Hostile Takeover

[Adron Malvern]

Location: The Veil | Time: Early Morning | Tag: @Dianah Vi’Dreya | Wearing: Old Armor​

The darkness had swallowed him. He was drifting through an endless sea that had no intent on releasing him. Adron had been standing on the bridge of his warship when the Dark Side had called to him forcing visions to flash through his mind. It felt as if he had seen a hundred different images in a fraction of a second and now there was only darkness. A few fleeting moments to comprehend the slew of information that had been funneled into his mind. In a rush his eyes snapped open and again he stood on the bridge of The Veil. His breathing had grown a bit ragged but it seemed none of the droids on the bridge had taken notice to the momentary gap in Adron’s behavior. Clearing his throat he pulled down the cowl that had been masking his face. ​

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Ebony armor covered his body from head to toe. Mostly comprised of refined phrik plates, the armor was relatively light for what it was. It was a nightmarish image when paired with the icy gaze that the Sith held. The armor was a call from the man’s past to when he had fought against the Sith, long before he had taken their doctrine as his own. The armor was in need of replacing but time and selection had not been provided. So for now he would wear the armor of his foolish past. ​

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In reality Adron hated the armor he wore. Even from a combat standpoint it was not practical. He prized his speed in war and his ability to freely move. While the armor did not totally impair this it stopped the man from achieving the inhumane speeds he had managed in battle. However, it was a necessary garb for the mission he had planned. ​

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His arms crossed over his chest he would look to an approaching Magnaguard. It seemed to have been notably modified and upgraded to make it a league above its own counterparts. ​

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“Exarch. A shuttle approaches. One of our own, it is transmitting security codes that seem to have been dispatched from your own office.” He reported, his electrostaff tapping against the ground as he stood at attention. ​

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“Right on time. Bring her to the bridge and be quick about it. I need to bring her up to speed before we arrive, not after.” He ordered, dismissing the droid with a brief wave of his hand. “Go.”​

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[Darth Miseria]

Location: Shuttle - Heading to The Veil​

Time: Early Morning​

[member=Adron Malvern]​

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The shuttle sped quickly through the black void of space. The only sound was the gentle hum of the engines along with the occasional beeping as the pilot flicked and prodded at the console. A woman sat on the seat beside him, one hand pressed against her chin and her elbow resting firmly on the ledge of the view port. Dianah Vi'Dreya watched wide eyed, the stars drifting lazily by in the corners of her vision, as the shuttle crept toward the gigantic mass of metal suspended in space. The Veil was a rather impressive thing to look at and it suited the man she was going to meet incredibly - grand and classy with no shortage of mystery surrounding them. For the entirety of the journey thus far a wide grin had made its home on her face which matched the confidence that had been slowly brewing since the shuttle had arrived.

Dianah slid the straps over her shoulders as they came swooping in to the shuttle bay. There wasn't much point to putting them on though, she was out of her seat before they had even touched the floor. If she had been bouncing with excitement before they landed she was practically cartwheeling with it now. The reason for her excitement wasn't entirely unfounded. The last time she had met Adron Malvern he had encouraged her, or rather forced her, to discover an ability she didn't know she possessed. Not only that, he had enticed her with some very intriguing promises of power, fame and fortune. The latter of the three was something Dianah possessed already but her path to true power was never ending. She would walk it till her feet bled but there was nothing to say she couldn't receive help on her way.

Almost the minute her foot had touched the ground a Magnaguard had appeared to whisk her away to the bridge. He looked like he meant business and Dianah didn't want to keep Adron waiting so, as he power walked through the hallways, Dianah was hot on his heels. She was a little unsure of what their mission would be, but she had come with her Derriphan Armour on regardless. One hand was clutched tightly around the shining silver helmet that completed the garb while the other, entirely out of habit, rested on the hilt of her lightsaber.

When they reached the doors to the bridge the Magnaguard stopped dead and let the doors whoosh open in front of him. Stepping aside for Dianah she half waved a thanks and barreled ahead, her eyes set on the back of her Master. She came to a stop just behind him and cleared her throat, though she already knew he was aware of her presence. Dianah didn't bother to hide the excitment in her voice when she greeted him.

'Hello Adron. Or would you prefer Master now?'

 

[Adron Malvern]

Steps echoed in Adron’s ears as Dianah and her escort moves through the hall that led to the bridge. He had focused The Force on himself so it would enhance his senses to the point where almost every sound that echoed throughout the ship could be heard in it’s full capacity. He could hear the movement of his droid crew, the deep hum of the engines, the trickle of water that flowed through the pipes around him. At first it had been near maddening and almost impossible to decipher. Eventually he focuses on one particular set of sounds and that was what brought him focus. The door parted and the loud sound of metal sliding into a host forced Adron to end the exercise. It was entirely too loud and too close for him to bear. There was an unnoticeable twitch born from the pain the door brought him but he quickly regained himself.

The Magnaguard stepped from Dianah’s path to allow her to approach Adron. His purple optics seemed to dim as he moved into sentry mode, his head moving around to slowly scan the area while his electrostaff remained firmly planted on the deck.

Her voice was like it always was, sweet and tempting, like honey covering a razor she was every bit as deadly as her father. She kept her elegance but her power was undeniable. He remained silent for a moment as if contemplating her words, his gaze never turning from the endless void of space before him.

As a moment came and went he turned to Dianah and gave her a curious expression. “For now, Adron Malvern and Darth Malphas are separate entities. There are benefits to anonymity and we're going to reap them. So yes, Master will due. Outside of this ship do not ever speak my name, especially if we are not in Confederate space.” Adron was born into title and position, so it was no different for him to hold his apprentice to such a standard. “The Veil is capable of moving through the galaxy unseen and unnoticed.” Adron gestured to the deck of the ship before them. “It is the only warship of it's class. However while it can move unseen we will use stealth shuttles to move within a system. We cannot risk a Confederate warship being spotted moving through the galaxy.”

Adron pressed a hand onto Dianah’s shoulder before turning her, gesturing for her to follow him down the hall. “For now this will be our headquarters. We will operate out of this ship. Like I said we must remain unseen but be well heard.” He explained to her as they moved through the halls of The Veil. The interior was pristine and made of a pearl-like metal. “Now. You too will choose a persona to take your place, to move as your puppet while Dianah Vi’Dreya pulls the strings. You will be your greatest agent.” He told her, turning down the main hall.

“Think on this closely while we make our way to Muunilinst.” He said with a certain tone about him.

“Now. It's going to be a few hours until we reach the Muun’s home world. So tell me the extent of your training.” The two of them found themselves in the main hangar of the ship. Throughout the hangar was an array of prototype stealth vessels, each of them matching the exterior design of The Veil. Approaching a terminal, Adron began to tap into it as he waited to hear Dianah’s explanation.
[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah nodded at his words. Master it was. Despite how little he had said on his past, little being nothing at all save for his desire to remain hidden, Dianah could at least deduce that something had happened to make him so afraid of his presence in the Galaxy being discovered. While it wasn't being mentioned much at the moment she was sure ti would come up later or at the very least she would figure it out. She glanced across the vast deck, taking in as much of it as she could. Somehow it was even more impressive than the outside of the ship was. It seemed strange that this ship could move anywhere without being noticed, trying to wrap her head around the science behind it hurt so for now she simply took his word for it.

'Well, color me impressed.'

She managed to interject just before he mentioned the use of stealth shuttles. Stealth seemed to be a key point for him, at least for now, which brought a great wave of relief over Dianah. Stealth was something she could actually do and do with pride. Adron placed a hand on her shoulder and spun her round to face the corridor, staring their meandering journey through the ship. Her gaze darted this way and that way, admiring the shining walls that reflected every bit of light that touched them. A wild grin flashed across her expression, hiding in plain sight was simple to do. You could cover up with name or different clothing but Dianah had a flare for the dramatic. She could do one better than just a name change.

'A new persona sounds like fun. It's been a long time since I played with an entirely new look.'

Dianah lifted her finger to her chin, tapping it gently and making a soft "hmm" sound. Before they had even taken another step her mind was whirring with ideas and the process of skin shifting began. From the top of her head to the tips of her toes her caramel skin began to drain of color and bubble against her skull, leaving behind a paper white complexion that could have rivaled any moon. The thick mass of hair on her head turned fiery red strand by strand, stretching each pinwheel curl till they were as straight as a ruler.

Her full cheeks seemed to cave in on themselves, giving her face a more angular look. A hundred freckles scattered themselves across the bridge of her nose and cheek bones. The last thing to change were her eyes. The deep charcoal flickered and faded into a bright amber, its only comparison in hue being her Father's eyes that had been touched by the darkness. Nothing about the woman that walked quickly beside Adron resembled the one that had, moments ago, been standing beside him on the deck of The Veil.

'My training?' Dianah paused, doing so in both speech and step as they reached the hanger. 'Lets see... My Father taught me telekinesis, I'd say that's by far my strongest ability right now. I can do a few other things, force speed and jump, I know how to do force fear but I've never used it before. I can use a lightsaber but I wouldn't say I'm trained in any particular style. When I was pulled out of the Jen'ari Empire I've pretty much been left to it, until today. I guess you were right to call my power raw when we first met.'

[member=Adron Malvern]

 

[Adron Malvern]

It was an interesting thing to say the least. To watch Dianah shift her natural form into that of some other woman, a woman that he had never even seen, it had been something that brought a smile to the dark lords face.

"Well...well...well. It seems I'm not the only one with his tricks." Although Adron's tone was difficult to read he held an accepting smile across his face. An apprentice with the ability to shift her form would be purely invaluable in his plans to come. In fact, she could prove one of his greatest assets on that task alone. He reached out into the Force and still felt the woman's presence as it had remained undisturbed. No matter how hard she shifted her physical appearance she could not hide who she was in the eyes of The Force. Again Adron would look to the terminal under his hands and tap into it. Only a few moments later a soft beep would erupt from the terminal. Only seconds later a loud click could be heard coming from the nearest shuttle.

"Mind, body, spirit, and reality. These are only a few of the things you can effect with mastery of the Force. We'll start with the mind as it is one of the easiest avenues to bend to your will." He explained, gesturing for Dianah to follow him towards the shuttle. "The mind of the average person is unprotected and ready to receive the will of someone greater, someone like you."

"Through the Force you can plant seeds of doubt to erode your enemies, create shadows of anger and passion where they did not exist, and even rearrange a persons entire thought process to forget you even exist. This requires focus and discipline. If you force your will over them too directly it can end in you damaging their mind. Then they will be useless to you. Do you understand?" He asked, watching as the ramp to the shuttle lowered onto the deck. His hands were clasped behind his back and as he looked back to Dianah he eyed her closely. "Remember, every person in this galaxy exists only to further your needs. Where and how you utilize them is your decision to make." With nothing else to be said he would move into the shuttle and make his way towards the cockpit.

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

The fact that she had earned a smile from him pleased her greatly. There were very few people who found her abilities genuinely impressive or useful considering the extent she could use them to was limited but it always brought a sense of pride to Dianah when someone did. It was one of the rare times she was proud of her maternal heritage and thankful that her Mother had been a shi'ido, otherwise Dianah rarely gave a passing thought to the woman.

'I wouldn't call it a trick, it's more a well honed skill. I have a way to go yet, I'm still a baby in shi'ido terms... Though I did manage to turn into a tree once.'

His swift gesture to follow was met with eagerness by the young woman, who skipped after him quickly. It seemed the man had a never ending amount of sage wisdom to offer and Dianah hung off every word. The premise he was discussing held her attention entirely. Of course she knew a few mind tricks here and there but the idea of changing someone's memories entirely just to suit her needs happened to be more exciting than she could express. Dianah was all about getting her own way and if she could accomplish it easily as that she'd be entirely unstoppable.

'I understand.'

She had thought little on her future save for the fact that she wanted to be great, but every word Adron spoke planted greater things in her mind. There was no reason at all to suggest she could surpass him one day and one day she would. After all, eventually their time together would come to an end. She would become useless to him and likewise him to her. His comment from their previous meeting on that particular fact had been seared permanently into her brain. Dianah didn't doubt that he was aware she was utilizing him just as much as he was her.

Dianah followed behind him as he made his way into the shuttle. She took the liberty of parking herself on the co-pilots chair with the desperate hope that he would't ask her to fly the thing. If there was one thing she knew for a fact that she couldn't do, it was flying.

[member=Adron Malvern]

 

[Adron Malvern]

Once aboard the small starship Adron made his way into the cockpit. Sitting himself down onto the seat he was quick to start all of the ships functions. His hands ran over the switches and buttons according to his memory. While Adron had spent a bit of time as a youth learning how to fly he was far from an expert pilot. He could get by on smaller starships and fighters but larger freighters required a level of skill he did not have the capacity for. As they sat he gestured to the back of the shuttle. It was a fairly long shuttle so the rear was shrouded in shadows, yet when Adron flipped a switch the rear lights came on.

Behind them sat a Muun of significant years. He seemed extremely bruised and partially malnourished yet there was still some life to him. In fact it seemed all of his wounds had been healing. He was bound and gagged in a thick metallic seat that was bolted to the shuttles deck. His name was Sau’ruen and he was actually a well known within the circles of the Intergalactic Banking Clans. He was formerly the Chief Financial Officer for one of their largest branches before he separated from them to make his own business back on the Muun homeworld.

“That is Sau’ruen. He is your second lesson. You see. Sau has graciously donated the entirety of his wealth and estates to my own endeavors. Such a generous man.” As Adron spoke with a rather sarcastic tone he went through the motions of getting their ship into the deeper reaches of space. Once they had left the hangar of The Veil they were soon flitted into Hyperspace.

“Problem is. The old man seemed to forget some key access codes and hes having cold feet about signing it all over to me. So you will help him.” He said, standing from his seat and making his way over to the Muun. Though the alien appeared to be in a deep slumber Adron had fully paralyzed the man through The Force so he was not even capable of remaining conscious. A brief wave of his hand would bring the Muun to life with a thunderous stir.

“W-What?! Where am I? Why di- You!” His voice thundered as he saw Adron’s face beneath the dark cowl he wore. Hatred flowed off the Muun and it washed over the Sith Lord like a fresh shower. The Muun flinched when Adron’s hand rose to place a finger on his tan lips. “Your time talking to me is over Muun. I tried to be diplomatic but now you'll be talking to my apprentice.” Adron would give him a rather rough clap on the shoulder before looking to Dianah with a dark gaze. “If he dies, I lose billions and you will lose more than that. Do not fail.” He said, before turning and stepping behind the Muun, with his hands clasped over his chest.
[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah's gazed followed the tips of his fingers when he motioned to the rear of the shuttle. There was nothing note worthy back there that she could make out, and she was almost about to turn away when the flood of light lit up the area. Dianah raised a single brow, glancing quickly at the silver man she called her Master. She had seen many a Muun before, but never up close. Always on holocalls or on the holonet. She couldn't help but slide out of the chair and walk forward for inspection. They were even weirder the closer she got, though this one was entirely knocked out. Age etched lines into his face, so deep they reminded Dianah of vast valleys. He looked withered and tired and it was clear he'd been there for a long while.

'Sau'ruen...'

The name filtered from her lips the moment his eyes snapped open, Dianah nearly jumped out of her skin. He stirred a little, his cracked voice echoing off the ship walls as he protested. Dianah lent forward, almost nose to nose with the strange looking alien. The Scipian male seemed confused, and more than upset as Adron continued to speak to him. She could feel the malice seeping from his bones and spreading to fill the tiny shuttle, it forced a subtle smile onto Dianah's face.

'Oh, how very kind of you to offer your support, Sau'ruen. My Master appreciates it. Though it's certainly a shame it's had to come to this. I imagine you're useful in more ways than one.'

Dianah lowered herself on the floor and locked her now ocean blue eyes onto the Muun. There was no need to look up at Adron. His crystal clear gaze would only make her nervous, which she already was considering what was riding on getting this right. What did she know about them? They were incredibly good at making financial deals and wouldn't shy away from one that benefited them greatly. They were so invested in being the best business men they could be that they practically spoke in numbers. Dianah pulled a face, scrunching her lips up and sending them sideways as she thought.

'Sau'ruen, since we're going to be business partners I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Nailia.'

A false name wasn't entirely necessary but Dianah had to come up with one anyway. Since she was in the form she'd be using for the duration of their time together she figured she might as well try it out. Adron had already mentioned he'd tried diplomacy and she had no doubt in his skills, but her abilities as a shi'ido would benefit. They had an uncanny ability to project a telepathic field that made people believe their facade. If she introduced herself as a business woman that's what the Muun would believe. Sau'ruen was less than impressed, he rolled his grey eyes up heavily and shook his head. Dianah didn't let it phase her, instead she grasped his chin with her slender fingers and forced him to look at her.

'Let's lay it all out on the table shall we? You're here alive, for the moment. You have a chance to get a good deal out of this and walk away with your life as a bonus. That is, of course, if you're willing to work with me. The codes won't be too difficult for you to remember, I'm sure. Not with the promise that we can share the profits once we put your credits to good use. Consider it an investment in the future, the returns will be more than you could ever imagine.'

Sau'ruen chuckled low. A harsh, disregarding laugh that carried on entirely longer than was necessary. Oh well, it was worth a try. Dianah shrugged her shoulders and stood from the ground, wasting no time surrounding the Muun with the force to lift him from the floor. The airlock door slid open with a hiss as Dianah walked toward it. For a moment the Muun seemed confused until his brain caught up with his body and he began to struggle. A heavy thump sounded out as she threw him unceremoniously onto the cold metal floor.

'What are you doing?!'

Dianah ignored the struggling man, who by now had stood himself up to glare through the view-port at the young woman. All of a sudden his hand went to his throat and he gasped deeply, clutching at the sagging skin surrounding his esophagus. Dianah grinned through the view-port and waved her fingers eccentrically.

'It's okay, you're not dying. I've slowed your metabolism down... Just a teeny bit, but it's enough to make you feel like you can't take a deep enough breath, right? What a way to go... suffocating in space. But for now I'll extend you the courtesy of some time to think my proposal over.'

She span on the heel of her armor and returned to the co-pilots chair. When she sank down into it a hollow click sounded out, followed by sweet tinkling music that filled the shuttle. She placed her feet up onto the console, careful not to smash any buttons with her heavy boots. Her quick eyes flickered over to Adron, examining his expression for any kind of reaction, good or bad. She offered only one sentence to explain herself.

'Patience is a virtue.'

[member=Adron Malvern]

 

[Adron Malvern]

From the shadows Adron watched Dianah fill her task as well as could be suspected. The Dark Side of the Force was a powerful tool and the woman seemed to know this well. Yet her first approach had been one of Diplomacy. As she spoke the Dark Lord's head would shake softly, not in disappointment, merely in the thought that the act would not work in the end. Muun's were a rather resilient race who place their money and clout over all things, even their lives. The Muun's outbreak caused Adron to sneer softly. He would rather sever the alien's head from his body and be done with the business, yet he did not have the technological connections to fully take over the businessman's corporation without the proper access codes.

A deep low chuckle began to erupt from the Muun's lips and Adron's hands went behind his back. As The Force flowed between them Adron's voice would move into the mind of his apprentice, echoing softly as he spoke through an unheard voice. 'Never let your opponent make a fool of you.' He warned, before instinctively moving past the Muun and back towards the cockpit.

When the Muun became suspended off of his feet Adron arched a brow in curiosity. It was not until the airlock opened that he realized exactly what the woman was up to. He could not help but chuckle in amusement as the Muun too realized Dianah, or Nailia's plan. Adron did not need to see anymore and instead turned back to the cockpit, taking his seat and glancing down at the Navicomputer. When Dianah sat down he realized she was already becoming a bit too sure of her own abilities. "You will not always have the luxury of time." He chided before leaning back into his seat and exhaling softly. "Nailia….Interesting choice. Like I said earlier, all great Sith choose a moniker that will live far past their own death. Your father's is Metus. The Sith Emperor's is Carnifex, and mine is Malphas. Have you thought of this yet?" He asked interestedly.

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah shook her head in response to his criticism.

'No, you're right. But when you do have time I'm a firm believer in using it. It's a powerful weapon if you know what you're doing. I can always go back and tell him for every number he gives me I'll let him keep one of his fingers. But I doubt that will work.'

Her head turned slowly to face the view-port that allowed them to see the vast expanse of space. The start streamed by quickly as they blasted their way to Muunilinst. She pondered his question for a moment. It's not like she hadn't thought about it before but nothing really stood out to her every time she tried.

'I haven't, no. Nailia means the achiever, the attainer, the successful one. I didn't pick it for that reason though, just the first thing that popped into my head. I suppose I was waiting for something more fitting to jump out at me. How did you end up picking Malphas?'

[member=Adron Malvern]

 

[Adron Malvern]

Adron didn't bother to respond to Dianah's comment on initial statement. Instead his mind lingered on her words for the briefest of moments. Clearing his throat he glanced over to her while arching a brow. "I didn't." He revealed, glancing down at the Navicomputer once again. He lifted his eyes from the computer before realizing he had left the origin behind his own Sith moniker in darkness. That was how it would stay, The origin of his title was none of his apprentice's business and she could likely find it from her father easily enough. However this was one thing he was not keen to discuss.

"You know it was this type of menuevers that led the Jedi Order of the Clone Wars era to ruin. I wonder just how long it took for the Sith of old to destroy the thousands of Jedi that were scattered over The Republic. Studies tell us it took less than a year for eighty percent of the Jedi to die. A year. Thousands of Jedi Masters all extinguished like a flame." He chuckled dryly as his blue eyes stared out over the flashing lights of hyperspace. "Pride and naivety was the Jedi's downfall....and even the Sith's in the end. To succeed we have to be a cut above the rest. We must be faster, smarter, and even more ruthless." It soon became apparent that Adron was informing himself of this just as much as he was his apprentice.

"Now get me my codes." He said, turning to Dianah and staring at her intently.

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Silver blue eyes watched the man named Malphas carefully. He didn't pick his own name? Dianah was under the assumption most Sith Lords did. Either way it appears he wasn't willing to share the story. No matter, she could find out later. Metus would be a well of information on the silver man. He was getting impatient either way, made clear by the speech that followed after his brief moment of silence. The tone in his voice was similar to the one Jaron would use when she was being far to eccentric and boisterous for his liking. Adron clearly wasn't willing to take risks. Men were so impatient.

'Right... codes.'

Dianah glanced down at the console, slowly reading up on information about the poor soul trapped inside the airlock. Financially important of course, CEO of his own business. Nothing she wouldn't expect of a typical Muun. Her eyes lit up suddenly and she lunged herself forward from the chair. A wife and two children. Perfect. Her nimble fingers danced over the console, searching and searching for an image of his family. When she found it it cast her face in a bright white glow and brought a beaming smile to her face. Dianah turned her head to Adron, shot him a quick wink and turned to walk to the back of the ship once more.

A hollow rapping sound echoed through the metal prison she'd put Sau'ruen in. If it were at all possible his skin had turned even more grey. His eyes had glazed over and he had slumped himself into a corner, resigned to taking deep breaths to try and fill his restricted lungs.

'Sau'ruen... Are you ready to make a deal?'

The Muun shook his head sluggishly. Of course. Why would he be willing? If he died nothing would be lost. He had a son to take over his business, a son who likely knew the codes just as well as he did. Dianah rolled her eyes heavily and, using a quick whip of force she snapped his head in her direction, found his graying eyes with her own blue ones and offered him a sickly sweet smile.

'In that case I have a surprise for you. I didn't want to use it but here we are.'

She raised her finger to indicate she'd be back in a minute, though it wasn't really for anyone in particular. At this point Sau'ruen could only concentrate on trying to breath. Dianah slipped behind the view port, ensuring her entire body was out of line of sight. She'd never shifted into a Muun before but the internal organs weren't nearly as important as the outer layer. Grey skin, tall, weirdly shaped heads, grey eyes. The tallness might be a problem but luckily she was imitating a child, not a fully grown adult. A wicked smile formed over the incredibly thin lips of the Muun she had shifted into, though it didn't have quite the same effect coming from someone who wasn't really human.

Dianah returned to her place in front of the viewport looking like an entirely different species than the one she'd left as. Fortunately her shi'ido telepathy could aid in this matter again. Sau'ruen was likely struggling to breath far to much to concentrate on the finer details like her missing finger or half formed ear, but the projection she pressed onto him would save her from being spotted.

'DAD!'

Her voice was different, both higher and lower at the same time. The tiny fist she lifted up to pound on the view port as at least half the size of the one she used before and definitely a might thinner. The Muun trapped inside the airlock slowly shifted his head toward the noise, partly out of recognition and partly because all Father's do when that name is called out. His eyes went instantly wide, instantly filled with terror only a parent fearing for their child's life could know. There was a brief moment were Sau'ruen was lost, he didn't know what to do with himself. The only thing he could do was struggle to stand and press his hands against the clear glass that blocked him from what he thought was his son.

'Rin, what are you doing here?'

The Muun's voice was thin and he wheezed every word out with incredible effort. Dianah's plan was working. She could see the fear in his eyes and feel it in the air, if it were at all possible she would have breathed it in and fed off it like a grand feast.

'They captured me... They said they'd ki-'

If there was on trait she was particularly proud of it was her acting ability. The young Muun she was impersonating cut his speech off quickly, and from where Sau'ruen was standing it would look like he was dragged forcefully away from the view port. From behind the door it was a different story, Dianah simply stepped to the side, jerking her body a little more than necessary to indicate an aggressive pull. The change back to her other form took less time than the change back. She was back in front of the airlock before Sau'ruen had taken another shaky breath. The frustration and anger on his face had built up so quickly a twisted glare had formed on his expression.

'WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY SON?'

He wheezed out and weakly pounded his fist onto the clear glass. Dianah shrugged her shoulders and raised a single, well pruned eyebrow.

'Nothing, as long as you give us what we want. Originally what I wanted was for us to be friends but I can see that's not going to happen and I've had to result to threats. The codes, please. Otherwise you and your family will never know the sweet smell of credits again. After all, a legacy can't continue if both the successors are dead.'

Dianah raised her hand dramatically and brought smacking down onto the solid metal door. Sau'ruen snapped his head toward her.

'You have five seconds to give me what I want otherwise I'll start chopping little bits off him and posting them back to your wife. Five... Four...'

Sau'ruen looked desperate, he shifted in his spot and danced on his unsteady feet. Dianah was nearing the end of her count. She hadn't expected him to last this long and she had no plan for what would happen when she got to one.

'Two... O-..'

'THE CODES ARE 201373 and 05407. PLEASE DON'T HURT MY SON.'

Dianah squealed, a delighted sound that echoed off the cool metal walls for a long minute. Success was something she often found herself celebrating but when Adron set her a task the positive emotion was doubled. He always managed to provide her with a challenge that was genuinely difficult for her to accomplish. Dianah was just about to turn back to her Master, hand half raised to snap the now entirely useless prisoner's neck when the same deep, mocking chuckle came from Sau'ruen's mouth.

'They're useless anyway. You need finger print ID and retina scans.'

This time it was Dianah's turn to laugh. She was still laughing when she turned to face Sau'ruen in his tiny cell. Her eyes had shifted back to the dull color she had used for his son and one of her hands had bubbled over into a pale grey. Just as she reached the view port her face shifted back into the face Sau'ruen had dubbed “Rin”.

'I'm sure that won't be a problem.'

[member=Adron Malvern]

 

[Adron Malvern]

He watched the exchange with a great deal of interest and even a bit of pride. She was performing perfectly. Dianah had learned to seek out her enemies fears and use them to create cracks of doubt and weakness. From there the iron resolve of a businessman was easily shattered. Adron stood from his own seat to watch the display with a bit of interest. It did not take long before the Muun had delivered the codes, loud enough that Adron could hear even from the cockpit. Without skipping a beat the man produced a small datapad from his ship's console.

Each code was entered into the datapad and immediately a soft beep went off. They were the proper codes. What neither the Muun nor Dianah knew is that Adron had already received the codes from Sau'ruen's board of directors. The same board of directors who had offered Adron all the information he needed to push the Muun out of his own company. Business was business. All it took was an extra ten percent raise to each board member and they kindly gave the Sith everything he needed. including Sau'ruen's personal information.

Adron approached the airlock and spoke up just as Dianah had fallen silent. "Actually. That won't be necessary. You see to seize control of your financial accounts I need your codes. Codes I already had, but needed to verify before I went forward with my plan." He explained. He looked to Dianah with a nod, a silent well-done for the apprentice. "You see if I had been tricked by your board of directors and they gave me the wrong codes then I'd have been in a tough position and would need to keep you alive. However, now that I know they are authentic your life no longer matters. As for the ID and Retina, that is only needed for the main system to produce directives. Which I can do through your board of directors. You see, Sau'ruen, you were pushed out of your company before you even fell into my hands. All of this was just dotting the I's and crossing the T's." Adron placed a hand on the man's shoulder before speaking softy. "You have made a great contribution to my plans. Thank you."

The Muun was stunned silent, yet in the next moment he blurted out. "But what about my s-" His words were cut off as Adron's hand fell over his chest. The Muun began to break into a cold sweat as his grey hands rushed to his chest. There was a violent stir as he collapsed onto the ground and cried out incoherently. Using The Force Adron had closed several arteries that fed blood through out his body. He had given the man a heart attack.

Clearing his throat as the Muun's eyes rolled into the back of his head Adron smiled softly before looking to Dianah. "Ah....finally silent. Now, we have a board of directors to eliminate. I have no intention of being betrayed by these things." He waved a hand towards the deceased Muun before turning back to the cockpit. "We should be there soon." He muttered, sitting back down into his seat.

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah remained silent as Adron spoke, her part in this was over. Normally her eccentric mind would be whirring with ways to further the facade but she was entirely different around Adron. If their first meeting hadn't taught her enough about the man and his ways, their second had definitely done so. At first she was taken a little by surprise by the knowledge that the codes had already been shared, but the more she thought about it the more she realized it made perfect sense. This man was too calculated to leave something this important to the last minute. She glanced up at him as he nodded, a thin smile forming on her pale face partly in response to the praise and partly in admiration. In a way, though their mannerisms and processes were entirely different, he was a lot of what she aspired to be.

She felt the swell in the force before she could lay her eyes on the source of it. In the split second it took to cut the Muun's life short Dianah could hear every pulse his heart made as it clawed to survive. She could see the muscles in his chest expand and strain against the overwhelming pressure. The tension in the air was almost palpable as she waited for him to draw that final, shaking breath. When it came relief washed over his face, though it was only momentarily, before he slumped to the floor for the final time. When she quickly considered the past few hours Dianah could only feel a little proud of herself and rather in awe of her Master.

As she settled into the seat beside him her brow raised, giving her a quizzical expression. 'Board of directors for what company?' When she had read the information available on the now lifeless Muun she had neglected to dive into the extent of his business. It hadn't seemed important at the time and for the task at hand. 'Will you dissolve it or keep it? Who will you replace them all with if you keep it? Why do you even need the money?' Dianah reeled of the questions, not really aware that there wasn't a pause between them to allow for a response. She hadn't entirely considered whether he would be willing to share that information either.

[member=Adron Malvern]

 

[Adron Malvern]

They continued their flight through Hyperspace and as suspected Dianah had opened up to another line of questioning. Adjusting the cowl over his head he glanced over to the woman with a quizzical arch of the brow. She was thirsty for knowledge which was important in a Sith apprentice, but more importantly she was asking the right questions and sparing the unnecessary ones. Tapping the terminal in front of him he paused to consider his reply, his blue eyes turned to the flowing maw before them as he thought. A few more seconds passed before Adron spoke out simply.

"The White Star banking corporation is a widely utilized cross-galaxy financial institute. They specialize in banking, trade, shipping, and stock brokering. They're a loose conglomerate of baking companies and credit unions that recently merged into a single corporation. They've been in the middle of liquidating most of their assets to prepare for a full rebranding."

Adron gestured back to the corpse in the airlock before continuing. "Our esteemed guest was elected President and Chairman of the board. However the consolidation of power was just to make the transition smooth, it was not supposed to be permanent. However, now that I can replace the Muun I can take the company's assets for my own. As for the board of directors? They're fate was decided the moment they turned on him. I didn't even offer them much and they sold him out like an old coat."

The final question was the one to remain unanswered, in fact Adron peered at his apprentice as if the answer to the question should be obvious. He said no more as the navicomputer began to beep softly. "The Board of Directors is based out at Muunilist, at the old company headquarters. This will be a fast movement as I don't quite like being in Sith Imperial space. At all." The final words were spoke through clenched teeth as the man took hold of the controls. In an smooth transition the small shuttle would drop from Hyperspace, the surrounding of stars and planets that flitted by in an array of lights slowed to their normal static appearance.

The moment they pulled out of Hyperspace, the two would take notice of the Sith warships that loomed over the planet. Silently Adron plugged in a series of codes. Since the world was not restricted their should have been no problem approaching it but he was not the type to take risks. "The Sith Empire uses different sets of security codes. You'd be surprised how cheaply they can be acquired. Just always be sure you have them validated and don't give them a chance to change the codes on you."

They loomed closer and closer to the Sith Fleet however it seemed that they had not been discovered. Once he received a green indication light Adron increased their acceleration and made their way down to the planet. "The Sith are tightening their hold on all their planets. Soon little intrusions like this will be twice as hard and three times as costly."

Once they began their descent onto the planet Adron seemed to breath a sigh of relief. Had they been found out it could have ended very badly. Though The Veil stood by to proceed with an extraction that would surely end in hostilities between the CIS and The Sith Empire. The sea of clouds parted to reveal a mountainous terrain below them. At first glance it would appear there was a small town embedded in the mountains, but it was quickly apparent that it was a large corporate building that spanned the difference of two of the mountains. "White Star was already an extremely wealthy corporation. With their newest transition they have advanced into a corporate superpower. One we are taking control of."

Adron's shuttle made for a landing pad that was just beneath the peak of the mountain. As he brought the shuttle in for a landing there was a small security team waiting to receive him. As the shuttle touched down Adron began to mask his presence in The Force. A cloak of anonymity fell over him as he stood up from the cockpit. "Let's go." He turned out of the shuttle, passing the airlock which held the Muun's corpse. He should have that removed soon, before he began to stink more than he already did. The loading ramp to the shuttle would lower onto the deck, revealing the eight men in black and gold security uniforms. One of them stood forward, presenting himself as the Captain of the team. "Darth Amphara it is our pleasure to receive an emissary of The Sith Empire. I am Captain Oros, head of security and third seat on the board." Adron glanced to Dianah with a small smirk, she would likely find it amusing as well. Even his moniker had an alias on this world.

"Captain, the Emperor is not interested in your pleasantries. Take me to the meeting room." The man offered a stiff, militant salute before turning to lead the duo inside. "Of course, my lord." As they walked Adron's voice would slowly creep into Dianah's mind.

'The Board does not know I am the man who they sold their chairman to. They believed I am an emissary from the Empire, come to inspect their holdings.' He revealed to her through the silent voice of The Force.

'Make sure your actions seem spread out and discombobulated to your enemies. That way it will be harder for them to understand just what happened. Making it easy for you to do it again.'

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah remained entirely silent as Adron spoke, preferring to keep her vision trained on the gleaming light streaking by as they headed toward their destination. There was little for her to say or ask once all was said and done. She wasn't particularly interested in questioning his motives further, Adron did as Adron does. The only thing she opened her mouth to reply to was his statement that they were to be quick. 'Fast it is.' Her hands reached up, scraping the long fiery red hair into a neat pony tail as the warships faded into view. Sith Imperial space wasn't a problem to Dianah, she was aware of the tense situation the two factions shared between each other but none of it had directly affected her. She felt nothing but awe at the size of the ships.

The sigh of relief did not pass her by, but she was much to focused on the city growing ever nearer. As she lent forward to look closer Dianah realized it wasn't in fact a city. It was a complex that was nestled neatly into the gap between two mountains. Impressive. In a similar fashion to Adron, as she stood from the co-pilots chair, a cloak of force surrounded her and turned her invisible to any prying eyes. Waiting for them outside was a security guard, all pasty and pale at the arrival of her Master. She pressed her rose petal lips together lightly as they addressed him as Darth Amphara. It was nice to see Adron did indeed have a sense of humor behind his serious demeanor.

The voice of her master trickled into her mind, filling it to the brim with his silver tone. You got it, Darth Amphara. Since she was unable to laugh out loud Dianah let her chortle ring through her mind and into her Masters. She mostly stuck by his side, she would keep quiet until she was needed.

[member=Adron Malvern]

 

[Adron Malvern]

The Security Captain led Adron and Dianah into an elevator, taking them to the main complex where they were expected. The main hall wass practically empty, except for the occasional officeworker who had not yet cleared out his space. The Captain seemed totake notice of Adron's deep gaze that went into each of the empty office rooms.

"As you know we are in the process of moving to a new location. The Company had to liquify all assets before that could be done so most of our holdings here are being moved to smaller businesses until we restaff." The man spoke with a somewhat shaky voice, to where Adron could not tell if it was fear or merely some form of a speech impetiment. Not that he cared, he would continue to give off the cold disposition of a Sith Lord under The Sith Empire's jurisdiction, it was actually a bit of fun.

"A thousand people could fill this hall and it would mean nothing to me." He hissed, attempting to portray a short temper. Not something that was all too difficult for him.

He could sense Dianah's amusement, the woman was certainly getting her fill of Adron's tricks this evening. He would have to be mindful not to show her too much too soon. Something that was not easy to do with Adron's method of grooming an apprentice.

They finally arrived in an atrium that sat in the furthers corner of the building. It seemed to have been built in a natural dip in the mountain, giving the board members an interesting view of the lands surrounding them. The entire room was made of glass, to where you felt as if you were walking on air. A group of Muun's stood in the center of the room, speaking in hushed voices as the Captain of the Security team paused his advance, He cleared his throat, audibly so that the group would know that they had arrived. The Muun's immediately fell silent, peering over to the group searchingly. They gave Adron and Dianah worried, almost fearful looks but dared not make eye contact. A few others lined the room, most of which were human, however there was a Twi'lek and even a Kaminoan in attendence. How....diverse.

A long, metal table stood behind the Muun's. Hovering over it was a holographic symbol that served as the companies logo. Something else that would have to be changed.

"Darth Amphara. It is my esteem pleasure to welcome you to Muunilist. I am Rax'oer Kul. Fifth seat on the board. May I have something fetched for you? You must be famished after your travels. Perhaps a meal or even a massage from one of our-"

"Sit." Adron's voice was loud and commanding, and his eyes fell over the entire room. Watching as the various members of the board moved as if hounds commanded by their owner. Once they had all taken a seat and effectively silenced themselves, Adron's hand would give the slightest wave. The only entrance into the room was sealed as the doors slammed shut, a loud click errupting in the room.

"I count....Eleven of you. Are there not twelve members on this board?"

They all exchanged silent glances before Adron continued. "Where is Sau'ruen?" He asked, in a considerably inquisitive tone.

Again, silence fell over them before a Twi'lek raised his pale blue hand. "Uhm, he has gone missing my lord. He had been for....almost a week."

Adron's eyes fell on the man for a shallow moment, just long enough to watch him sink back into his seat. It was always so amusing, to see these men who believed themselves to be on top, diminished by the mere glance of a Sith Lord. "Yes, I suppose he is...And why has this not been reported to The Imperial Security Division?"

This time his question was not answered, at least not with words. A thick fog of fear and caution filled the room to the point where Adron nearly let out a laugh at their obvious shift in atmosphere. "Because you'd like to keep things internal?" He sugggested, eyeing one of the Muun's closely. The Muun met his eyes for a fraction of a second, nodding his slender head slowly at Adron's lead.

"Ah....Well not to worry. I do not care about your Presidents whereabouts. I do not even care if you idiots sold him out just to get him out of the way."

"My Lord!" One of the Muun stood, likely attempting to deny Adron's accusation, however Adron did not seem to be having any of it. His hand rose to silence the man before his eyes fell over his apprentice. "Kill him." He ordered her, gesturing to the Muun before his eyes fell over the rest of the board members. "Allow me to show you what happens when you speak against me."

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah remained silent, listening to the exchange between her Master and the one sent to represent this business. Adron seemed to play the role of the straight and narrow Sith supremely well. His short tempered manner and quick, sharp words reminded Dianah of her Father and the many Sith that passed through the doors of Sinner's Well. The Muun who had greeted them seemed visibly nervous as they worked their way through the corridors. Dianah kept herself close by Adron's side, allowing herself fleeting glances at the workers slowly packing their things into boxes inside their thin cubicles.

Eventually they reached the atrium, where they were met with the sight of eleven men. All of them seemed to be quivering in their boots, barely able to meet either herself or Adron in the eye. She relished in it. The kind of presence that made fear take hold of you just by simply entering a room was something she had longed for since leaving home. Despite the fact that they didn't exactly fear Dianah herself the feeling was beyond words. Adron spoke, his voice carrying further than it had any right too. With his question every member of the board seemed to fall silent. She struggled to fight back another smile, Adron was toying with them.

She drew her gaze to the impressive view as he spoke. Though she found the situation extremely amusing she managed to keep the deadpan expression that had taken hold of her from the moment they'd stepped off the shuttle. One of the board members shouted out in protest to Adron's accusation. Dianah was impressed with his ability to readily lie despite his fear, it seemed it was a grave mistake to make. His bravery would be his undoing.

Adron looked at her and, with one simple word, commanded her. Dianah did not need to be asked twice. In the short space between command and reaction Dianah's mind whirred with a thousand and one ideas. Her eccentric side screamed out to be as flamboyant as possible, show Adron just how Sith like you can be, but at the same time Adorn didn't seem to be the type to feel impressed at such a tacky display of power. Something told her he would appreciate the finesse of her chosen method. Dianah put both of her hands behind her back, moving her head a fraction of an inch so her chocolate brown eyes locked onto the Muun in front of her.

She could feel his fear. With one deep breath it filled her lungs, she could practically taste it on her tongue. He was waiting, no.... he was expecting something violent to occur. He expected her to dive forward, saber in hand to swing at some exposed body part, but nothing of the sort came. Instead Dianah allowed the intense silence to fall over the room. So quite was the atmosphere that you could hear the sound of the Muun's clothes scraping against one another as he shifted nervously in his seat. It happened suddenly. The greying skin stretched tight over his thin body began to bubble, violently. The Muun opened his mouth and, in all honesty, she had expected a scream to erupt from it, but all that could be heard was a soft hiss and a rather aggressive gurgle.

The stench came next. The unmistakable smell of burning flesh, but there seemed to be no fire anywhere, no indication of a heat any higher than room temperature. The concentration on Dianah's face was etched deeply, she could feel the force swelling and raging to break free of the small cell that was the atrium. As the Muun's eyes rolled back into his head her own icy blue ones had turned into a volatile shade of amber, remarkably like her Fathers. A minute went by, a minute was all she needed. The Muun slumped forward. His skin had shifted from grey to charcoal black, his head seemed to be misshapen and swollen like a balloon blown too big. Dianah had cooked him from the inside out.

[member=Adron Malvern]

 

[Adron Malvern]

An amused smile crept over Adron's face as he looked at the result of his command. It was rare to see a Force user with such a mastery of commanding the elements. It was no simple task, even Adron struggled with powers of such a nature. He said nothing as the Muun's charred being fell forward lifelesly. Rather than speak he made his way over to the dead body, the heavy slap of his boots against the floor seemed to be enough to drive some of the board members mad. Once he reached the dead body his hand wrapped around what was left of the Muun's neck, pulling it from the table and displaying his carcass for the others to see. "This is what will happen to each of you if my words are not heeded." He explained, before tossing the dead Muun's torso back on the table.

"Each of you has a code that gives you partial access to your company's system and accounts. With these codes you can arrange meetings, order deliveries, and even monitor your employees. The more codes input, the more control you have, correct?" His eyes fell on a younger Twi'lek whose words were caught in his throat upon trying to answer. Adron patted the man's shoulder firmly as he moved past them. "You will all enter your codes into the terminal and completely unlock your systems." Adron made his way to the head of the table, where he guessed the President was most likely to be placed. After setting himself down in the seat, he would look to the shock faces with an almost bored expression. "I see, we need another demonstration." He turned to Dianah but only a moment later each of the board members were entering their codes, not daring to face a death like the one their counterpart had just experienced.

Adron could not help but let out an amused chuckle as the men rushed to enter their codes. Once each of them had entered in, Adron looked down to the terminal before him. With so many codes before him it prompted him to lock them all out, in case they were attempting to subvert the system. It seemed the former president was just as wary as he should have been.

His own hand went down to the terminal as he entered the code the Muun had given him.

"System open. Accounbts open. Credentials accepted." A feminine voice called out from the terminal and this sparked a mass of confusion among the board members. Several of them began to speak in worried tones as they realized their own codes had been wiped and were no longer useful. Adron stared at the sea of information thay passed before him, before looking to his apprentice [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] with an amused look. "Look at that. Seems our financial situation just improved." His open hand curled into a fist as all around the room the board members fell silent. Most gasped for breath or reached to their throat, letting out shallow gasps for air. None found a breath, and in moments all over the room the board members would collapse, dead. All the while, Adron's crystal blue eyes began to turn an odd shade of amethyst.

"Well. Welcome to the Malvern Banking Corporation, Lady Vi'Dreya. It seems you've just been named the President of our little company." Standing up from the terminal he tapped a few things in before closing it out and looking back to his apprentice. "We're leaving." He said, making his way for the doorway. Adron glanced back to Dianah as he moved through the threshold, eyeing her closely. "It will take a few months for me to completely wash the company and restructure it. It has to appear that the company split into several different smaller subsidaries. Then most of them will disappear while Adron Malvern buys the last of them for a cheap price. From there we will conveniently run across several banking companies to pull into our own. In less than a year I'll move a multi-trillion credit industry out of Sith space and into ours without anyone even noticing."

[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Maintaining her straight face was simple, but inside the young sith was blushing with a sense of pride at the result of her hard work. Adron's boots thudding across the floor did surprise her somewhat. Her eyes trailing him as he crossed the distance to the body was the only reaction she seemed to give. Dead matter always made the most interesting noises when touched. The body in Adron's hand did just that and the look of disgust that spread through the host of directors was incredibly exhilarating. For a split second Dianah allowed a grin to break through her stone exterior.

She was poised and ready to go, her mind switched on the moment Adron mentioned another demonstration. Unsurprisingly though, fear and threats were quite effective motivators. The room filled with the shrill sound of the keypad as each board member typed in their codes. Adron was next and last, followed by the soothing sound of a woman confirming their success. Though the victory was only partially hers, the satisfaction was immense. Tucked away in the back of her mind some part of Dianah wondered how it must feel for Adron.

Watching carefully proved itself a benefit when all of the board members suddenly turned mute. Half had their mouths agape, the other half seemed to be clutching at their throats. Dianah found herself holding her own breath as she watched the light slip from each of their eyes, one by one. As her eyes scanned the carnage Adron's words floated into her ears. Impressed by the display of power she almost missed what he said in regards to the company. Her head snapped in his direction once her mind had finally caught up. Without thinking, she spoke.

'I've never run a business in my entire life.' Entire life was a bit of a stretch, but drama was her forte. She wasn't sure if it was right to admit her lack of knowledge, but she'd rather admit it and save him a potential disaster than muddle through. Without allowing any time for him to interject she followed up quickly. 'I'm willing to learn.' Adron was already half way to the door and Dianah was hot on his heels. Commenting on how genius his plan was seemed a little moot, he already knew. 'Do you think they'll notice?' It hardly seemed to matter if the Sith Empire noticed or not, but she did wonder. Considering the eleven dead bodies they had just left behind.

[member=Adron Malvern]