Private The Coven

[Darth Strosius]

"Caution is a virtue in our line of work, you are clever for practicing it." He certainly wouldn't be keen on gulping down whatever strange substance was being offered to him.

His stride paused as the notebook was produced, Alisteri quick to turn right back around to face Jackal as she explained the contents of said notebook. "Bacta hm? I haven't done any experiments with that myself, too expensive, but that is an interesting procedure. Such regeneration in such short time, very impressive indeed." A part of him could hardly believe that it would work at all with such little to regenerate from.

The masked man plucked the book from her hand and skimmed through it for a moment, making a note to come back and properly read over it all later once Jackal's transformation wasn't as much of a concern. The drawings in particular caught his attention though and he recognized what appeared to be the beginnings of a 'warform' much like Alina possessed.

At the suggestion though he closed the book rather abruptly and tucked it under his arm. "Slavery is the tool of the enemy, of tyrants and Jedi. The Sith are liberators at heart, resorting to such disgusting practices is beneath us and against our basic principles. And I don't see a point in harvesting from my neighbors when the galaxy is full of scum that are useful for nothing more than the blood and Anima that they contain." His response was clipped and short, almost monotonous if one didn't know him that well.

"Speaking of which, your feast awaits." With another abrupt turn around he fell back into his walk to the door, opening it with a small wave of his hand and stepping past the threshold into some dimly-lit hall.

Alina Tremiru / Adeline Noctua

 

[Alina Tremiru]

Alina was, for once, or perhaps far more often as of late, the silent observer. Her golden eyes watched the interaction, listened to the suggestions. For a moment she thought this over before it began was the talk of slaves came up. Alisteri himself, his past. Curious. He'd shown far more anger in the past when confronted with such casual ideas of owning another person. She herself lashed out because of him.

But not this time. He was calm as ever. Perhaps not under the mask, but for now, calm was all he offered.

"A feast fit for a Highborn, I take it?"

Darth Strosius | Adeline Noctua

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Equipment | In Bio
Location | Alisteri's ship
Tag | Alina Tremiru Darth Strosius

His side of things did indeed make something click within Jackal, seeing as her past also related to dark times.

"You make a fair enough point, I do suppose I am just too used to working with the Hutts. See, I come from Nal Hutta, so please do forgive me if I suggest a crude option. Still trying to find a place I like enough to move to if I must be honest, not like I would miss all the spice dealers trying to sell to me.. Not like I could even use it if I wanted to."

Though.. Other things he spoke of quickly picked up the interest of Jackal.

"The Jedi use slaves? Can't say I got that impression with how much they try to make it out that they are better than everyone else. Far as I can tell so long as one can control it then the dark is far superior, passion is a great motivator."

He opened a door, temporarily cutting off the conversation. She steps into the dimly lit hall, the darker room much more preferable to her eyes.

"Considering the help you have given me thus far... I can help you get bacta, could help save plenty of your cultists if they ever find themselves mortally wounded.. There- Mm, I have a brick of aurodium back home.. It was payment from the dark lord Carnifex. I will split the brick, that should not just cover plenty of bacta but also anything else you might need. Consider it a gift, we Sangir need to look out for one another in times of need, no?"

It would be quite the hefty gift indeed, the brick itself was 44 pounds.. Meaning Alisteri and his cult would receive 22 pounds of the rare metal.

"The brick itself weighs forty four pounds, I normally would be reluctant to share... But I feel like the aid you are giving me is worth that brick and more."

It was a huge difference between now and her old self, Jackal normally clutched riches like a dragon protecting its lair of precious trinkets.. Yet as the clock drew closer and closer, Jackal found herself feeling different. For a time now even her manner of speaking was different, far more like that of Adeline.

"By the way, are we all going to enjoy a feast? Even with my current hunger I doubt I can eat all that you have prepared, I welcome both you and Alina to enjoy it as well if either of you so wish."

 

[Darth Strosius]

"Nal Hutta? My condolences, I couldn't imagine having to breath the same air as Hutts for more than an hour or two." Not without carving into one of those overgrown slugs anyway. Nar Shaddaa was bad enough, but Nal Hutta itself? He shuddered at the thought. "The Jedi enslave themselves and fail to quash slavery, thus they are practicers of it." As much as he would love to continue such philosophical discussion they did have a bit of a timetable on their hands. And one that they couldn't see at that.

The brick made him pause again and he glanced back at the other Sangnir with a slight tilt of his head. "You've received something from Carnifex? Living with Hutts and dealing with tyrants, and here I thought the thirst was the worst of your problems. I appreciate the offer but I have no need of it, I have...alternative solutions to a lack of bacta." That and he wanted no part of it if Carnifex had been anywhere near it.

"Yes well therein lies a possible issue. You see, the only point of reference I have for Highborn feeding is from Alina herself, so I'm not sure how long they'll last." With that the dim hallway ended in a small bulkhead door, one that was opened with a simple press on the button next to it. The door slid open to reveal a cargo bay, this one lined with various containers and with some equipment on the far side of the room. Most strikingly of all though was the contents of said containers.

Over two dozen scruffy and terrified pirates inhabited the various containers, some clustered together in one or all alone in their own. They recoiled from the lights that lit up the cargo bay as Alisteri stepped inside and gestured to them with a wave of his arms. "Alina, Jackal, these are the Raiders of the Silver Star. Or, what's left of them. Two days ago their gang numbered sixty five. Impressive numbers for a backwater crew don't you think?"

The pirates recoiled from their jailer as he strode past their containers and towards the lab and medical equipment on the far side of the room. "I do have reserves that we can tap into if need be. But I sincerely hope we shall not need them."

Alina Tremiru / Adeline Noctua

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"I'm unsure how much you'll need for the change. But, so long as you don't go too crazy with your newfound power, your diet won't change much." Alina offered a shrug before letting her eyes fall on the unfortunate souls within the cages. There was no sense of mercy or empathy in her gaze. Just the cold, emotionless expression one would give as they studied their choice of steak at a market.

Their whimpering ceased as their gazes fell to the floor one by one. There was no hope for saving now. All they were left with was the reality of death.

"You'll find no friends of Carnifex here. Did I tell you he impersonated you once, Alisteri? Cost me my leg for a couple days. I don't think I'm going to be able to stay under their radar for much longer."

Darth Strosius | Adeline Noctua

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Equipment | In Bio
Location | Alisteri's ship
Tag | Alina Tremiru Darth Strosius

She sighs a little bit, her past on Nal Hutta wasn't something she often wished to think of. Then Alisteri had properly explained his reasoning for why the Jedi were slavers... Thinking on it, she had never been saved by the light. Only saved by her own sheer will, fate, and the dark. Not a single Jedi had ever tried to even slightly help, it was ever only the dark that gave her the strength to fight back.

"That is.. A fair point, one I didn't think of until now thanks to you."

Jackal taps at her chin, also listening in to their opinions of the man known as Carnifex.

"I can't say I am well versed in the umm practices you Sith do, I just do the work I am paid for, simple as. Forgive me for the offer, I didn't know."

She lowers her head, a simple gesture of also saying sorry.

"Never heard of them before, any idea why their group was so large?"

Her guts growl again as she places a hand on the container, claws quickly extending out of instinct, scratching at the container. It was clear that her metamorphosis was near, showing signs of almost uncontrollable hunger in order to prepare for the costly transformation that soon would have her blossom.

 

[Darth Strosius]

"He did what?!" Alisteri was well aware that he was unfortunately not as anonymous to the higher ups within the Sith as he would have liked, but knowing of his ties with other Sith or people in general was another matter entirely. What else did the tyrant or the corpse know about him that he didn't want them to? That was something that he'd have to explore later though as Jackal caught his attention with her strange and fidgety movements. "Come quickly, let's get you sat down. I doubt this will be a very pleasant process."

More of the imprisoned pirates would flinch away as the masked man quickly crossed the room to reach the equipment, briefly flicking a few different knobs and dials. "They were only so big because they scored a big ship and bribed a bunch of mercenaries. Had a good little thing going for a few weeks before we found them."

The machines and equipment, varying from a few specialized IVs to some monitors for vitals, all centered around a bed. A bed that did have restraints attached to it, and given the style of it it almost looked as if it had been torn out of some prison hospital or clinic. "Alright take a seat and get comfortable. Alina, could you pick out one of the pirates for me?"

Alina Tremiru / Adeline Noctua

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"Mm. He was trying to take both, but it turns out I'm not as weak as he might've thought."

Which was it's own problem, now that she thought about it. Not that there was much time to think. Her gaze shifted to Adeline just as Alisteri's did. Time was up, it seemed. She gave her fellow Sith a nod before reaching towards one of the cages. With a pull of her hand, the Force reacted, ripping the door open. And bringing it's occupant from where he sat huddled on the ground into her outstretched hand.

Her eyes turned to him, looking him over.

He'd do.

"This one smells of a latent connection. Enough to sate, I think."

Darth Strosius | Adeline Noctua