Nightcall

[Jairus Starvald]

Kyrikal 17
[member="Ostanes"]

A non-descript transport landed one of the many landings pads of the AEI headquarters on Kyrikal 17.

Ostanes had requested her to meet her there for a… meeting of sorts, she wasn’t sure what it was about, but it seemed to be urgent over the holocall. They had worked together on a few occasions, as was expected from two people who had learned from Rave herself. An intelligent man, pleasant to discuss alchemical theory with without having to dumb down the material - which was rare in a world where many so-called Masters of Alchemy wandered, without actually knowing what they were doing.

Behind her followed only Scarra, the Qo’saarai Tuk’ata who had been her constant companion for two years now, ever since she had kicked his metaphorical ass and established rank.

For a moment she looked past the building and the landing pads. Instead she studied the surroundings.

There wasn’t much time to read up on the Kyrikal system, considering she had been coming in from Kelsier. But apparently it was one of the many places that had been used by the Mon Cal for colonization efforts, a combined effort with the Ithorians even.

Mining operations in the desert, hard workers on 17, things like that.

Fascinating really, especially the difference between the culture of these Mon Calamari and those on Dac. She would have to return here some day to study them some more, maybe.

 

[Julius Sedaire]

There comes a time when things must change, for good or for ill. Struggle breeds development, and incites change within and without. While still obsessed with Rave and surpassing her, he had latched onto Akure like a parasite, invading it in every sense of the word. Now, though, the need was not there. Twisted memories righted themselves, and he had begun to see a better way forward, for him and this company.

So he had contacted another of the 'next generation'..... One with a good bit more business sense than he, if he were honest. Ostanes' place was in the lab, or exploring. The boardroom and negotiation table he could manage with a cool efficiency, but it was not his optimal placement. Deals needed to be made, and whilst he had stabilized Akure, to bring it back home again would require a stupendous amount of drive he just didn't have anymore.

His drive was on Yavin IV, on finalizing the gift the late, great Witch King had given him. [member="Ember Rekali"] was dead, and for the first time in a long time Ostanes wore a proper suit of mourning blacks. Shirt, tie, slacks... All were impossibly expensive Socorran sand-silk, imbued with powdered crystal and lined in vornskr fur. A set of cufflinks at the wrist were really a talisman of finding, symbolically worn to represent his allegiance to Dathomir.

As he awaited Cerita, he sat at a massive worshyr wood and hjarna stone desk inlaid with bands of ancient dark bronizium carved in various languages. If Cerita ever figured it out, he had made copies of all the research and data from Rave that [member="Vilaz Munin"] had traded him. A small gem in and of itself. And there was a lightsaber in there, touched by her as well. A few scant traces of skin and hair had been identified to hear, and the sequencing papers half to him and half to Cerita, if she ever found it. If things got too desperate, there was a way...They just had to come together to solve the cryptex he had turned his desk into. Ostanes knew it was risky, but there was a way.

Always a plan within a plan....

Sitting, he drew up a fine vintage from Rywen's, a distillery that had been pestering him about a contract of service, and nodded. It was definitely not a bad wine, rather a bit light for his taste, but it was undeniably made with skill and daring. Ice bucket, bottle, a spare glass and a second bottle sat out. As well, several dataslates with copies of all the knowledge he had gained from studying various holocrons and projects. There was a gift today, but also an offer.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Ostanes"]

After a brief moment of observation she pressed on.

An aide was already waiting at the door for her, they exchanged some brief pleasantries, before the man guided her into the expansive building and through the many hallways, until he finally left her at the large doors that would lead into Ostanes’ office in the headquarters.

"Wait here."
"Are you sure?"

Scarra was getting more protective by the day. First it had been a desire to see her bested, probably to figure out her weak spots, before pouncing at her when she was at her lowest. But something had changed in his demeanor. It was almost as if he cared now, instead of simple predatory hierarchy determining who he followed.

It was quite annoying, really.

"Yes." Cerita could have added that she had nothing to fear from Ostanes, but that was untrue. The man was one of the few sentients in the Galaxy that truly posed a threat to her, what with his own mastery in Alchemy.

He was stronger, that was for sure.

A knock preceded her entering the room. The table behind which he was seated immediately pulled at her attention - big, heavy bands of metal wrapped around it and inscribed with foreign text.

It took mental fortitude not to pry, but she succeeded within a moment’s notice to meet Ostanes’ gaze. Hopefully he hadn’t noticed her interest all too much.

"Ostanes." The greeting came with an inclination of respect. "You asked for me?"

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Standing, the man nodded, deep black streaks of kohl, a native flora used in Dathomirian face paint streaking around his eyes and face. The character invoked was an obscure one from the annals of the deep past, a Goddess of a primitive people that served as Maiden of Mourning. Though they weren't close, Ember had taken the former Sith into his circle and group without hesitation or second thought. Whether sensing something in him, or just knowing he could use him. The reality of the situation didn't really bother Ostanes. What had happened was something he had never gotten to terms with, but the Clan Father, the Witch King, had given Ostanes a home and a pseudo-family. And for that, secured the Thamaturges' undying loyalty and fealty. [member="Alec Rekali"] would lead the Clan now, but as to what would happen with the Witchmasters... It was unclear.

Reaching his hand out, he gestured to a finely sculpted chair of worshyr wood and nodded as he poured one glass of a pure, clear liquid for his associate, and a deep bracing drink of the Aing-Tii thematic liquor for himself, the liquid almost glowing green so bright the color as he prepared it expertly and deftly. Nothing was lesser for Ostanes since his days at the top of this Corporation. Only the finest and best, for it was what allowed his mind to work best and served his ambition the most. Lithe guards closed the doors, saluting in terentatek leather armor smartly. Two of the twelve, twins he was helping to train in subterfuge and espionage and assassin techniques. They would prove to be two of his most useful subjects, should their training succeed and their loyalty hold.

"Yes, thank you for coming Cerita... I have a proposition regarding the future of this company, and I wanted your advice on it, if you would humor me?"

He had noted the gaze at the desk, but that would come later. Business first, then curiosity.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

The chair was comfortable and very expensive from the feeling it gave her the moment she settled into it.

Wroshyr wood?

Very rare these days what with the Republic bustling in again and prohibiting the sales of the wood. Something about protecting the rights of the Wookies, but there were whispers that there was some kind of internal power-struggle going on between the Supreme Councilor and his ministers. Not that Ceri paid much attention to that or anything.

"Of course." She simply responded, before accepting the glass with a grateful nod. Gratitude aside her presence in the Force suddenly shrank to a minuscule tip of a needle as her focus shifted, before seeping back into the room again as her attention returned to [member="Ostanes"].

"What is it that you are considering?" And needed her input for. This didn’t happen often, which never really bothered Cerita either way.

Her studies in the Force and Alchemy had always taken up most of her time anyway, so not having any distractions had been for the best.