Private Respect of a peer

[Diarch Rellik]

ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION
SOURCE: DSD Vault, High Orbit over Bastion
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: Omega Black – By Authority of the Diarch
RECIPIENT: Vakhari Lutris

[HOLOPROJECTOR RECORDING ACTIVATED]

A life-sized image of Diarch Rellik shimmered to life Standing tall and formal, the lighting behind him dark save for the dull red gleam of control panels aboard the Vault. His expression was calm, neutral, almost stately though something in his gaze suggested he was overall excited.

"Lady Lutris," he began, voice low and clear.

"Although you may not know who I am, you are known to me. Your work has crossed the borders of Diarchy space and has come across my desk recently. I was rather impressed with the portfolio and wished to see if we could have a crossing of the minds so to speak."

He paused, eyes steady on the recording node.

"It is rare to find those who still create with such... flavor. I believe you are such a person. And that is why I am extending this invitation."

A short string of coordinates flashed across the lower portion of the hologram: Taspir III. Landing Bay 17 – Eastern Spaceport. Access Code: 721-Kesel-Mal.

"There is a place named Pandemonium. Hidden. Restricted. Founded for the purpose of containing and refining the unnatural. We develop things there not meant for the public to see and for our enemies to fear. - I was hoping to give you a tour and perhaps if you are wanting a gift to show my appreciation of your works. Which you are free to do what you want with. I know these recordings can seem rather impersonal or unbecoming but I promise your safety and any wants you may have will be taken care of as my guest."

He flashed a brief smile at the words. There was hope he was appearing genuine. First impressions were always rather hard.

"I hope to receive confirmation of my request either way and look forward to meeting you."

Vakhari Lutris

 

[Vakhari Lutris]

Tag: Diarch Rellik

When the personal message had managed to reach the rather eccentric doctor, it had of course been met with a curious glare. Said curiosity only grew when they mentioned how fond of her work they are, a rather easy way to get on the girl's good side thanks to her ego around her creations.

But this wasn't her typical mail, and it came with a face she hadn't seen before. The location given was not within Sith Order space, that was for sure.

Her gloved hands begin to search the information that was given, nothing came up. This could be a trap, but she had worked with people eager to have her expertise on hand before. Recalling how Darth Virelia had given her coordinates to come work at a blacksite, but what if- No. It wasn't like she was a simple target to just kidnap, she would go forward with this meeting.

Departing that day to enter Diarchy space, in truth she didn't know much about them. Users of the dark side of the force, that was about all she knew for now.

A sleek and sterile looking shuttle would arrive at pandamonium, right in the correct landing bay as requested. Being met with a terminal she enters the code given.. The girl wording it out under her mask.

"7-2-1.. Kesel.. Mal."

The terminal would unlock the door, pandamonium's newest guest walking inside, closely followed by her droid. ​

 

[Diarch Rellik]

The security terminal registered the access code with a soft chime, followed by a heavy thunk as the inner blast door depressurized. A thin line of white light split the darkness ahead, revealing a corridor, arched, reinforced, every inch laced with conduits and runes beneath glass-sealed plating.

Diarch Rellik was already standing at the far end of the chamber. Dressed in a reserved black coat over deep gray fabrics, his more relaxed clothing, if not for the cost of them some could see it as even pajama's. He began approaching Vakhari with a slight wave and a smile.

"Lady Lutris," he greeted, voice calm, clear, and offered without forcefulness. "You honor me with this visit. Thank you very much for coming." There were no armed escort. No entourage. Only the Diarch, the dull hum of machinery, and the sharp scent of sterilized alchemical vapor. "I hope the journey was smooth. This place can feel… dull at first glance. But I assure you, it is the crucible of some of our most advanced and unrestrained work."

As he got within several meters he gave a deep bow. His eyes glanced toward the droid briefly. "What a cute little fellow."

He stepped aside, motioning toward the deeper corridors of Pandemonium. "If you're ready, I'd like to offer a brief tour. Do not mind the droid security outside the separate control centers. They look intimidating to most but they are very well programmed."

Vakhari Lutris

 

[Vakhari Lutris]

Tag: Diarch Rellik

His attire didn't bother Vakhari, not at all. Seeming to be garbed in the more traditional colour of Sith or other dark side affiliated persons, it was a very stark contrast to the attire the sheepish doctor wore. This was his home, he could dress however he wished... Even if the girl would agree that it looked like cozy pajamas.

"Lady Lutris? Feels like home already, but please... Feel free to just call me Vakhari."

She didn't care much about titles, nor about wealth. But alas, she did see them as handy tools in the right situations. ​

"I hope the journey was smooth. This place can feel… dull at first glance. But I assure you, it is the crucible of some of our most advanced and unrestrained work."

Vakhari raises her finger in protest.

"A place of work is never dull, the birthplace of ideals and ingenuity."

It was something she believed in rather firmly, those who were too occupied with how grand or fancy their lab appeared were nothing more than a pretender. How is one to focus on matters of science when they are too busy worrying about shiny and useless baubles?

So far however, this man was doing far better compared to others that could be considered her peer. Not acting like some brutish beast, nor trying to intimidate her with a show of force like some defensive animal. A welcome change, really.

​

"What a cute little fellow."

"Taken a liking to him? He serves as a automaton with limited free will, bound to my service by my own hand."

To unkeen eyes it was nothing but a macabre droid, but to those who could feel it? There was more to the droid, as if it wasn't just a soulless husk that followed orders. At best? M0rtis was a slave. Worst? A bound suffering soul that was forced to listen to every command given by his tyrant of a master, destined to be used again and again in combat situations, destined to feel the pain of death many times over- yet always dragged right back by the pale doctor.

"A tour would be wonderful, I would never turn down an opportunity to see what others create."

She seemed keen to follow, standing right alongside him as they no doubt began their little trip down the halls and alchemical containment cells.

"So, how did you hear about me? Not that I care to be here of course, just that the places we consider home have some distance between them."​

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Pandemonium containment and research Center

Rellik let out a quiet breath as they walked. "Not many people have actually entered here before, it figures a fellow enjoyer of these arts would not mind the dull interior compared to those who have come before. They are less... like us." he remarked, glancing sideways with a smile. His tone giving way that he was genuinely pleased she had come to see his work.

At her droid's mention, his gaze flicked toward it again. "Indeed I have. Those I have bound to my service... are a little larger. But this little man peaks my interest at different ventures." He didn't press further.

When she asked how he found her, he gave a small smirk. "For how reclusive the galaxy seems to think we are - we are quite deep into the sectors of others. I have met some of the people you have worked with before. I have read reports of your creations, and most over all our intelligence agency keeps extra tabs on those I deem interesting."

A beat passed before they passed through a pressure lock, the doors opening with a low hiss and stepped into a tall, dome shaped control center.
Stark metal walls ringed the room in a wide circle, and overhead, lights pulsed faintly behind protective sheaths. No windows. No ambient light. Only the subtle glow of red sensors.

Around the perimeter stood a dozen black-bodied droids, built tall and lean. Their heads turned in eerie unison to track Rellik and Vakhari's entrance, eyes glowing red, motionless but alert. They didn't speak. Didn't move. Just watched.

Rellik walked casually through them, unbothered.

He led her to one of the branching hallways at the far end. Several were marked with containment glyphs and alchemical seals, each leading to different parts of the facility. They stepped into a long curved observation hall, the outer wall formed entirely of thick transparisteel. The moment it came into view, it was clear it was a large portion of the domed structure.

A wide, tiered chasm carved deep into the rock. Plateaus, sealed domes, cliffside perches, open pits. Each segment pulsed with controlled temperature zones and subtle shield fields. Wind tore through the upper layer. Mist crawled over the lowlands. Red light flickered from below. And scattered throughout moved beasts, hunters, winged forms, slinking shapes in water and ash.

Rellik approached the glass and gestured casually. "Aviary's up top. That one's Pyrrhax" he noted, nodding as a red winged beast ripped past them. "He can tell I am here. He is my special mount." The pair caught Pyrrhax at a good time... or he was just showing off. As he descended and grabbed a rearing spider before jumping back into the air.

They moved down the gallery.

Below them, a kath hound paced the swampland. A moment later, it disappeared beneath the surface with a wet snap.

"Mire's mostly for the amphibians. Or creatures that hunt estuary's for prey."

The Ember Hollows boiled quietly, vents glowing red behind obsidian ridges. A large, four-legged Vurskorr stalked through the heat. Its skin gleamed like half-cooled slag.

"Took forever to get that one stable," Rellik said. "But I think we are getting the formula down tight."

And down at the base, a long white ripple glided under a frozen stream, vanishing between cracks in the ice.

"Still working on how I want to transform that monster."

He paused beside her, folding his hands lightly behind his back. "I hope these have been interesting so far. This is simply our living exhibit. I have a few other things I am excited to show you. Furthermore, if you would ever like I can have a servant bring us some drinks or light food."

While he studied Vakhari looking out the window he asked gently. "Are there any projects in particular you are working on that are exciting you?"

Vakhari Lutris

 

[Vakhari Lutris]

Tag: Diarch Rellik

The multiple habitats all perfectly spaced about... Able to be watched right here! It was wonderful to her, clearly this place was intended to house these creatures for a prolonged time. Her own lab focused more on the creation over habitats, with the duration that her creations stayed being very limited before they were shipped off to those who wanted them.

It was hard to deny the excitement she felt at the display before her however, leaning and standing on her tip-toes to peek at all she could before returning her attention to Rellik.

"My own place of work doesn't have anything like this, mostly just focus on creation, then ship it off to those who want it. I had tried to house a creature of mine once, it became a lot more trouble than it was worth to keep it contained. And even more trouble to exterminate..."

On one hand it was a testimate to just how durable she had managed to make the creature, on the other? A massive mess that took ages to clean, even after getting it into a vacuum sealed environment.

"My greatest joy however? While I can think of many things my hands have made, none of them compare to the progress my lab assistant has been making."

Vakhari thinks about Valaine Valentine and all that they have done so far, a warm fuzzy feeling nestled firmly in her chest.

"She is special indeed."

The girl smiles a bit before anxiously chuckling a little, they were here to discuss science after all.

"And yourself? How about we go take a seat and eat some lunch? You can tell me about your creations there, and of course I would like to know more about the Diarchy all the while."

She crosses her arms behind her back, waiting for Rellik. Assuming of course he would be the one to lead them to a nice lunch area.

​