Private Shadow Games

[Lanx Velishin]

Lanx was very, very happy that he was back behind the console of a ship. Flying had always been his release, his time to get away from everything else. He thrived in thinking about the minimal details. Watching the fuel usage, making sure the hyperdrive was working correctly, double checking the electrical inputs, all minute details that could be lost in the thrill of flying a starship. But not on Lanx. Details that might make one feel trapped and confined to regulations, instead made him feel much, much freer. He knew what slavery felt like. Flying a ship was the most free he would ever feel.

The Cathar couldn’t shake the feeling that what he was doing was the wrong decision, however. He enjoyed his time with Starfall, but with the constant harassment from the Hutt Cartels, and the collapse of the alliance that held the outer rim together, Kia had found it to be the right decision to scatter their elements for the time being. Iceheart would be creating a new base of operations somewhere in the outer rim soon enough, but until then they all needed to find places to continue to do good work for the galaxy. He had been surprised when his squadron lead had put him in contact with these…spy folk, claiming he might be some sort of good asset. Maybe on the outer rim, where he knew very personally how the slave system worked, he might be. Where they were going, what they were doing…he wasn’t so sure.

Those feline, yellow eyes turned from the fuel reserves to look to the droid in the copilot seat. At no point in his short, slave sheltered life had he ever seen anything resembling what sat next to him. No droid, piece of equipment, or, hell, even ship could compare to the complexity of what was supposed to be his partner for this mission. A mission he only had the bare knowledge of the objective. Lanx had no idea how to complete what the mysterious director has asked them to do. Maybe this..Nyx did have a better idea.

He leaned up to look over a panel, eyeing the figures on it before letting out a satisfied grin. “We’re approaching Galantos. Should be there within the next few minutes.” His words hung in the air, almost as if he was talking to himself. Eventually those feline eyes turned back to look at the droid, tilting his head as he did so. “How..are we supposed to find someone who..doesn’t want to be found?”

 

[Nyx N1X3]

Unlike organic subjects, Nyx was not subject to feelings of discomfort, awkwardness, or boredom. In point of fact, the droid was quite capable of performing numerous functions simultaneously without moving a servo. It was therefore unnecessary to interact with the sentient that she had been assigned to oversee during this operation for whatever reason the Director had decided.

For the most part, the man seemed content not to bother her; though Nyx wondered if that was simply due to prejudice against droids. Most people were content to ignore their electronic intelligence counterparts. They enjoyed believing themselves superior. Interaction might shattered that blissfully fragile delusion.

It would be inefficient to keep Lanx completely in the dark, however. Plus it was possible he might be more useful under the right circumstances. It was unfortunate he was relatively inexperienced in the field, however. Nyx hoped it might be possible to turn that to her advantage at some point nevertheless. "Bait." Her cranial unit pivoted so her red eyes were turned in Lanx's direction. "Brokers desire product. We will give them a reason to acquire this product from us, and in so doing arrange a meeting with them. All we need to do is inform them we possess what they desire." Of course, it wasn't quite that straight-forward. Such a person wasn't going to expose their self by request. They'd have intermediaries. The details, however, Lanx did not need to know. Better he did not, actually, in case he was 'acquired' along with the cargo.

Brief response given, Nyx continued to regard the man for a moment. Lanx's file was often under review by the droid that found herself partnered with the man. She examined the known details for abnormalities and sought to discretely uncover information not already known about him. Especially known contacts. Nyx would not tolerate a double-agent in her presence.

Tag: Lanx Velishin

 

[Lanx Velishin]

Ok. Those red eyes were creepy. It’s like they bored directly into his soul, staring him down and making him feel completely inadequate just to be staring at her metal chassis. It took every bit of his willpower to not shrink away from those eyes, and instead actually perk his ears up to listen at the information being fed him.

Bait. Right. Ok. That was easy. Wait, was it? Did they even know what kind of product this broker desired? If he was an information broker like the intel said, did they even have the information that would be interesting to him that he didn’t already have? Every question seemed to lead to another, but that seemed to just be coming from his inexperience in the field. Maybe there was answers to all of this, yet none of them would be coming from him.

“What..what is it that we posses that they desire? From the intel, it doesn’t sound like we have very much that would be……interesting to these kinds of people.” That was the way of the galaxy, at least as Lanx knew it. You only got places if you had things that people wanted. Whether it be slaves, credits, materials, even locations in some instances, were only useful if that was the other person wanted. Lanx could be the best mining slave in the sector, but if the deal called for something more…pleasure oriented, he was worthless.

Information seemed all the more intangible. You could make up words, you couldn’t make up cold, hard, credits. Finding out what this broker could want was..tough on his mind.

But the droid had done this before. She would know exactly what to do. That’s what he had been told. He was there as backup and to learn the ropes, not to ask annoying questions. And to be the pilot that had gotten him this gig in the first place. That was something he could do. His focus remained on the flashing lights of the console until the ship was pulled from the tunnel of hyperspace. Setting the ship on an approach vector, he glanced back over at the droid with a slight smile. “Ok..we’re here. Plan is to still land at the capital?”

 

[Nyx N1X3]

"Information," Nyx replied succinctly. "The means to obtain information, to be exact. Details regarding the transportation of a certain individual have been carefully leaked to agents of this Broker. Given the lives lost in obtaining it, it should prove quite authentic. As it is. The individual exists, and the itinerary is accurate. We, therefore, need only position ourselves to close to trap."

If the Broker didn't show in person, they would at least have the means of following a viable trail back to the source. Breadcrumbs would suffice, though Nyx would not scoff are finding the loaf intact either. A pleasant metaphor. Seemed her creative subroutine was functional.

"Yes, please proceed according to the flight plan. We cannot afford to be late."

Uncertainty. Nerves. Nyx understood the man's position. He was not the first inexperienced soul she'd been forced to contend with. Merely the most recent. Also, this union had been forced needlessly in Nyx's mind. By her 'superior officer.' There were times Nyx re-ran the simulations regarding whether remaining attached was of better circumstances than being sovereign with the rest of Revelation.

After a few moments, the droid suddenly asked, "Are you proficient with a blaster?"

Tag: Lanx Velishin