Stardreams and Night Visions

[Armand Temi]

As the Princess Thai Kallisto sat at her desk in the Crystal Palace looking over some invoices, her main attendant, Napo, a middle aged Gutretee rattled through her itinerary for the day. For the most part, she had tuned out the list of mundane activities. But at the same time, "Fun" was also not a concept that she readily embraced. Whimsical pursuits at times. The governor's ball in Neskroff. The season's new gowns, maybe?

But otherwise the young royal's life was regimented and routine. Until Napo's next question broke through her concentration.

"Are you ready for your trip to Sullust?"

She blinked and looked up at Napo. "What?"

"You have business on Sullust tomorrow. I've spoken to the Captain of The Crystal Siren, and it's ready for your journey, Your Highness."

Sullust? When had this been arranged? Her heart pounded with anxiety. She hadn't been off-world in quite awhile and now she was expected to conduct a trade deal in an ancient relic like the DP20 frigate?

"Postpone my trip by a week. And send me the name of a Kallisto shipbuilder."

Napo raised his crystalline eyebrows but did not question. "Very well."

Eventually a message was sent to Gaillard Corporation, who came up rated highly in the Kallisto family business registry.

//incoming transmission...

To: Aleksandry Gaillard
From: Princess Thai Kallisto

Princess Thai Kallisto requests your precence on Isis to discuss a ship building venture, specifically a luxury starship for her business and travel needs. If a journey at this time is impossible for you, she may be able to come to your location, provided you make specific accommodations for her arrival.

She graciously awaits your response.

//outgoing transmission...

[member="Aleksandyr Gaillard"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

Aleksandyr reclined in his chair, one hand held a glass of alcohol and the other fiddled slightly as he cracked his knuckles out of boredom.

Two quiet footsteps approached the softly lit room, "you've received a transmission, Alek." The feminine voice belonged to his assistant, Tanlia Witt, who was just as much a friend as well; one of the few people he truly cared for. The former CEO nodded without turning his gaze towards her, his neck leaned back more, allowing him to stare up at the glass canopy of his apartment. "Yeah, I'll get to it..." He waved his hand dismissively.

Tanlia's brow crinkled, the woman marched up to him and placed a firm hand on his shoulder, forcing the him to grit his teeth. "It's business. Go," she let go but not before giving a final, rough squeeze and walked out of the room, the sliding door closed behind her.

// **ENCRYPTION ESTABLISHED** //

Transmitting....

To: Thais Kallisto
From: *&*^$#!@*^^$@! **SECURE DECRYPTION** G-A-I-L-L-A-R-D

Meet me on Kuat, my residence; coordinates enclosed.

// **CONNECTION CLOSED** //

[member="Thais Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

As the trip to Kuat approached, Thais was excited and nervous as any young woman who rarely traveled would be. It did not surprise her that Mr. Galliard would rather her meet him in the Core Worlds. Her advisors fussed and complained that it did not befit her stature, but she ultimately knew that her planet of Isis was a faraway destination with little to offer visitors except the Kallisto Mining Company.

As they landed in a private Kuat spaceport, near to the encrypted coordinates, Napo asked the Princess as they were disembarking: “Why do you think the CEO asked you to his residence? Why not his headquarters or the shipyards?”

“I do not find it odd, Napo. In fact, it’s endearing that he would like to entertain us at his home.”

Her embarrassment over her current ship was unfounded however as it appeared no one was around. Still, she was eager to begin on a new ship design.

Thais Kallisto, five of her palace guards, Napo and her hand maiden Miss Janine made their way to the luxury apartments. The special accommodations that the Princess had required ahead of time included an array of food and drink for her entourage, as well as assurances that an extra security detail be placed upon the group to assuage the Princess’s ever-present fear of assassination. Finally, she requested tickets to some kind of entertainment in the Tekshar Falls district. If Aleks wanted to join her, he was more than welcome.

To Thais’s eyes so used to the rainbows and prisms of Isis, Kuat seemed rather earthy and mundane. But there still was a charm to the planet, and she knew it boasted features like forests, canyons and majestic waterfalls.

Napo checked them into the lobby of Aleksandyr Gaillard’s luxury apartment and let the ship mogul's assistant know that his newest customer had arrived.

[member="Aleksandyr Gaillard"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

The complex in which the Princess arrived held only a few large and luxurious apartments reserved for executives and other top members of Kuat Drive Yards. It was both serene and secure, not to mention subtle; even the security detail didn't look much more than the typical personnel of such facilities but a careful eye could see that they were armed.

Alek's particular residence was located at the very top, near the rear of the entire complex where the best views were located. From there a valley with a river, and the city skyline could be seen in the distance at this mountainous village in which the complex was located. Approaching the young princess and her entourage was a lone woman dressed in a strictly professional fashion, her stride was as thought out as the architecture around them and her visage--although pleasant--didn't offer much of a read into the female's mind.

"Princess," she bowed her head respectfully, "my name is Tanlia Witt--Aleksandyr's personal assistant. If you'd follow me, I can lead you my employer's residence right away." She smiled. Tanlia was a human female with light brunette hair that was cut just below where her neck and head met, grey yes, and a fair, yet warm complexion. A good guesser could easily put her age anywhere between thirty and thirty-five years old.

If the Princess did indeed wish to follow, Alek's assistant would take her to where he resided.

[member="Thais Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Gaillard’s assistant, Tanlia Witt came to the lobby to collect the Princess and her attendants. Overdressed and bejeweled with crystals from the Kallisto Mining Company, especially Thais herself, the Isis nobles and her dignitaries were a little incongruous with the modernity of the apartment building. It was also apparent how young the Princess Kallisto was standing next to the older grey-haired female Ms. Witt. But she didn’t not appear nervous or faltering. Etiquette lessons were forced upon her at a young age. If she was lacking in any skills it was street smarts and perhaps detecting nuances of adult relationships, so surrounded by sycophants and attendants as she was at all times. Except when it came to the governor of Isis who was a continual thorn in her side over the use of slaves in her mines.

“Thank you Ms. Witt,” said Napo, the Princess’s Gutretee attendant. Kallisto herself was silent and nodded at Gaillard’s secretary. Two of the Palace Guards stood in the lobby, while three of the others and Napo followed into the elevator. Princess Kallisto’s gown rustled as they were all forced together in such close quarters. The young, brunette noblewoman finally spoke:

“How long have you been with Gaillard, Ms. Witt?” she asked, mostly wondering if the employee knew her parents at all.

[member="Aleksandyr Gaillard"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

Tanlia smiled in regards to the question. "Nearly ten years, now. I was recruited only a few months before Aleksandyr took over his father's company." Although the company was now little more than a brand name of KDY, it still held pedigree for being the finest producer in luxurious ships within the entire galaxy. No other manufacturer can make the same claims. Certainly there are many competitors within the market, but none are so able to flawlessly combine technology with design as Gaillard.

The elevator didn't take long, essentially producing its own gravity projector, the lift was able to move at uncomfortable speeds whilst leaving the guests unaffected inside. When the elevator arrived, the door slid open revealing the lobby portion of Alek's personal residence. Here was the final layer of security before entering the private quarters of the wealthy businessman. Several servants awaited to take the coats of the guests and another to lead them. "Take your time along the approach, if you don't mind, I will go ahead and tell my employer that you've arrived." She bowed more deeply than when she greeted them before moving off to meet with Alek.

Once the nobility were done with their preparations, they were free to enter with the provisions as requested laid out exactly as specified, if not with a little more flare thanks to Gaillard's design thinking.

[member="Thais Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

The Princess listened and considered Tanlia's background. She nodded knowingly, as she understood how it felt to inherit something extremely meaningful, even if it weighed heavy on her.
But unlike Tanalia, as an eighteen year-old, she hadn't been exposed to any kind of whimsy or freedom. Once her parents were executed, she was indeed the CEO and Figurehead of Kallisto Mining Company. And most of that required her to be stiff and reserved.

And that's exactly the regal presence she displayed as the Kallisto entourage entered the room.

But suddenly the Princess, sounded a bit out of tune.

"I have had enough of assistants and attendants," she said rather petulantly. "I want everyone to leave us right now."

And she waited patiently for her own troupe to leave the office and they did dutifully.

"I would like to discuss my ship alone with Mr. Gaillard."

[member="Aleksandyr Gaillard"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

Without hesitation, Alek waved for his own to leave--even Tanlia who seemed almost reluctant to do so. She was someone whom Alek confided to in his most troubled times when things for his business seemed to be at their worst, yet without hesitation he was ready to tell her to leave without even saying so, merely emulating the princess' words with the silent motion of his left hand.

In a matter of moments the room was empty and the door closed behind them, the table in the center of the dining area was filled with foods of every variety. Some might've considered this date to have been a waste, but rather Alek considered it a pleasant development. He absolutely hated playing host, when he invited her into his apartment he did so for one reason. To be himself, so that she may be herself, and perhaps business might be conducted without interference of politics or other types of bull--you get the rest.

"Would you prefer to sit at the table or speak in the living area? All depends on if you prefer a firm chair over a soft sofa." He spoke softly, yet his words carried an energetic aura as if he spoke enthusiastically at the same time.

[member="Thais Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Both of their entourages left the room. That left Thais, the Princess and the ship mogul, Aleks. Thai was too stimulated by the surroundings to respond in nothing else but her normal cold demeanor but which may have caught Alex off guard:

"Mr. Gaillard, I am tired of people fawning over me," said Princess Kallisto. "And telling me what I need."

As she walked around the room, she challenged him, "The ship I desire.. will need to surpass what I have now."

"I may be young," she said. "But I know what I want and Gaillard can make it," finished the Princess.

[member="Aleksandyr Gaillard"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

Aleksandyr frowned slightly, "With all due respect, Princess. You're insulting me." Although his words might've said otherwise, his tone didn't give off the impression of disappointment or uncertainty. Perhaps he didn't expect this of her, but he certainly didn't look unprepared for this event at all. Maybe that was just the man he was. "I'm sure you've been to eat at a restaurant, yes? People don't want what they order, they want what the better man next to them is having... I'm not a chef, miss Kallisto, I'm a designer; what I make isn't what you think you want--it's what touches the very foundation of your being." He added.

Rising from his seat, Alek gestured for her to follow him into a backroom where he kept all of his prized designs. "I already have something prepared, it merely requires tasteful modifications to suit your needs and desires. Everything else is already in place, I assure you that much." He revealed the designs for his Stardream-class Yacht, including the concept artwork.

Assuming she liked it, and he did assume, the only thing he actually needed from her was preferences to make some final additions.

[member="Thais Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Princess Kallisto gasped at the impudence of Mr. Gaillard when he said she was insulting him… Well that wasn't her intention at all. But she listened… and then there was this babble about restaurants and such and that kind of went over the Princess's head. Her brow furrowed.. she was not a cast off, even if some of his ship designs were.

But she did adore the designs that he had showed her. And a glimpse of the man, for Princess Kallisto, Aleks was a very foreign concept but she was captivated by him just the same.

[member="Aleksandyr Gaillard"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

"Well... What do you want done.. Changed... Added, even?" He smirked, asking his questions.

He wasn't aware that she found him to be exotic, this was an everyday task for Alek... Many people wanted his Stardream, but only so few would be built. The only requirement--besides wealth--was an imagination, to desire something that only as many people as those who'd have one could desire. The Stardream's name was befitting, for it very well was a ship powered by dreams that sailed through the starlit abyss.

Only if she could see into his mind, then maybe she'd be more understanding of how he acted. This wasn't a product to him, it's a lifestyle, an accessory that empowered its owner with a symbol of their prowess; to prove that they have succeeded where many others have failed.

[member="Thais Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Thais gave Aleks a tight smile, and then she began to laugh, sounding a bit more like the young woman she was and less like the frozen, impassable royal.

“How I complain of the sycophants and advisers who crowd me with ideas that only benefit themselves at the end of the day…”

She nodded her head at him and said, “I apologize Mr. Gaillard for the insult. You’re right. I know nothing of shipbuilding.” She peered closer at the designs, holo-models and concept art. The Stardream was a magnificent vessel. Thais’s brown hair was swept up and pinned with more crystal jewelry, her pale neck exposed and swan-like as she leaned in for a closer inspection.

She straightened up and faced Aleks again. “I really have no experience with the exterior, so I imagine that you won’t need to change anything there.” She pointed at one of the interior models. “I am envisioning a darker interior with lots of color and furs… but promise me one thing, please.”

The Princess smirked and said, “No crystals. I do not want to see a single agate or topaz or emerald anywhere on the ship."

A funny statement from a Crystal Mine Heiress, but Thais rather liked the views that the Stardream afforded. She preferred that the stars, planets and comets would provide the sparkle for once.

Although he was much older than she, Mr. Gaillard had a boyish quality which made her wonder about his childhood. "Did you always want to design ships for a living?" she asked.

[member="Aleksandyr Gaillard"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

This change of moods was certainly a surprise... The only question was, is it a pleasant surprise? Perhaps there was no need to even answer such a question.

"No, I wanted to fly them. It was only when I realized none satisfied my drive that I decided to make them myself." A half-truth, as his father's company was in the shipmaking business before Alek knew he was interested. But nonetheless, it is true that originally he only desired to fly starships and not design them.

Navigating back to an earlier topic, "And no crystals. You have my promise... I prefer fine metals, anyway, brushed aluminium--or maybe platinum... Then there's always carbon, too." He wasn't much interested in materials, honestly, but he knew which ones worked and which ones didn't in a more modern design; however when she asked for furs and colour, it did force him to think outside of the box a bit.

"I'll definitely see what I can do to fulfill your needs. Regardless, I can improve the defenses or even the speeds of the ship, if you'd wish, making it even greater of a marvel." He added.

She was a curious customer indeed. [member="Thais Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

The corner of the Thais’s lips curled up in a smile when the ship designer assured her that there would be no crystals on the interior or the exterior of her Stardream model.

“This ship represents mobility for me, Mr. Gaillard,” she said. “Sometimes mobility means getting away from what you have, rather than taking it with you.”

From this he could possibly interpret that here was a young girl, trapped almost by her own life and responsibilities as a noblewoman. She was only eighteen and yet an heiress and CEO. Perhaps Aleksandyr could relate.

“Platinum is preferable,” she said, knowing a little bit of what she liked about non-crystal materials, mostly from her close contacts with other mining companies. “I like its sheen better than brushed aluminum.”

She finally walked away from the holo models and sank into one of his expensive sofas, lounging back in more of a relaxed pose. Her dress, though quite formal, was satiny and fit her form well. She crossed her legs with a colt-like grace, revealing pale white limbs - shapely but alluding to her life held behind doors for the most part.

Thus the reason for her next request.

“I would like a fast ship,” she said decidedly, her brown eyes becoming unfocused momentarily, daydreaming over the possibilities of how fast and far she could go with a vessel as impressive as the Stardream.

“What age were you when you took over the Gaillard company?” Thais asked. She had done her research after all.

[member="Aleksandyr Gaillard"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

"Twenty-nine," he replied to her last question after listening intently to her as she spoke.

The CEO walked around the table, his hand brushing against one of the blueprints before his fingers wrapped around the edge of the table, only releasing the moment he turned the corner and slowly stepped closer. Alek's eyes wandered, noticing exactly how well her dress fitted her; then he walked over to the other side of the sofa, taking a seat comfortably away from her but not coldly so. Even as much of a flirt as he was, he intended to keep this at least somewhat professional.

Exhaling a light sigh, "So you want a fast ship, with platinum, furs, and..." He paused for a moment, "..Well, let's just say you'll have yourself a ship." He wasn't about to repeat the list of features she requested. Aleksandyr was nearly breaking forty, the sight of a young--ambitious--woman was one he couldn't resist even if he wanted to. There was an attraction of finding someone interested in what he was, but not because it was relatable.

Nonetheless, it almost seemed that their business would soon be concluded, unless there was something else she desired.

[member="Thais Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

For some reason, she had thought perhaps Aleksandyr Gaillard had taken the helm of Gaillard earlier. But twenty-nine was a completely normal age to begin running a company. Certainly not eighteen. Why she was still practically an ingenue in comparison! But Princess Kallisto didn't have a choice, and here she was - with the power and prestige of a man like Mr. Gaillard, but none of the maturity or seasoned business acumen that comes from years of experience.

So far she had been mostly focused on the Stardream designs, so when Aleks sat down beside her this gave her an opportunity to look closer at the ship designer himself. He was strikingly handsome, with amber-colored eyes, wore a fashionably bespoke suit and seemed relaxed and confident. His age was not a deterrent to Thais as there was a list back in the Crystal Palace of potential suitors, crafted by her parents before their death, and quite a few on that list were much older than the Princess. But what they all had in common were their noble titles and imperial legacies.

Still, someone like Gaillard, with an impressive family name and lucrative company wasn't a terrible choice for a mate. And with no one else to contest her, Thais smiled over the thought that she now had the power to select her husband without interferrence. Certainly none in the room since she had ordered them all outside.

That is, unless Aleksandyr wasn't interested. But even though the Princess had no real experience with adult entanglements, much less even kissing a member of the opposite sex, there was one way to find out.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she slid closer to Aleks. She had no idea where to start but assumed giving him something of great value would open the door. It's certainly what she would want if she were being courted. The Princess unclapsed a brooch that she had pinned to her gown and gently took Mr. Gaillard's hand, turning his palm upwards. With her other hand she placed the large, reddish-hued gem into his palm, letting her fingers trail along his wrist as she withdrew.

"That's a maroon diamond," she said. "Extremely rare. It's my gift to you for your hospitality today."

[member="Aleksandyr Gaillard"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

Alek's eyes followed her hand, the delicate nature of her touch seemed almost sensual. For a moment the man had nothing to say, his mind kept thinking the same words over and over again, but his tongue was unable to express what his thoughts were barely able to process. Finally, after clearing his throats, Alek's eyes returned to gaze upon the Princess's face, his own hand wrapped around hers and rose it just in front of his lips. Then with his fingers he slowly slipped the diamond out from under, the skin of her hand brushing against the nearly nonexistent space between them before slowly lowering the hand and letting go.

"An intimate gift, Princess. Certainly I shall not forget the woman it compliments," he said softly as he rose from the sofa, once more the former CEO walked over to the table.

Looking down at his plans, Alek collected the various works and neatly stacked them and the various datapads into piles. "What dost thou have planned for thy evening?" The unusual archaic usage was intended to be a humorous take on poetry, the man was well-known for his quirky sense of humor and eccentric behavior.

[member="Thais Kallisto"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Thais wasn't used to such an experienced suitor - or at least being so close to a man without an army of chaperones around her - so her reaction when his lips brushed the soft skin of her hand was to swallow hard and hide her nervousness. But like a sip of expensive wine, now that she had witnessed some of Aleks's charm firsthand, she definitely wanted to taste more than a glass. Perhaps the whole bottle may satisfy her more.

She watched him rise and was actually pleased by his restless wandering, although she hoped he was being the perfect gentleman and wasn't merely turned off by her young age. A weaker man may have pounced upon her and pressed her to the sofa by now, but Aleksandyr was acting exactly as she expected him to - predictably like the many noblemen who had courted her in the past few years. Although thankfully, his age and experience made him stand out in her eyes. Mr. Gaillard was no teenage boy, and thank the maker for that! Like the many experts that Princess Kallisto surrounded herself with - for art, music, literature - she would rather have an skillful lover teach her all there was to know, rather than fumbling along with someone who had no idea what he was doing. Because she surely didn't.

"Your assistant booked tickets to the Kuat Opera upon my request. Would you like to accompany me?" she asked, setting her pale hands in her lap.

[member="Aleksandyr Gaillard"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

Alek turned his head to face her, "Opera? Why not," he's never actually been to an Opera, which might seem strange but the Balmorran billionaire was more of a playboy than a class act. Certainly he could dress the part, if he wanted to he could act the part, but what Alek felt was the need for thrills, adventure, and power. Not essentially in that order, either.

Still, going to such an event with a woman like Thais seemed oddly pleasant. Perhaps it was just the sound of doing something that didn't require you to be an active participant that drew him in. More than likely, however, he was drawn to her own charms that she may not even have noticed herself. Not that it mattered--he's interested, that's more than enough.

"We can take my airspeeder," he walked over to the seated woman and offered his hand. Now that was a class act.

[member="Thais Kallisto"]