Private Hip to be Square

[Tycho Vale]

Tagging: Chi Chuchi

So much for a scenic autumn visit to Dantooine.

Over the past week, the weather on the northern continent had steadily degraded. Gone were the golden rays of sunlight and the pleasant gusts of wind that made the fields of grain shimmer and swirl; instead, they had been replaced by heavy rain and thick fog, obscuring the natural scenery of the planet. Still, Tycho hoped that Chi could find some beauty in the autumn storm.

And that she could find her way down, for that matter...

"Mr. Vale, your guest is on approach. I'll have her set down on an executive pad." The voice from the ATC tower was tinny and distant as it came across the airwaves and out of his communicator speaker. Tycho thumbed the response key to respond.

"Thank you, Jal, much appreciated," the Chiss said as he proceeded out the door of his office and across the tiled floor of the executive level. The wide, grand staircase curled around the central, open area of the lobby as he descended. Up ahead, his father's old speeder-- a prized replica of the XP-38 sport landspeeder-- waited just outside of the double glass doors. Had the weather been nicer, he would have taken his own landspeeder, but the rain had made its open cockpit impractical.

In truth, the central building of ValeCorp HQ was much like the rest of the large, sprawling complex, which currently resembled a synthesis of a college campus and an industrial park. All of the buildings were of typical Dantooine construction-- flowing circles and semicircles of brick and duracrete, the outlines occasionally broken up by angular, rising shapes, rectangles and arches. The only thing that made the central building stand out was its third story, allowing him to view the rest of the complex from his office.

As he drove towards the edge of the complex, Tycho kept the speed low and respectable. Most of his employees were staying inside today, but it never hurt to be careful. The Chiss did his best to focus on the task at hand, but he couldn't deny that he was a little... What, anxious? Maybe that was the word. It felt like a goddamn mynock colony had come to roost in his stomach.

For the past week, he had been looking forward to the reunion with Chi Chuchi; she had left quite the impression on him at the conference, with her playful demeanor tempered by an attention to detail and a willingness to ask questions. It felt like there was an immediate and natural chemistry sparking between them. In a business sense, he was looking forward to seeing her preliminary designs. In a personal sense, he was looking forward to getting to know just how a representative from the Republic became an artist and inventor.

Once he passed the outer gates, Tycho felt a little more free; he opened up the throttle, the old landspeeder humming as it carried on towards the airfield. Thick raindrops splattered against the windshield, but the Chiss was unbothered. The storms on Kashyyyk had been worse than this, and he had driven speeder bikes in that kind of weather with no problems.

Well. Mostly no problems.

The Chiss pulled up just beyond the safety line of the second executive pad. While he waited for her arrival, he took a moment to give himself one last look in the rearview mirror. Tycho swept a couple stray strands of dark hair behind a blue ear. All things considered, he looked good, or at least he thought so. The only unusual detail were the bags beneath his eyes, a clear sign that he had gotten as much sleep last night as he would have liked.

Once Chi's ship finally made landfall, he swung the door to his speeder open, stepping outside and unfurling a black umbrella in one smooth motion. Tycho paced across the wet duracrete, his boots leaving ripples in the puddles as he moved towards what he assumed was the entry door of her ship.

"Alright, old man, keep it cool," he murmured to himself.

 

[Chi Chuchi]

Possibly contrary to Tycho's week, Chi's had been mostly bliss. After the excellent start to the economic conference, she'd immersed herself in various designs and study, her mind soaking up knowledge as she experimented and learned about the technologies Vale Corp was interested in as well as how she would apply her own flair to what some may call the traditional methods.

Ji-Ji was her constant companion aboard the palatial Che's Boutique, the AI seeing to her needs and that of the ship while quietly checking her calculations and letting her bounce ideas off it. The AI now piloted the ship into the fringes of the Dantooine system as Chi prepared in her rooms. She was just putting the finishing touches to her hair when it reported the torrential rains over their destination. She thanked him and looked over her calf-length summer dress with a sigh. It was supposed to have been nice, but this wouldn't stand up to a soaking while leaving her any dignity. Instead she stripped it back off in favor of a heavier blue kaldrweave tunic over matching loose pants, a diagonally cut skirt of seafoam green hid the line between the two and tucked under a wide waist belt. To protect herself from the storm, she donned a traveling cloak of light salmon, and checked her hair before wrapping it in a shawl of deepest blue. They were simpler clothes but she liked the combination and a simple floral trim tied the pieces together. Then her shoes with a low heel and pointed toe. Last were her usual accoutrements, all the odds and ends she carried for herself and her work, not least of all, a small hold out blaster that she disappeared into an inner fold of her tunic sewn just for it.

The duo had barely made it halfway across the system from its boundary at their leisurely pace when Chi made it to the bridge and took her seat. She was sure Ji-Ji had already been in contact with traffic control, a fact he confirmed when he told her they'd been given priority. Likely her benefactor's doing even if she doubted its necessity considering the dearth of local traffic. "Lets skip to the interesting bit." she suggested after turning down refreshment and music offerings. A few moments later and the viewscreens briefly flashed as the Boutique micro-jumped forward to the upper reaches of the planet's atmosphere.

Within moments the elongated delta of the ship's prow was cutting into the clouds and Chi was treated to a magnificent display as the ship ringed itself in lightning as the charge of the shields reacted to the opposing charge the clouds held. An unfortunately short amount of time later and the grey-white hull of Che's Boutique breached through the lower cloud cover reveling itself to those below. Perfectly tuned engines purred in harmony as the corvette swept a wide circle around Tycho's holdings, banking sharply to one side to provide Chi the best view of the low complex below, before smoothly coming into a landing at the illuminated pad set aside for them.

Outside the ship seemed to wait for Tycho to take it in as Chi made her way down to the entry ramp. Once there it's armored cowling folded back to allow its smooth descent through the cycling air as the ship vented and began taking in cool air. At its top waited Chi Chuchi, hands patently folded as she waited for the ramp to finish extending before making her way down.

"Tycho!" She beamed on seeing he'd personally come out to meet her. "So kind of you to come greet me." On reaching him, she'd take his hand in hers and give it an earnest clasp.
Tycho Vale

 

[Tycho Vale]

Tagging: Chi Chuchi

As he looked up at Che's Boutique, he had to admit, it was a damned fine ship, to be sure. The entire thing had a sharp, fierce, yet elegant look to it, as if someone had taken the time to make art out of an arrowhead. Sitting on the opposite pad, his trusty VCX looked positively prehistoric in comparison. Maybe it was time for an upgrade, but Tycho simply didn't have the heart to part with the old ship. Call him old-fashioned.

The forward cowling peeled back, a ramp extended, and then there she was. Chi's wide smile was answered with one of his own as she approached. Her choice in fashion was, unsurprisingly, impeccable, immaculate and entirely suited for the weather at hand. His own suit was simple and straightforward, save for the durasteel-toed boots he had on. It was an old habit for the weather, broken hard.

Although he had been looking forward to seeing the way her amber eyes might have glimmered in the Dantooine sun, the way they seemed to carry the yellow light of the illuminated landing pad was a worthwhile consolation prize. One hand reached out to meet hers, clasping and firmly shaking twice. The other hand lifted the umbrella over the both of them, ready to shield them from the pouring rain.

"Of course!" he replied with an emphatic nod. Tycho never would have sent anyone else out in this kind of weather unless it was absolutely necessary; Chi was his personally invited guest, and with that came responsibility. "Glad to have you here. I just wish it could have been in better weather! Hopefully, the gods'll smile on us, and it'll clear up later."

He didn't have to encourage her to hustle as they made their way towards the waiting speeder. Tycho followed her over to her side, opening the passenger door and making sure she was situated within; then, he crossed in front of the speeder's nose, opening the driver's door and settling into his own seat. The umbrella retracted in one quick, automated movement as he closed the door. Tycho slid the umbrella back into his jacket pocket, right next to the familiar weight of his holdout blaster. He had no intention of using it, of course, but that was another old habit, picked up on the dangerous battlefields of Kashyyyk and Felucia. He'd rather have a blaster and not need it, then need one and not have it.

"So..." Tycho began, putting the speeder into drive and turning back out onto the paved road. "I figured we'd kinda play this visit by ear. No itinerary. We can stop by my office first if you'd like to relax a little, talk a little shop, or we can jump straight into the tour. The choice is yours."

 

[Chi Chuchi]

She took her seat in the speeder, appreciative of the cover even as she took in her surroundings. It was a model she wasn't familiar with but it was clearly vintage and she made note that his other tastes were likely to follow a similar styling. Though she'd call it 'an appreciation of the classics,' something sadly falling out of style. His own clothing confirmed it for her, simply presented but she was willing to bet it was perfectly suited for his day while remaining comfortable.

"The weather does what it wants, best not worry about it. But as interested as I am, I think I'd prefer to stay inside rather than being constantly in and out." She pulled the shawl back down around her neck, freeing her hair and the ornamentation keeping it pinned back as she began to peer out at the facility moving past them. "Most of this is second generation isn't it?" After meeting Tycho last week some research on her new employer had seemed in order. It was a well respected company with several interesting advancements in its portfolio but she hadn't found much about its history. It was apparently home-grown even if Tycho didn't look like it. But then the galaxy had been in such a weird state for so long that she supposed that didn't mean much.
Tycho Vale

 

[Tycho Vale]

Tagging: Chi Chuchi

"The weather does what it wants, best not worry about it. But as interested as I am, I think I'd prefer to stay inside rather than being constantly in and out."

"No complaints from me," Tycho said agreeably. There'd be more time to show her around, and the rain would have to give eventually. Even a storm couldn't last forever. The speeder slowed slightly as it passed through the outer gates. They, too, were old, constructed of wrought durasteel that, despite the age, seemed just as durable as ever.

"Most of this is second generation isn't it?"

A smile sprouted on the Chiss's face, accompanied by a nod. "Yes, that's right, actually. Good eye," he answered. Some of what he was about to tell her might be better suited for the tour, but there was no harm in indulging Chi's curiosity a little early. "Most of the buildings in this complex were built in the last seven years. Before he passed, dad started drafting up these big plans for expansion. The prototype lab, the employee housing, the training center, and the greenhouse... They're all new by ValeCorp standards."

Not all of the aforementioned buildings could be seen from the main road, but there was no mistaking the greenhouse and the housing complex as they approached. The former was all arches, half duracrete and half transparisteel, while the latter was a pair of two-story duracrete semicircles, connected in the center by transparisteel bridges. As they passed underneath the bridges, Tycho made sure to slow down a little more. No telling when a kid or two might dart out into the street.

"Now, the bacta production vats and the main office, those are a little less than forty years old. The main office actually used to be dad's private practice until he expanded into business," Tycho continued. That was the building just ahead, a three-story circle of duracrete with durasteel dividers and large oval windows. The double-door entrance thankfully had its own overhang that jutted out over the road, and the speeder pulled to a gradual stop beneath it.

After stepping out, Tycho once again stopped to open the passenger door for Chi. Was he trying a little too hard to impress her? He hoped not. Better not to overthink it.

"We'll be heading to the top floor, but if you have any objections to the stairs, we can take the turbolift at the far end of the lobby."

 

[Chi Chuchi]

It was with great attention that Chi followed Tycho's pointing to the different places of interest as she looked over the local architecture with a designer's eye. Like Tycho himself they seemed sturdy, suited to the place that had birthed them, yet with their own charm. She would like to see inside the employee housing to know how well they were kept, however she was sure that most of her time would be spent in the prototype labs when not on her ship.

The mention of local bacta production particularly impressed her. "I suppose you grow your own bacta in the greenhouse? How Thyferra weeps." The planet's long standing monopoly had been broken centuries ago but it still remained the galaxies' largest exporter of the substance. That Vale Corp may have established their own supply only showed how serious the company was. Consolidating supply lines, future-proofing against disruptions in trade.

She gave Tycho a grateful nod as he helped her from the speeder, thankful for the veranda covering the drive. Entering the lobby Chi couldn't help but comment, "Seems more like a hospital than a private practice at three floors." She regarded the foot of the stairs, "And as short as they are, I am wearing heels."
Tycho Vale

 

[Tycho Vale]

Tagging: Chi Chuchi

"I suppose you grow your own bacta in the greenhouse? How Thyferra weeps."

He couldn't help but laugh a little. How Thyferra weeps. The statement sounded so goddamn familiar, and a moment later, he realized it was because his father had said the same thing to him, almost verbatim, nearly thirty years ago. It was funny how things looped back around like that.

"We're still just a drop in the bucket compared to Thyferra, but we're getting bigger every day," he replied. "But, to answer your question, yes and no. We do grow a little Vratixia renanicus in the greenhouse. Small, experimental batches, trial and error stuff. But the source for our industrial production actually comes from the surrounding farms in our area. Dad cut the families a good deal when he got started, and it's been going ever since. Like I said, we keep the greenhouse reserved for R&D."

"Seems more like a hospital than a private practice at three floors. And as short as they are, I am wearing heels."

Tycho nodded understandingly. Although descending and ascending the stairs every day had become a sort of ritual for him, he couldn't expect Chi to see it in the same way, especially with her footwear. Gesturing forward, he led her to the back of the lobby, where a turbolift of blue-tinted transparisteel and flowing, art nouveau curves of reflective gold awaited them. The doors opened with a gentle chime, and they stepped inside.

"You're not wrong," the Chiss said. "For all intents and purposes, this place was a hospital. Before the company, Dad and his coworkers practiced medicine for most of the families and towns in the surrounding area. It was a pretty busy place for a kid to grow up in, I'll tell you that." A light, melancholy smile tugged at his cheeks at the now-distant memories: families passing to and fro, the constant smell of antiseptic, and the gentle tones of the automated voice that said paging Dr. Vale, paging Dr. Vale.

The turbolift arrived with another chime, the doors opening to the third floor. Elaborate tilework was laid out before them at their feet, a swirling pattern of various shades of blue, black and white meant to evoke the image of an ever-turning galaxy. The curving wall beside them was made from the wood of the blba tree, imprinted with flowing lines that evoked a rushing river. Tycho led Chi to the double doors of his office, opening one and allowing her to step inside. His executive office was much like the external floor, tile and wood, along with one large, unbroken window of blue transparisteel along the curved back wall.

Most of the furniture was just as vintage as the landspeeder they had arrived in-- plush couches and armchairs of reek leather, a coffee table and bookcases carved from blba wood. A handful of things stood out as being noticeably newer. His executive desk was clearly made from a darker, heavier wood, almost black, with golden trim along the edges and feet. A pair of floating holodisplays sat atop the surface of the desk: one appeared to be a photo of Dr. Alvys Vale himself, a man with dark skin, dark eyes, grey-patched hair and a patient smile. Standing next to him was a Chiss boy with wild hair and a goofy, bucktoothed grin. The other photo was of a troop of battle-hardened medics of various species, a twenty-year-old Tycho among them, standing on the branch of a wroshyr tree. A cello-like instrument, seemingly made from the same material as his desk, sat on the floor beside the desk.

"Can I start you with something to drink, Chi?" Tycho asked. He had a liquor cabinet, but it was completely ignored; Chi didn't strike him as a day drinker. Instead, the Chiss walked over to a caf machine, beginning the process of preparing a cup. "Are you a caf or a tea kind of woman?"

 

[Chi Chuchi]

"Tea please," Chi said turning back towards him after taking in the office. Compared to the utilitarian building exteriors she had been able to make out on their journey over, the interior of the main office was as nice as anything she'd seen in the Senate. The tiles were a bit strange, outside they'd reminded her of the visual 'tunnel' that formed around a ship during hyper transit but in here they were clearly forming a galaxy. At least it wasn't one of those giant floor maps you sometimes saw in old war holos. That might have made her worry about Tycho's ego. As it stood, she only had to fear him offering to play something on that instrument.

She opted for a seat on one of the couches within easy reach of the low table and stretched her arm out along its back, feeling the texture and grain of the leather as her gaze settled on the back side of the holos over the desk. Had Tycho been adopted? Or was that a mentor figure? The other wasn't quite as interesting, she didn't know the people beyond the obvious war troop setting. She crossed her legs at the knee and took to idly bouncing a foot while waiting for the tea. She didn't want to rush him by talking.

She smiled when he handed her the cup, "Thank you," it was warm in her hands and she took a sip. It needed another minute or so to steep, and to cool down, but she could already taste the flavor starting to spread. "Is that your father?" Her face turned back towards the desk and its holos though her eyes stayed on him. "He looks like a kind man."
Tycho Vale

 

[Tycho Vale]

Tagging: Chi Chuchi

Chi was in luck; his master botanist had just delivered a new batch of teabags yesterday, all of the leaves sourced from various subjects in the greenhouse. The Chiss worked quietly, preparing a cup of tarine tea for her in addition to managing the drip-feed from his caf machine. He didn't bother to add anything to either; Tycho had developed a preference for black coffee from the service, and he wanted to give his guest a chance to appreciate the natural flavor of the tarine first. Hopefully, she'd find the mint undertones to her liking.

Once both were ready, he crossed the room once more, carefully handing her the teacup before taking a seat on the opposite end of the couch. "You're welcome." His glowing red eyes disappeared behind his eyelids as he took a moment to savor the dark roast in his mug, sipping it quietly. The caffeine was a much-needed boost, and he could feel his mind sharpening already.

"Is that your father? He looks like a kind man."

Tycho glanced over at the hologram, then nodded affirmatively. Once again, that melancholy smile had made a return.

"Yeah, that's dad. Dr. Alvys Vale," the Chiss replied. "He was as kind a man as you'll ever meet. Even when I was pushing his limits and pressing his buttons, he never once lost his cool." It was a trait he had always admired of his father-- that ability to keep calm under pressure, to refrain from giving in to panic or doubt or anger, to take care of business.

Tycho missed him, still.

Nevertheless, he didn't want to monopolize the conversation with musings on his adoptive father. "Speaking of family, how's yours doing?" Tycho asked. It was a light probing question; Tycho had done some very broad research on the Chuchi dynasty, going all the way back to the days of the Clone War, but ancient encyclopedia entries were just that-- ancient. "What's the Chuchi family looking like these days?"

 

[Chi Chuchi]

Chi shifted her weight, leaning back into the stuffed back of the couch. "We're looking good, Cousin Arlow is hosting this year's the Life Day banquet on Pantora, dad just had his seventy-third, Chimi's been accepted into Pan-Tech." She gave him a look, eyebrow raised with a sly smile, "Really I can go on but even I need Ji-Ji to help me keep up with everyone in the extended family. And I'm sure you know the political numbers already, one in the GA senate, brother and a second-aunt in the Pantoran Assembly. Family scattered throughout staff positions, both political and corporate." She shrugged. "Life day is going to be a headache, only rule is no politics. So there's still plenty to fight over and celebrate. Hey!" She brightened up at a sudden thought. "You should come, I can try to swing you an invitation as my business partner. Show the family more than my name in an advertisement or brochure put out by Vale Corp. That is," she hesitated, "if you're interested in that sort of thing."

Slightly embarrassed Chi turned to her tea and tried it again. The mixtures of flavor were wonderful now that they'd spread more. Even the mint didn't spoil the slight tang and underlaying bitterness. If she had to guess, Tycho hosted to a human palette regularly.
Tycho Vale

 

[Tycho Vale]

Tagging: Chi Chuchi

There was no mistaking the pride in the Pantoran woman's voice as she discussed her family. And why shouldn't she be? Tycho held a similar level of high regard for the accomplishments of his own extended family-- not just what his father did, but what his employees continued to do. And it was nice to hear Chi speak with such excitement. By now, the smile on his face had lost its melancholiness; when she brightened up and extended her offer, the Chiss's eyebrows momentarily rose.

Was this the real Chi? The one she kept hidden behind layers of learned etiquette? Judging by the way she immediately hesitated afterwards, as if embarrassed by her own outburst, he suspected so. Still, he wasn't about to let her climb back into her shell just yet.

"You know what? That sounds like a fantastic idea," Tycho agreed emphatically, slightly gesturing at her with the mug in his hands. "You can count me in, Chi." Normally, his Life Day plans revolved around the ValeCorp holiday party-- but, after attending the last nine of them, he figured that they could probably go one year without him. Besides, it would be nice to just be a guest, for once, rather than the man of the hour.

"You know, I do so much traveling for work, I see so many places... but it's always for business. There and gone. I barely even get a chance to look out the windows," Tycho explained. "Means I don't really get a chance to appreciate places the way that they deserve. So a Life Day on Pantora sounds like exactly the change of pace I need."

He took another sip from his caf, then asked: "What's Pantora like? I've never been. Did you grow up there?"

 

[Chi Chuchi]

Tycho mentioning travel brought a small chime of laughter from her "Don't get me started on travel, I live on my ship you know. Though usually I get to set the pace. As for Pantora I was raised there, but it feels like I grew up on Rendili during my understudy." If Tycho was going to overlook her lapse in decorum, she'd put it right behind her too, she decided. Taking a sip of the tea again she continued. "Personally I think that if you don't know the people, the draw is the architecture. We tend to build out rather than up, but you'll occasionally find a great tall tower stretching to the sky seemingly needle thin and capped with an onion dome. They're an amazing sight at dawn when the sun catches them rising out of the morning fog." Of course there were parts of the planet that looked just like every other one, spray'crete buildings and the usual mix of aliens just looking for a place in the galaxy. Pantora was a good place for them, peaceful.

"How about yourself?" He'd only mentioned his father and there were no other family pictures around, but so far all their talk had been about her. Leaving the question a bit open let him talk about loved ones or maybe Dantooine if it held any draw to him other than Vale Corp and being home.
Tycho Vale

 

[Tycho Vale]

Tagging: Chi Chuchi

Rendili. That was a subject to which he would have to circle back around. While the curiosity of what brought an end to her career in politics still gnawed at him, the fact of the matter was that a prying question like that was undoubtedly still too personal for a woman who had only just barely shown a sliver of her true self. Instead, Tycho tried to imagine what she was describing. Pantorans sounded like Dantooinians, with a propensity to sprawl rather than rise, but he took a moment to picture a tower, rising from the fog and catching the rays of the rising sun.

"Sounds incredible. I can't wait to see one," he said earnestly. Architecture wasn't necessarily his specialty, but he liked to think he had an appreciation for it. The Wookiee villages on Kashyyyk had similarly blown him away with their scale and majesty.

"How about yourself?"

He took a moment to sip his caf and think about his answer. Explaining Dantooine-- and all of its appeals and pitfalls-- to someone who hadn't grown up there could be difficult, but he would try.

"Well, I wasn't born here, but otherwise, I basically spent my entire childhood here," he answered. "It was just me and dad, at first, but eventually, it kinda felt like the company became our family. Still does, to be honest with you. And Dantooine's a beautiful place, always has been. Quiet, tucked away, detached from the troubles of the rest of the galaxy. A place like that is pretty hard to find nowadays."

A beat. He smiled, chuckling to himself as a thought occurred to him.

"Of course, if you had asked twenty-year-old Tycho about it, he would have said that Dantooine was the most boring spot of nothing on the face of the galaxy, but that's young men for you."

 

[Chi Chuchi]

The company as his family? Chi supposed it was possible, plenty of corporate leaders claimed as much, but usually used it simply as a way to motivate the workforce. Still, with Tycho she felt like it was true. Isolated by his differences, both physical and in position, it would be natural for most biologicals to reach out and establish emotional attachments. She'd certainty felt close friendship with several of her staff while so far from home and then with her time divided between Rendili and the Senate.

"I think that's every young person to an extent. Growing up I couldn't wait to get out on my own and be recognized. Eight months or so on and I was wondering when I could get a visit home in. Then it's like you said, too much traveling and barely enough time to breath, let alone take in the sights." Earlier she'd smiled along side Tycho, but now it was more wistful, thinking of days past before she shook her head as if to shrug it off. "Look at us, going on like a couple of old fogies when we were supposed to be discussing business."
Tycho Vale