and lose himself once again. "You've never heard of those wars because they are a hundred lifetimes beyond your own existence. I am old, but I am young. I have learned a lot, and understand more than you think me possible." For Jeron, everyone was force sensitive, except those who were force dead. Everyone had the force within them, strong or weak. But he could only know the level of their force if he drained them, which he did not, therefore he only tasted her blood.

"I apologize," he said one last time, wiping his hands, "I felt an unnatural pull to help you, I want... I needed to help you. After all the lives I've taken and ruined, I need that feeling to do better. But I also care about you Alicia, and there are very few I care about. That should hopefully mean a lot to you, compared to just how many people I have met. "I will never steal any of the force that you contain, I could never harm you, Alicia. But there will always be someone I need to steal some from, I don't like it, but I am not done... There's more I must do before I willingly give myself up. I can not promise I would not give my life for yours, Alicia. I can not make that promise, I'm sorry."

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Jeron Verity"] |

As Jeron knelt, regaining the composure, strength and energy he had lost upon giving it all to her, Alicia sneaked behind the monster and knelt behind him, wrapping both arms from his back to his front, pressing her body against his back as she hugged him. She begun to whisper sweet nothings into his ear: "You have no idea how much that means to me. I care for you too. Your companionship means so much to me. And I want to help you with your paint."

Lifting her left hand to his head, she begun to creep her fingers between the strains of his hair whilst she spoke softly to him. "There are bad people that deserve it, Jeron. Bad people that wouldn't bat an eye on killing those who didn't deserve it. They would deserve you... Feeding on them. I can help you find those people. Give you some sort of... Life worth living."

 

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Alicia Drey"]


Jeron did not object to the embrace, closing his eyes to relax and listen to her. He breathed softly through his nose to calm down his everlasting hunger and restrain himself from lunging for anything. But this... What she was saying, it reminded him of his old Master, the same tone of voice, the same kind of touching, it shocked him. He fell forward and forced his hand out behind him, pushing her away. "Don't, ... Don't say things like that. You are Alicia Drey, and I do not want to hear the words of my old Master again. Whatever your intentions, leave me out of them. I neither fight for good nor bad, I fight for myself and what I want, and if I am pushed down that road again I will forcibly take everything I find I even feintly desire. I already consume those deemed criminals," the hand he used to push her away reached to cover his face. The way she made him feel, it was like his old Masterzeven if he did like it. He covered his face as his beastial form tried to emerge again, remembering the past and his power. "I am weak and hungry now, but with each life I drain I become more of a threat to you, the people around me, and those I love. You see I must restrain myself or even the ones I care about I kill by my hand, and I can not hurt you, I could never hurt you. I care about you, because those I care about give me meaning, you help keep me going Alicia. There are so few like you." He removed his hand, staring at the ground as his face returned to normal.

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Jeron Verity"] |

"I know what you can do. I can almost feel it, Jeron." Crawling forward, resting on her knees beside him, Alicia looked up into the face of her monster. "But I know that you could never hurt me. I know that it wouldn't be you, if it were to happen. Everyone has two sides to them. Yours just happens to be something bad. But it doesn't define you. What you decide to do does, Jeron, and you've decided to be a good, caring man."

"You don't have to hide from me anymore, Jeron. Let me in. Let me help you. I want too. Please?"

 

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Alicia Drey"]

Jeron shook his head as he got his footing back, adjusting himself. "No, Alicia. I am no ones weapon, I am no ones child. I don't let people in, everyone I love, I kill. My friends, my family, and those who I give my life to. I destroy lives, the best I can offer you is business partners."

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Jeron Verity"] |

Alicia stood up, looking down at the Energy Vampire that knelt before her. She considered him a moment. The revelations that he had made. The enigma that he was and all the questions that should be asked, but never would. "Loneliness can kill too, Jeron. When you're ready to start living again, you know how to find me." Turning to leave, Alicia looked over her shoulder to say: "But I'll respect your wishes. It'll just be business, until you get tired of it. I'm a woman of my word."