Moving Shop. ((one month ago))

[Ordo]

He didn't like having to do this but it had to be done. He wore no armor this time as he loaded all the company data into his M1-A8 astromech and a stack of datacards. The work was that of a few minutes before he fried the system on Taris.

He didn't know how long before or even if the Mandalorians, his vode would attack the company, but he couldn't take chances. He had too much invested in the designs of another ship for that. He had sent a message to someone he had heard had space available for a office and R&D area. While his employees were busy moving other key items. Stock and factories were being moved as he did his part.

He moved to a docking ring that led to the only Kandosii-type dreadnought he would take with him. He only hoped the contact would be available. He lifted his comlink to his lips as he walked onto his ship in the blue engineers coveralls.

"This is Jasper Ar'klim requesting a meeting with [member="Selka Ventus"]." He said, if velok's memory served he would have a bargaining chip there and at least a chance to barter if not.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ordo"]

Jasper Ar'klim was a name she knew, not of herself and not from the part of her that was seven hundred years old. It took her a couple of replays before the tenor of the voice clicked. She double-checked with a news clip or two before she responded.

"Master Ar'klim-" She savored the ambiguity of the title, even as she found herself pondering the various circumstances that might have put him on her trail. She'd masterminded the Deicide Oculus, a weapon designed for use against him -- had Rave used it and failed? Had Isolda-

"Master Ar'klim, I'll be on the Nexus for the next several weeks. I'd be pleased to meet with you at your convenience."

 

[Ordo]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

"Understood." He said simply, "I will come alone in a YT-2000."

He was wary. He knew more than he would like, it seemed she knew him too. It wasn't a surprise, not at all, but he would have to be aware of what he was walking into.

"And please, Jasper, or Mr. Ar'klim is fine."

He entered his ship and within the hour they had jumped to Contruum of all places. He would then take his old YT-2000 and jump to the Nexus. It wouldn't take long at all. His ship had one of the fastest stock hyperdrives in the galaxy, 800 years ago.

....

The small disc shaped ship would drop from hyper space and send legitimate IFF of the personal freighter of one Jasper Ar'klim out of Okyaab VI.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ordo"]

Traffic control welcomed Master Ar'klim's freighter aboard the large portion of prime Nexus territory that pledged allegiance to Silk. Qo'saarai tuk'ata in uniform -- Sith Hounds, intelligence gleaming in their eyes, with opposible thumbs and bipedal locomotion -- ushered Ar'klim to Selka's office. As the door opened, Selka was struck by a similarity between Ar'klim and the qo'saarai, not just in their bulky construction, but in their physical attitude. Apex predators with self-control, inactive simply because they saw no reason to strike.

"Welcome to the Tion Hegemony Trade Nexus, Jasper." The door shut behind him. "My name is Velok. How can I help you?"

 

[Ordo]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

Ordo followed the creatures without hesitation. His grey-green eyes appraised and checked the physiology as habit so if he needed the fight would be short. He didn't intend violence that wasn't why he had come, but the warrior in him couldn't help it. He looked back as the creatures left and watched the door close behind him, a slight smile crossed his eyes more than his scarred lips as he looked to the woman. his eyes squinted briefly as he, like he had done with the hounds, appraised her briefly. A s\lender attractive woman, young comparatively, but holding the air of one not opposed to doing what she had to, in order to get her way, a predator of a different kind perhaps? She spoke her casual tone saying as much about her character as the subtle glint in her dark eyes. Ordo had a knack for reading people and she was at her ease, her expression said she was appraising him just as much as he was endeavoring to do her. Velok? She held very few cues to indicate a lie, nor did she seem to be making a joke, and when it came to the old whipid, he didn't write her off immediately as suffering from delusions.

"Velok?" He said stepping forward closer to the woman's desk, "A bold claim, Miss. If your Velok, at least your looks have improved dramatically. May I sit?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ordo"]

"Please." She indicated the chair. "Jasper, audacity has always been my stock in trade. I was never the most intelligent or the most powerful. I'm just more willing to do things than anyone you've ever met.

"So. Jasper. If you're done complimenting this frail and jawless humanoid form, what can I do for you?"

 

[Ordo]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

Ordo thought for a moment and decided questions were pointless and he had very little time to waste on idle curiosity. He sat and rested his tired back against the back rest.

"As you likely know," He began, "I've not made many friends lately, I need to relocate. I had meant to ask for space within Tion to set up offices, a research and development and a small communications station to house one of my MTI supercomputers."

He looked at the woman and couldn't help but wish he had worn his armor, but that was more recognizable than his own face, so it must remain on the ship.

"Is that possible...Velok?" He asked finally.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ordo"]

"It's possible." She held up a finger. "Not probable, but possible. I'm not playing with you. The Tionese Powers That Be pride themselves on discretion, nonintervention, being good neighbours -- this would have to be done openly, but in such a way that nobody had cause to comment."

She sat back in the chair, eyes lidded in thought. "How publicly do you want your name associated with your company, and how loyal is your company to you, as of now?"

 

[Ordo]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

"I've already removed myself publically. Other than clandestine arranged meetings I'm little more than a shadow. They are loyal however, most of them are my clan, and the rest are paid well and even better provided for."

Ordo thought for a moment about just how much he was willing to divulge to this being Velok or not.

"I have my Son running the company with some other contracted employees at the top of key divisions and my riduur runs our subsidiary."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ordo"]

"That's a sufficient degree of separation, I think." She leaned back in her chair and watched him over her interlaced hands. After a moment, she cleared her throat. "I believe I can see to it that MandalTech gets access to a full five percent of the Tion Trade Nexus, once the Nexus' rental properties open. Five percent is a very large share; Tion won't hand it out to just anyone. It should be more than enough space for you to relocate. Would this suit your needs, Jasper?"

 

[Ordo]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

Ordo looked at the woman and weighed his options. He had to remind himself that the face and mind of the woman were much different. He had always had trouble trusting women, it always came far easier than he would like.

"That is more than suitable and more than expected or deserved." he shifted his weight breifly and laced his thick fingers together over his abdomen, "and what is the cost of this kindness your paying me? I'm not fool enough nor greedy enough to assume i don't owe you."

He was calm and coverstational about it. No animosity or aggression in his tone or expression only the ease of two people talking about the weather.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ordo"]

"Jasper, you know what I do. You likely know that I set up gamepieces far ahead of schedule. For now, I can be satisfied with the leverage I'll earn for this in the Silk sphere. Someday, I'll ask you for a favor, and by your reputation you're not the sort to back out on an obligation."

She smiled faintly.

"I must confess, though -- I have an insatiable curiosity. How did you cover your identity as the Dark Lord for your Mandalorian career, your training under Rekali? Or was that a later development?"

 

[Ordo]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

Ordo blinked. Curiosity was the least of what he believed Velok was. Ordo offered a grin that twisted his scar mapped face oddly.

"I didn't hide it." He said simply, "they never bothered to look. However, as far as being a Dark Lord...that was a late development."

He rested his elbows on the armrest of the chair as he looked at the woman.

"I have a tendency toward curiosity myself and I have a question about Contruum." He had no ulterior motive but he had noticed something that still didn't still well, "the force wound I found there. Your doing or another?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ordo"]

"Another. The name Odium has come up once or twice. I owe him a question or two myself, whoever he is -- one of the One Sith, I'm told. Perhaps you could clarify that point for me."

 

[Ordo]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

Ordo nodded. He had expected Velok to know. Now to see it through.
"Odium is...not a typical animal, he associates with the One Sith but I know first hand he was humbled by a certain bevy of force spirits and has found a way to shield himself or filter what the rest can sense. Very independant. I'm not surprised." Ordo pursed his lips and leaned forward, "The One Sith....what do you think of them?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ordo"]

"That depends entirely on what you, currently, think of them."

 

[Ordo]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

"I think we'll both have to wait and see then." he replied, "unless I can answer something or help in another way I'll thank you for your help and let you get back to business."

Ordo put his hands on the arm rest and began to stand to go.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ordo"]

"The One Sith," she said abruptly, and it was a concession of sorts -- he'd called her bluff -- "are a fraternity, in the collegiate sense. I confess I'm very interested in competing against them, though not necessarily in the arenas they prefer. Other than yourself, I've yet to see much in the way of value from their direction."

 

[Ordo]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

Ordo stopped and raised an eyebrow. He imagined Velok saw as much value in him as any other tool but the point was moot at present.

"I can't disagree." Ordo said simply, "They are a nice distraction in my opinion. The galaxy gets so focused on the squeaky wheel the miss the other gears still turning."

Ordo eased back down. Velok was no fool The Sith threat had steam for now but they had a tendency to attract a lot of hate with their bulldozer-esque campaign. It was worth noting they had yet to field a proper naval assault and win.

"They have many holes in their strategies, the Vision they are being fed is rather short sighted and the ultimate goal if achieved will end them. You would think they'd never read a history book."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Ordo"]

"Remarkably broad-minded of you, Jasper." There existed, of course, the possibility that he was leading her into indiscretion. She left it at that. "But the view from the top is often the clearest."

FIN