Obstacles

[Neesa]

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Cademimu_V

The fourth planet she had stepped foot on, at least within her memory. Athiss and her home city of Levien Magnus had been relatively similar, but this world was as far apart from those as the ice world had been.

A thick brown smog hung in the air and - like most of the residents - she kept a mask over her mouth and nose. The buildings were modern and tall, the citizens in this district dressed as if they had great wealth. So why, she wondered, did they tolerate murky air that seemed to trap what little light escaped their windows.

It wasn't just the atmosphere that made Neesa uncomfortable. She was without her master or Vrak and on very alien soil. And they had had… dressed her. Her hair had been cut. And not how she did it, roughly with a knife. One of Sitas’ slaves had washed her hair then spent two hours cutting and styling it. It smelled funny. It was smooth and sleek instead of rough and thick. She didn't like it. Nor did she like the formal attire she'd been put in.

Neesa liked worn cloaks. Given enough time a set of cloaks tended to match the surroundings, blend in her silhouette. Fortunately her natural grace meant the heels were not giving her too much trouble.

The first part of the puzzle had been the mines. Then Vrak had secured the spaceport project. That was now in construction. What they needed last of all was manufacturing expertise. An ally of theirs had been acting as an emissary or diplomat of sorts here. They had a large embassy here on the centre of the capital. Their man was called Savan and had been described 'as an alien like you.’ She had assumed that meant one of her species.

The plan had stalled. If she was here then it meant either something needed stealing or someone needed removing.

Neesa came to a halt before the gates of a lavish, four story building. She buzzed the gate.

“I'm from Sitas to see…”

“We know. Come on in. We'll take you up to meet him in the drawing room.”

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

[member="Neesa"]

[SIZE=13.3333px]The musky scent of frankincense and patchouli would hit Nessa’s nose as soon as she entered the drawing room. A roaring fire flickered at the far right side of the opulent chamber, gilded and intricate artwork from Zeltros and Aldaraan decorating the room. To the far right the glasteel floor to ceiling windows had the red drapes drawn back, revealing the smoky and smog cluttered horizon of industry. A stark contrast from the luxury within, full of sharp metal lines, piping smoke plumes, and the whine of speeder cars passing by. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]Standing before the fire was a long figure. Tall, more lithe really. Certainly there had been truth to Vrak’s words. He was an alien, but not of a species she’d seen before. The glow and flicker of the fire would reflect upon the fine green scales over his angular face. Delicate brow bones framed the exotic slant of glowing golden eyes, the thick mass of black hair swept back into a flowing ponytail at the crown of his head. It was shorn at the sides, revealing more of that dark, and almost irridecent emerald scaling. A striking figure that tempted one to look twice. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“Lord Savan, she has arrived.” came the simple announcement. Lord? It had nothing to do with Sith rank as much as a title of nobility. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]The attendant gestured for Nessa to enter, only to shut the door quickly behind her. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“So you are what Vrak has sent to me?” [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]his voice was a silky, almost syrupy rasp. There was a slight resonance to it, almost a faint echo. Was that really his voice or merely a trick? It didn’t matter, for the slow turn of his neck brought those twin glowing [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]amber [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]eyes upon the former street rat. Probing, searching, appraising in steely cool evaluation.[/SIZE]

 

[Neesa]

Neesa felt distinctly uncomfortable under that gaze and she wasn't able to fully hide that. But she did meet his eyes. For a moment she didn't answer. She let her gaze slide away from his to take in the surroundings. It was like Athiss in some ways. From the outside of some of the Sith temples one would expect dusty, empty halls. Yet many of the Lords there lived in opulence beyond this. The streets outside made one imagine they were in the industrial heart of the world, not a district full of embassies and government organisations.

She did not normally enter rooms like this from the front door. She noted the security systems on the window, redundant from what she could see. Neesa couldn't sense any magical protection around it. In her head she counted how long it would take to move from the window to the door without making a sound.

Her eyes finished their journey back where they had started. The fire picked out the near iridescence of his scales as it shifted between shades of green.

He managed to convey a sense of importance with just his bearing alone and his voice seemed to cut through the air between them. Clearly he was the right man for the job here. Was that him or a façade? But what job was she the right woman for? She normally stole from, or ended the lives of, men like him.

“I am,” she replied simply. Her eyes flicked down at her attire. Could he see how uncomfortable she was in it? “Does that concern you?”

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

[member="Neesa"]

If it did, Savan did not show it. Instead, that penetrating golden gaze seemed to peer through the Nagai. As if he were peeling back layers of clothing, of her skin, and inspecting the very essence of the girl; measuring her worth. Her abilities.

That angular head gave a subtle arch up at the question. His thoughts would be difficult to discern by expression alone. A single step forward, a whisper of dark emerald vine-silk then the inky tipped sharp claws of the Falleen extended Palm up in a cool gesture.

“Should it?” He inquired, in turn, his voice maintaining that hypnotic lull. Another step and his full height could appear towering. The fire crackled, and for a moment, one could even say his skin seemed to ripple in shades of green and gold, luminescent hypnotic.

 

[Neesa]

He had a presence. She'd met others like that before. Vrak had a presence too. Yet his was rarely spared for her. Normally it was turned onwards on his grand schemes. But when this one looked down upon her she felt the full weight of him bearing down.
Neesa was often afraid. It was only natural. But it was focussing, as if ice flooded her veins. Her chin came up an inch, narrow eyes studying him back. She held her ground.

“No,” she replied calmly. “I wouldn't be here if there wasn't a serious problem. My master doesn't tend to send me far for small matters. Also I don't like travel.”

She could still smell the products they'd used to smooth out her hair after all the time spent brushing out the knots. It wasn't right. Wasn't her. The perfume that lingered in the room only made it worse.

What kind of species was he? He was long and slender, but broad across the shoulders. Likely a good reach with those long claws of his. He might notice her eyes flick towards them and then go to the fireplace. She'd always liked fire. Perhaps because of how she had fought for warmth in her early life. Perhaps it was the way it moved, a force of nature that cared not for anyone's station.

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

[member="Neesa"]

"Your words are bold, but I can smell the fear in you." the rich, cultured male voice said, studying her as he began to walk a half circle around her. Those dark claws came up to rest upon his chin, ruminating, mulling over what he could read from her. It was as if he could pick up those tiny nuances that made Nessa stand apart.

Such a little upstart, Savan mused, studying her with his predator's gaze and assessing her from head to toe. The Sith didn't just occupy space; he saturated it. Not a meter away and one could see how strong and chiseled his features were.

No, he wasn't handsome. That was too calm of a word. He was intensely masculine. He was sexual. He attracted. There was an omnipresent carnality about him, in his glowing amber eyes, in the fullness of his mouth, in the way he simply stood radiating his presence behind the Nagai Assassin. Taking in the perfumed, brushed raven hair. The pale skin. The slight trembling but defiant rise of her chin. A Nagai, the upper lip of his mouth arching in mild distaste. Eyes narrowed then.

"You reek of wariness." a bold claim. A gesture of those black tipped claws swept over her attire.

"Even with all your finery, you lack the discipline that I require."

 

[Neesa]

Neesa could be frightened. She could be intimidated. However, it was not advisable to push her back into a corner. That cold determination had settled over her. This time she moved closer. It was barely an overt movement. Almost a hint of forward motion. It was accompanied by a slight turn of her left foot bringing her closer to a fighting stance.

"I am tired; I do not travel well," she replied, having misinterpreted wariness for weariness. He was aloof, unimpressed. He wore his status well. As well as any traveller wore a comfortable pair of shoes and a well worn cloak.

Neesa had killed man men who looked down their noses at her. She would kill many more.

She spoke slowly and deliberately then, as if explaining herself to a child. "I am here because you have not been able to achieve what you were sent for. Something needs to be stolen, someone killed or both. My master often tells me I am a blunt tool, yet he still uses me.

"If you have no use for me I can return and tell them you have everything in hand." She fell silent, but did not avert her gaze.

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

[member="Neesa"]

It was evident that Savan's cool, condescending highhandedness was making Nessa mad. And when the Nagai became angry, well, she unsheathed her little claws. Their gazes were locked as they stood for a moment in that frozen tableau. One could practically see the Falleen calculating the importance - if any - of Nessa's minor effrontery.

"Such bite for such a blunt instrument." his amber gaze seemed to suddenly brighten. The glow of those orbs sweeping over her as if to check the vercity of her words as they bored into hers. The flickering fire snapped and popped, and much like Nessa had done before, Savan took a step forward as well. Yet still utterly composed, aloof, and his expressing saying nothing.

"You are here at my bidding for the tempering of such a tool." his voice was as soft as vine-silk, but it slammed into the Nagai like a sledgehammer. That resonance struck the woman with a smothering and basely sexual quality that a majority of the galactic population would find irresistibly attractive. And until that moment, the haughtiness had been implied, nothing overt. However, the makings of a sardonic smile would suggest otherwise.

"An extension of my hand."

 

[Neesa]

[member="Savan"]

The falleen stepping close forced Neesa to look up. The fire crackled on but he filled her view, his voice engulfing her and drowning out her awareness of the room.

Despite his carefully composed expression she got the district impression he was more amused than concerned by her defient little diatribe. Whether that was true or simply a front was another matter.

She managed to keep her own expression from revealing much, even as the hairs up the back of her neck stood on end. A slight narrowing of the eyes revealed her picking apart his claims.

Hand. That word was important to the Sith. She was formally the Shadow Hand of Lord Sitas. No other Lords would order her around without his permission. As an outsider she was still almost invisible to many back on Athiss. That wouldn't be the case here. This also wouldn't be the first time that Lord Sitas had another expand her training. In fact for the first few years he had refused to train her personally.

That amber gaze seemed to cut right through her, his silken voice seemed to compel her to back down. As a noisy speeder passed she broke eye contact. There were strong fragrances in the room, now joined by the alien scent of the falleen looking over her. It was an almost sweet musk, not as she had expected. Perhaps she did need to alter her approach to do what was required of her here. Follow the lead of the silver-tongued emissary the sith had sent to negotiate for what they required.

"Very well," she replied, her tone hard and even. She raised her chin to meet that gaze once more, expression neutral.

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

[member="Neesa"]


“Good.” there was little else to say than that. The Falleen strode past the Nagai female back towards the fireplace, where a large and intricate bodywood desk sat. It was stained with a dark tint, polished smooth so as one could see the vibrant red glowing lines that ran like veins across its surface.

“I can tell you are not used to the fine attire you wear.” he said simply, taking a seat upon the plush chair and still emanating that unsettling vitality. His long arms went stretching upon the armrests, legs slightly spread and looking as relaxed as a Nexu lazing after a kill. His amber gaze, however, was as sharp as a Rattatakian Hawk. He studied the Nagai with a voracious interest as she stood before him.
“I need it to become like a second skin.”

 

[Neesa]

Neesa couldn't contradict that. She didn't think of it as particularly fine herself. Just rather plain really. Not like the ornate robes the sith wore back on Athiss to mark their station.

She stepped forwards and slipped into the chair opposite him. What would it mean to wear this disguise easily? She cast her eyes over Savan and his words seemed to make more sense. His clothes, bearing and personality all drew one harmonious picture. Was that him or just a mask?

“The heels and jewelry are the worst,” she admitted. There was obviously no point lying. Better to get on with working out exactly what it is she needed to do. Her master had obviously set her another challenge and she could do no more than meet it head on. To display wealth on her fingers, wrist and ears just left her feeling vulnerable. The heels were just… Neesa was used to soft footwear with thin soles. She liked to feel the terrain beneath her feet. Back on Livien Magnus she could almost have told which road she was on just from the feel of the stones.

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

[member="Neesa"]

Well, her displeasure was easy enough to see. One did not need to hear it to discern it. It was clear that the Nagai whelp hated the way her her hair been perfumed, brushed, and how she was dressed. It was there blazing in her eyes.

She will be difficult.

The Falleen leant back against the chair, bringing his hands up to tent his fingers in front of him. Those dark, black claws had been meticulously trimmed. There was nothing that would suggest that he was anything but meticulous about his appearance.

After a long moment, Savan made a subtle nod, as if coming to a decision.

“Elaborate the training you have received.” he asked simply again in that honeyed tenor that felt as if he were whispering low beside Nessa’s ear.

 

[Neesa]

Neesa kept her gaze levelled on the reptilian. How exactly did she go about breaking down what she did and had learned?

“Training under Lord Sitas house swordsman. I have a thorough grounding in the basic applications of the Force. Sending a life, reading an open mind, suggestion. Moving things, though nothing which requires fine control. A basic understanding of magic. Poison, anatomy. I know how to disable most household security systems.

“I can get where I want without leaving a trace,” she stated flatly. A twitch of her lips as she thought to preempt him. “But hiding in plain sight in the day is easy on Athiss. Just hide in some thick slave robes and they don't look twice.”

Obviously he wasn't pleased with what he'd looked upon, so she could already reason that she'd been dressed like this for a reason.

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

[member="Neesa"]

The defined green brow bones rose a bit. Savan still maintained a relatively bored expression, as if he were merely listening in to a report.

"Yet for all your talents, you lack the grace of being able to blend into your environment." he pointed out, a black claw gesturing towards her apparent state of weariness and how she had admitted she was uncomfortable in such finery.

"What training you have... or luck, has allowed you the easier path of being able to work in the shadows. But that does me no good if you cannot hide in plain sight."
That was the real test for the Nagai whelp.

 

[Neesa]

She pursed her lips as she considered this. “I will learn,” she replied stubbornly. “I have done so before. But blending in to the council chambers on Athiss or the streets of Livien Magnus just isn't the same.”

This was a problem, a challenge. Her life had been a series of challenges to overcome. Each had been faced in turn. Because she wasn't supposed to be a powerless street rat.

“There I became something people ignored. Or didn't see. I assume that won't do here, but you've been very quiet on the details of what I need to do?” There was no point tiptoeing around the issue. The falleen could goad her all day but eventually he'd have to reveal what it was they were here for. The Sith were patient, but they always demanded results in the end.

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

[member="Neesa"]

"Enough."

A wave of the claws of his hand gestured that Savan had heard enough. He wasn't here to listen to her life story. He had an agenda to complete. A goal. A purpose. The street rat would help him fulfill it.

"The objective is simple, " he told her, leaning back against his chair to tent his hands. Those dark claws gave a subtle clicking sound as he drew them together. A shimmer passed over his skin and enhanced his appeal. Lost on the wraith, no doubt, but he had a purpose to attend to.

"Cademimu Five is an industrial world used by the former Galactic Republic as a weapons depot—the so-called "war chest of the Outer Rim." he began, "The Governor is throwing a gala, and I require your skills to infiltrate, extract information, and kill the him."

A pause.

"Ensuring all blame lays at the feet of another of course."

 

[Neesa]

[member="Savan"]

Neesa's expression remained stony in the face of his belittlement or her. Seven years in a hierarchy rules by Sith had left her with quite the ability to bite her tongue quite well. It didn't matter what his opinion of her was now. All that mattered was facing what new challenges were in store. And besting them all.

She noticed the faint shimmer across his skin with curiosity. She hadn't felt anything through the Force so she wondered if that was natural or technological. She hadn't noted any of the telltale signs of a holographic display matrix.

"When is the gala? Do you have a target to pin with the blame?"

Those seemed the most vital questions to start on. If she hadn't the skill to attend the gala today, then we should need to put them in place tomorrow. But there was potentially much more to prepare if the operation was time bound.