Replicating Success

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Chiasa had a lot of plans and schemes and not much time to get them done in. So she was forced to reach out farther than she would have liked, to go beyond the small circle of individuals and providers that she.. trust was not the correct word. It was the closest that Basic had however. That she trusted at least a little. Was fairly certain she would at least notice the tells before they tried to betray her. That was closer to accurate. There ought to be one neat little word to describe that. Ah well. Such was life.

In any case, she'd sent a politely worded message to one [member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"], requesting a meeting with him to discuss a rather involved and ongoing project. She'd asked him to meet her on Antecedent, since depending upon his answers, she had several maps ready for him to pick locations for facilities.

As much as she'd rather hide something like what she had planned on some little asteroid no one would ever find, Force Users had this distressing tendency to just magically know or stumble across things there were absolutely no logical reasons for them to find. One just had to recognize the idiocy of the galaxy and adapt she supposed. In any case, Antecedent was heavily fortified, and getting more so every day.

She'd made sure once of the nice meeting rooms rather than the office that she generally appropriated when she was on planet at the Dragon Palace Casino was booked. Whatever he wanted would be provided if he stayed for more than just the meeting. Comped room, credit chits, the services of any of the staff. It was not that she was desperate, there were others who would do though he was her first pick. She just wanted to make sure he understood that working for the Ravens came with not only generous pay, but a plethora of perks as well.

So she waited, to see if he would indeed answer. She'd asked for a face to face meeting, but had added that a holo meeting would do if he was unavailable for travel. Either way, hopefully he would be available to speak soon. The Twi'lek smoothed her dress over one orange thigh, noting with wry amusement that the times she got to wear her own clothes rather than armour where getting fewer and farther between.

Of course soon that might work to her advantage...

Thoughts for another day.

 

[Placeholder 018]

Byss had been an absolute success. The Sith Lords would be suspicious now. Lines between the Sith hierarchy and those they considered lesser would be drawn. The first step on a path to greater purpose had been taken. That did not mean that Sylvanan could let up in his work, of course.

Antecedent was not a place he would ever consider going. The Ravens were a boisterous group, unreliable and militarily inefficient when compared to the two participants in this great galactic war. That did not mean their request for a meeting would go unheeded. The Arkanian was a businessman as much as he was a changer of things, and establishing connections was his prime talent.

He was clad in clothing that could have absorbed the light from all around him, a lack hole within a myriad of colors. His coat hung down just above his ankles and swayed with each purposeful step. His head was held high and hidden beneath the obsidian visor he required to breath. His legs, hands, and feet were shrouded in light leather and phrik plating. A single DC-17 hung from a strap inside his coat.

"Evening, m'dear." He praised as he came through the office doors. His voice was all that identified him beneath the bio-suit, though it sounded like he was smiling. "I am Sylvanan Tal'verda, and I believe you wanted to speak with me?"

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Homework had been done on [member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]. Not that much had been found. Her slicers had been under strict instructions not to go digging through firewalls or protected places, as much as they whined about it. Still, it was enough to ensure he was able to walk into the casino armed without being harassed or shot, that the way to office was open to him and made obvious.

"Good evening, I am Chiasa Kritivaas, as I'm sure you gathered, and you believe correctly."

She'd risen when he entered, inclining her head slightly at his greeting. She was one hundred percent on currently, her Red Ravens President persona firmly in place. It could be difficult doing legitimate business as a criminal organization. There was only so far having people murdered could take you. Lysle and Sigourney had never had to deal with this. When they'd been in charge the Ravens had only just started to grow, they were largely self sufficient. Their ambitions had reached as far as the next payday, the next hit, the next high. Cryax had been better, but even he had been a creature of immediate needs, and a coward to boot. A lackey at his core. Chiasa had stepped up and inherited a whole host of problems, ones she was set on seeing rectified. Not just today, or even tomorrow but years and decades away. She doubted she would live to see everything she was starting accomplished, but by the time anyone managed to kill her, it would be too late, the momentum would be there, like an avalanche. Unstoppable.

It was this iron will and resolution that had her back straight and her chin just slightly up though the smile she graced him with was warm enough. Stepping around the desk, she held a hand out to him.

"I've rather a large project on the horizon, and don't have anyone with the capabilities to take it on at the moment I'm afraid."

 

[Placeholder 018]

"You'll find me capable and eager." He assured. Was there subtext to that statement?

He recoiled as soon as the handshake was done, as if the slightest touch might be the death of him. In reality, it was. Sylvanan had no immune system to speak of, and even a meager pathogen could be the death of him. It was a difficult life to live, but the Arkanian thrived in it. He was the head of the galaxy's greatest organization, and many would come to learn such.

Chiasa's will might have been iron, but Sylvanan's was steel.

"Tell me, my friend." He folded his arms behind is back. An old habit from his military days, long forgotten now. "What could a woman of your stature want with a lowly man such as myself?"


He had a guess as to what the Ravens wanted, and in return, he had quite the offer to present. Chiasa had done her homework, and so had he, to a far lesser extent. To most of the galaxy, he did not exist, but many knew the Twi'lek. She was aware of that. For a man who could care less about slicing, such forays were pointless. He knew what he needed, and that was enough to present an offer few could pass up.



[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

A slight raising of one brow, a hint of laughter in her eyes. Still, his words were strangely at odds with his actions. As a general rule men who told a Twi'lek they were capable and eager were referring to one thing, and yet he pulled away hurriedly, as though he loathed physical contact. Odd. Of course she was a creature of masks, of lies, outright or subtle. Likely that he knew what was expected of him and played the part. As attractive as she firmly believed she was, perhaps his proclivities lay elsewhere. That was fine, it was not why she'd asked him here.

"Not so lowly, I think."

Came the necessary reply, the next step in the dance, pre-determined, easy. Also true. Were he lowly enough he would not have the capacity, the capability that she required.

"Cloning. High quality but with reasonable speed. Not humanoids, at least to start. It will take some rather.. Unconventional tanks. And security measures to deal with what is within. I do not necessarily require huge numbers to start, but a steady supply."

She was being vague, but he would either bite or he would not. Besides, it was possible the non standard nature of the request, the implied danger would scare him off. She did not think this was so however. He did not stand like a man who was just going to be scared off.

"Credits and land are not an issue. I would prefer a facility within my own space. Antecedent in particular. While there is more danger, should security not be up to par on a populated world, it is also more easily defensible. And I suspect it will need to be defended."

[member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]

 

[Placeholder 018]

Here Sylvanan saw an opportunity. A number of them in fact, but one for Crynic was currently at the forefront of his mind. She could mean a number of things. He highly doubted the president would want anything sentient - most private investors wished for exotic animals or servants, and Chiasa had her run of the latter. That left only one option, and Sylvanan would happily oblige.

"Name your creature. I will need these facilities under Crynic's name. We will supply what is needed to grow whatever it is you want through the gestation period and onward, depending on what it is." He quipped.

He would play the game. Another cloning facility meant room to grow more of what he needed. It meant more room for research. It meant another holding for his people. Idly, he approached the Twi'lek, more out of genuine curiosity than any primal urge. The visor of his helmet faded from a stark obsidian to a transparent white.

Within, his features became visible. White skin, high cheekbones, a strong jaw line, a mess of stubble along his chin, short hair, and eyes so blue that they were luminescent looked out upon her face.

"What is it I'm cloning, exactly?"







[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Almost, almost did the Twi'lek get distracted by those near incandescent blue eyes, made all the more prominent by his colouration. But it was business time, and oh she was pleased with herself at the moment. Sith wanted to kill her did they? They could try. The whole damned galaxy could try. And while they were busy watching her doing her routine on centre stage, other pieces and plans would be moving off in the wings. They were easily angered, easily manipulated. A lightning quick grin that revealed sharp canines, casting a momentarily predatory shadow over the otherwise accommodating Twi'lek.

"Taozin to start. Terentatek.. Others as they are acquired and their worth is found."

She shrugged, an easy elegant movement.

"We will be doing some gene manipulation. When suitable specimens are produced, those will be added to the list. For now, Taozin."

These answers were also nearly rote. Easy to deliver while she considered his request from all angles, looking for the trap. There was always a trap. Thus far however, all seemed fairly standard.

"Agreed. The land and facilities will legally be yours, the provision being that we retain the right to buy it back at current market values any time should we choose to end our partnership. In addition we have the right to inspect the facilities without notice."

All fairly standard. Slightly unreasonable in a strictly business setting. Keeping in mind that she was a criminal and it was just as easy to agree to things and then go in with guns blazing later.. Less so. Since the only real reason to end the partnership was if he could not supply or wound up being seen as too much of a threat or worse, a traitor. The inspections were simply to ensure she was not letting someone in her own back yard, supplying them with whatever they needed and then having them grow an army to be used against her.

[member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]

 

[Placeholder 018]

Taozin. That was unexpected, but not entirely insane. So long as he received the DNA from a Taozin it was possible. Getting that beast to listen was a different story. It would require an inhibitor chip, and while Sylvanan could manufacture plenty for humanoids, animals were a different story. He would need to develop something to keep these beasts under control.

"A creature such as that...this is no simple job." He pointed out. "I'll require time to create the right creature, along with an inhibitor chip that will match. Time and resources. In exchange, autonomy would be necessary. I've no problem working with you, my dear, but I will not allow my facilities to be commandeered." He took another step forward, shortening the distance between them.

"The Kaminoans are a shoddy bunch of late, and there are no other producers of quality clones without government allegiance. I'm your only viable option, and I have no desire to throw you under the bus. I know about your position with the Sith." He chose to break the physical barrier then. A massive risk on his part.

He set a firm hand on the Twi'lek's shoulder, one of a man who knew and understood her troubles, lived them himself, rather than a man with lustful desire.

"Your people can look into the facility as they wish, but I cannot afford to sell what I build. You and I are one in the same, different professions perhaps, but we are the average. What the force users believe to be bugs. There are those who would show them otherwise...perhaps you would like to meet them?"






[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

His resistance was not entirely unexpected. His insistence on closing the gap between them was. It would have been one thing if he was easily readable. If she could calculate precisely what he was thinking and why. He was not. He seemed capable, beyond that he was as opaque as his visor had been at the start of the meeting. Past experience had the Twi'lek wary of large men in her personal space, and with his armour lighter though it may be, four inches and roughly sixty pounds on her, he qualified. Still. She was a crime lord. One did not climb as she had and stay there if one was easily cowed. It helped that rationally she knew this was not his intention. Such a thing would not good business make after all. This wariness, discomfort would be expressed only through a slight tenseness through the shoulders.

Oddly enough however, it was actually alleviated when he chose to make physical contact. Not because she found it particularly reassuring, but because once some one larger and stronger than you had their hands on you that was about that. The wait was over, nothing terrible had happened, life went on. Which meant attention could be turned to what he was saying rather than what he was doing.

"If it was simple I would not need you rha inu'a."

Her tone was once more amused. He was correct of course, it would not be, which meant she was going to have to pay handsomely, but she was certain she would come out ahead in the end, in more ways than one. This was only one step after all.

"Time and resources you will have. Tell me what you need and it will be provided. Providing you let no one commandeer your facilities.. This is acceptable to me."

His final question put her back on edge. This was dangerous.

Here I am, a man who can do precisely what you ask. I understand you, I will be strong and independent. And also I happen to have a whole group of people who stand opposed to the Sith.

How convenient..

But.

But it could be so. Why not? There ought to be more such people really, with the level of devastation force users tended to cause. Besides, if she did not dare, did not gamble, she could not win. And she had contacted him first. She'd kept her intentions to look into cloning close to the chest, almost no one knew, so he was not simply a fabrication to placate and set her at ease.

"I might.. The Wrath of the Dark Lord once told me I was no more than a microbe.. So was the Gulag Plague."

[member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]

 

[Placeholder 018]

"Cloning vats and local workers. The rest I can take care of." He promised, pulling away. His arm fell down to his side, and the moment's contact was broken. It was risky enough shaking hands, let alone a lingering touch. Sylvanan's latest shipment of Giasal had not yet arrived, and he had no means of defending himself against pathogens.

It made for a terribly lonely life. Intimacy was an alien thing to the Arkanian, something for other people, but never himself. He perceived it in the same way people saw disasters, crazy, but far away. Something to be observed and awed by, but never experienced. A hug had put him in his bed for three weeks when he was six. A bio-suit was his only companion ever since.

"Take it from me, in time, there won't be any Dark Lords to deal with." He promised, eyeing the Twi'lek for a moment. He was sizing her up, rather than any other kind of look. Such concepts were foreign to him - another unattainable dream.

"Change is coming, and I - no, we would like you to be a part of it, Chiasa."



[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

"Done."

Vats and workers. Easy enough. Vats the size she would need might draw some attention, but this was her world. No one would ask too many inconvenient questions. The local workers part pleased her. She'd been slightly concerned he might bring in all his own people, and that would have made her wary indeed. This way while many of the jobs would just go to the local populace, properly vetted of course, some could go to folks moved over from the Casinos. They were used to being shuffled where she needed them, and many had a bafflingly eclectic array of skills.

No Dark Lords seemed like a fairly unobtainable dream. Force users, particularly those in either of the two major cults seemed a lot like hydras. Chop off one head, three more popped up. Perhaps he and his had a plan though. It could be so.. Depending on their timeline she might even be interested. She only had so much time, if his 'in time' was decades or centuries away it was of little use to her. If even getting rid of one Dark Lord was within this lifetime however...

"Change is inevitable."

I am not life or death, I am the striving.

"It is good to be the one causing the change, rather than just being affected by it."

Roundabout agreement. She would meet these people at the very least.

[member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]

 

[Placeholder 018]

"I'm pleased to hear you agree." Sylvanan mused, tilting his head forward in a slight nod.

For but a moment, his mind wandered. It flew to that seperate realm beyond time and space, where he might be whole, rather than this fusion of flesh and metal. There, he was a god among men, perfection in its rawest form. Perhaps then, Chiasa would look upon him like she so very likely did the other men that came to see her. He longed for such a look, a simple touch, the briefest form of contact that would not end in his demise.

It was a common thought, and one the Arkanian banished from his mind as soon as it began its invasion. Wishful thinking made reality that much darker, and Sylvanan could barely see the inky mirk these days. He drew himself back to the here and now, and his eyes locked on the Twi'lek's own, though she could never tell. Carnal desires were not beneath Sylvanan, they were above him, forever unattainable in their height. It would not do to linger on them.

"I will show you to them once our facility's finished." He gave a moment's pause, and forced a smile. The helmet became transparent once more, and his voice was alive with mirth. "I do require one more thing. Hot cakes. The sticky, cinnamon kind. For...thought processes."

He turned about, casting her a sidelong glance. "Very useful for constructive thinking."




[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

The slight drifting momentary though it was, was noted, the case for it was of course, not. Still, the Twi'lek cocked her head slightly and little just a brief flash of curiosity show. Calculated of course, with her such things usually were. This did not mean it was entirely untrue. She was curious. She wanted to understand this man. To know what he thought and cared about. What made him tick. It was just that for the most part she wanted to know these things because then she was safe. Then she could manipulate him if she needed to. One hoped he would prove an ally and manipulation unnecessary, but hopes didn't keep you alive.

Back to business immediately, but the smile wasn't quite right, and he hid his face again before continuing in a more humorous, light-hearted fashion.

That was interesting.

So either he did not really want to work with her, or something in the thought he'd had had struck rather close to home. She represented too many credits for it to reasonable be the former, which left only the latter. If it struck close to home, then it was probably personal. What had they been speaking of? Change? Had something changed for him personally?

Ah, all this was idle conjuncture yet. Wait for more information, then analyze.

"Well! I certainly want to promote constructive thinking! I do believe I can accommodate that request."

Her response was warm, her eyes laughing and a smile played over her features. It was good to be able to play with ones colleagues as well as work. Still.. that he could only play when he was unseen.. Hm.

[member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]

 

[Placeholder 018]

This boded well for the future. Whether it was Sylvanan's future that he was looking out for, or that of his organization was hard to tell. It did not much matter when he put much thought to it - the two were entwined. With the Ravens involved, their influence would grow, and a very small galaxy would suddenly become quite large indeed.

His arms dropped deftly down to his sides as that thought hit him. What they were doing, it was succeeding. Failures were limited to scientific endeavors, not once had they faltered in their expansion.

For a moment, a flush of pride took over the Arkanian, like an engulfing wave that washed over him, and drowned him in its depths.

And then it was gone.

"Well then, m'lady-" He teased in a mocking tone. "Shall we find a place for this facility?"








[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

A raising of one brow, and a crooked smile. M'lady indeed. The titles that got tacked on to her these days. Miss. Ma'am. M'lady. Madame President. Crime Lord. Once upon a time she'd just been Chiasa. In some ways she'd been even less than that. A slave. A dancer. An object to bring others, those with credits and power, pleasure.

How times do change..

And that tied in with what they'd spoken of earlier didn't it? Change. And it was only starting.

With a regal inclination of her head, she replied.

"I do believe we shall, M'Lord."

[member="Sylvanan Tal'verda"]