The Gathering [Ask]

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Alicia Drey"] [member="Joon"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

Before she replied to Jaster's queries, Taeli watched the young woman named Justiciara excuse herself from the conversation. Someone still had a long way to go before they could effectively be involved in such things. The girl let her own personal feelings toward someone or a group get in the way of civility, that was never good for business. Still... there was something else that was nagging at her... something about how the girl felt...

"I'm hardly ever in GA space, even I'm aligned with them," Taeli answered, watching the girl at the window still. "Always off on company business or dealing with some crisis or expedition. I'm constantly out exploring the Outer Rim, but they've been good to work with. We just recently were negotiating with the Naboo to enter the fold, but we were attacked by an unknown Sith. They devastated the part of the palace we were in, but if not for, excuse me here, my timely action and a friend's, there would be a lot more dead bodies than there were."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Joon didn’t jump when her Master approached. She sort of felt her there before she spoke.

”No problem, Miss Drey.”

She didn’t turn to look at her either, because she wasn’t in the mood for a lecture again.

”Just a Jedi Master inches from my face talking to me like I am a child. I had to move away before I snapped her neck and gouged out her judging eyes.”

[member="Taeli Raaf"] would be one to watch, but Joon hoped she wouldn’t have to see her again. Or if she did, in the future, she would be allowed to strike her and cause pain.

”How was your meeting?” Changing the subject. ”Did you get what you need?”

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Jen]

Her latin wasn’t what it used to be. In fact, she had never been taught latin. Nevertheless, had Jennifer known her business partner had chosen a Cryptnet handle that meant liar; she would probably have been even more suspicious than she already was. But that was what search engines were for.

As Jennifer snatched the memory stick, she slowly stood from her seat, inspecting the stick shortly before securely putting it into a metal case that was attached to her belt. You never knew if there was any trackers in it. “You know, the percentage of getting tagged n’ bagged on this mission is super likely. The Galactic Alliance is a growing power, wouldn’t surprise me if they got big ICE.” She grinned still, yet the harshness that Alicia was displaying and the type of jobs she was requesting of Jen was surprising. The philanthropist that was Alicia Drey was a façade for something else entirely, that much was certain. Oh, how Jennifer had always despised corporate greed.

Seeming to be in a state of complete pondering for a second, Jennifer silently listened as Marcus and Alicia exchanged cold remarks. As the businesswoman was walking towards the door, Jennifer looked towards Marcus and raised her brows in an expression that might as well have said ‘oh boy.’

“What a shame, was just starting to enjoy the surroundings.” Jen tried to joke as the woman told them to leave. From the start, it had been the plan to leave as soon as possible, so it fit well with her expectations, not that she did not find it rude considering she obviously would rather have wanted to go on her own terms and make a scene out of it. Furthermore, she had not even had a single refreshment since she had arrived.

As Drey finally exited the room, Jennifer turned towards Marcus once again and rolled her eyes. “Phew, huh? Let us talk freely when we’re in orbit. She is still listening. I’ll grab some drinks for us on the way out.” Jennifer muttered, knowing that the bounty hunter’s helmet was probably capable of picking up the soft sounds. And with that, Jennifer exited the room as well, walking casually towards the nearest bar to pick up two large glasses of whiskey before she headed towards the exit and her ship to team back up with Marcus. Had it been under any other circumstances she would have yelled a bit at people before leaving, but that problem wasn't the right choice right now.

[member="Alicia Drey"] :: [member="Marcus Itera"]​

 

[Marcus Itera]

It was a cold, prickly exchange. Not enjoyable in the very least save for the amusement at riling up their supposed business partner with subtle words. But nevertheless, the Hydian Way duo had acquired quite a large sum of credits in advance and that displayed enough trust in them that this lady wasn't just fooling around. It was a lot of credits. Funding he could really use in advancing his own fiscal dealings.

Then the whole deal was over almost as quickly as it started. Miranda had been transcribing the conversation the whole time, as her audio recorder had been jammed the whole time. Visuals; however, a few high-quality images had been taken of her. They didn't really serve any purpose unless this whole thing went haywire and their client ended up being a turncoat. Marcus highly doubted that and disliked the idea of publicly shaming this woman - but business was business.

The mercenary waited until their client was out of earshot to speak. "It's cool, nice work. Grab me something strong if you're taking any drinks with us. Good stuff only - I think you know what I like."

"Got the whole conversation recorded, have her dossier saved in encrypted files for later. Anything else?"

"I don't think so. Tag a marker on this location for later. Good work to you too."

Miranda scoffed. "When don't I do good work?"

"I don't think you'll want an answer to that."

[member="Jen"], [member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Jaster Awaud]

As [member="Joon"] walked away, Jaster felt as though maybe it was his fault, maybe he should have as the two debate over it some more before he took the matter into his own hands. He was a businessman not a peacekeeping, not anymore anyways. His mind was disappointed to not speak with another friend of Alicia, but at least he could possibly speak with someone ho had friends in the GA.

He turned his attention back to [member="Taeli Raaf"], who was speaking to him about the attacks on Naboo. He had heard about them, he had served the previous queen of Naboo as a Merc, he had sent relief supply's to his old friend, but still had heard no word. He was glad the situation was at hand no, he didn't get much good news in the Fringe Territories. "I could understand that, I've been having my own problems with Unknown Sith out in the Unknown Region and Fringe Territories," He turned to look at the food, but remembered he couldn't open his suit without spreading the poison, so he turned back to the women, "Every merchant freighter I send out is attacked before it reaches its destination, and don't get me started about the One Sith who blockade all my trade routes into the Unknown Region, I've had no choice but to set my planet up for the soon invasion of our sector." Jaster sighed, he could see the stack of paperwork he would be returning to.

He turned to [member="Alicia Drey"] who just joined the party, "I was planinng on asking Alicia with assistance for one of our new projects that might keep our planet safe until we could find new lines to peace."

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Joon"] | [member="Camellia Swift"] | [member="Lady Shambleau"] | [member="Quiirak"] | [member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Kyoko Ike"] | [member="Attrion Harnol"] | [member="Sanya Val Swift"] | [member="Gael bar Ammon"] |

Alicia debated herself silently, as Justiciara posed her question. After a few moments, she replied: "I don't know. As they say, the damage has been done. You don't need to refer to me as Miss. Drey either, Justiciara. We're friends- partners- now. Alicia will do." Turning her gaze to her other guests, she said: "Come. It is time for us to unveil Project Praesidium."

Walking forwards, Alicia addressed her guests. "Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Apologises for not greeting you sooner, but I had some private matters that had to be attended too. But now that they have been resolved, I would like to personally thank you all for coming. Welcome to Sojourn. If you would all like to follow me..."

Turning away from the small crowd, Alicia made her way deeper into the Fort. Past the flight of stairs that led up into the servant quarters and other rooms, she led the way towards a pair of wooden doors. Opening the latch, Alicia swung them open and stepped towards the precipices. Another flight of stairs, made out of stone, loomed before her and her guests.

"Please, watch your step. It isn't a long way down, but I wouldn't want anyone to hurt themselves," explained Alicia. Climbing down the stairs, the artificial lights built into the hallway activated, shining the way down into the catacombs of the structure. At the bottom, another door blocked the way. Unlike the entrance above, this door was made out of Cortosis, provided by Alicia's mine on Obredaan. Typing in her codes into the key pad at the size, the door signaled that the gate was now open.

"After you, everyone." Smiling, Alicia held the door opening for everyone to enter. Inside, the room was near enough the same size as the atrium above, and found in the center, was device of some kind. For Shambleau and Camellia, they would recognize it as the shield generator they had seen previously in the schematics and designs for the Praesidium generator. For the others, it appeared to be a reactor of some kind.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Friends?

The word caused Joon to flicker her brow a little. When she had mentioned being a friend to Ayra weeks ago it had been dismissed. Now she was a friend? What was she doing? What was she after?

Closing her eyes, composing herself and smacking her lips gently as the grand host called her guests, Joon flexed her fingers and turned on her heels, looking over the assembly and hanging back to follow them all.

Joon wanted to be friends with Ayra – Alicia – for she was all she had in the galaxy. It was both a blessing, and a curse. Slowly walking with an air of casual elegance and with no urgency in each step, the clone knew where they were going, and took her time and listened to the muted chatter and wonder.

Passing [member="Alicia Drey"] at the door, Joon caught her eye and gave a tiny nod as she entered, hanging back on the wall of the large room where the reactor was, in order to watch everyone and take stock of the gathering. After all, she was the Apprentice looking out for her Master.

[member="Camellia Swift"] | [member="Lady Shambleau"] | [member="Quiirak"] | [member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Kyoko Ike"] | [member="Attrion Harnol"] | [member="Sanya Val Swift"] | [member="Gael bar Ammon"] | [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

 

[Kyoko Ike]

Kyoko had been there but quiet, really she wasn't certain what was happening but the people were all here as she was moving to join and listen. Seemed something had happened but the petite atrisian was not involved nor had reason to care crossing her hands in front of herself while she was walking and taking in everything. Carefully and with a bright smile so she could listen to the others and mainly the one who was giving them the tour or information needed. The small atrisian had all of her small things for taking notes and really didn't need to record or try and blackmail but was happy to let them scan and search as needed to prove it. She was ready to begin whatever was coming.

 

[Camellia Swift]

[member="Alicia Drey"] [member="Lady Shambleau"] [member="Joon"]

Before she could speak further with Lady Shambleau it seemed like Alicia had freed herself from whatever meeting she had been having with some of the odd people who had shown up. Not that it gave the Rendili woman a chance to greet the hostess yet either as they were all quickly addressed and led away to a rather ominous doorway with an equally eerie setup. In all honesty it wasn't something that bothered Camellia, but she couldn't help but liken the dramatic approach to their destination like the slow crawl through the halls of a madman's mansion only to happen upon his secret lair where all manner of unspeakable atrocities were committed.

Of course rather than anything like that what lay within the room was just the shield generator Camellia recalled they had pitched to Lady Cardei back on Naboo not so long ago. Not wanting to spoil Alicia's big reveal since she was doing so well with presentation theatrics so far, the Rendili woman kept her mouth shut and sipped the glass she had picked up before while waiting to see what happened next.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Alicia Drey"] @Joon @Camellia Swift [member="Kyoko Ike"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

"Yes, I would imagine many of us here are hoping to meet with Miss Drey," Taeli said, almost absentmindedly as she watched the woman in question speak in hushed tones to the fascinating young girl that... there it was again. Just that hint of something else that was floating on the edge of her perceptions. She hadn't wanted to use her powers here, but she was curious enough about the girl she was about to reach out and check her presence when their host began ushering people towards the main entertainment.

The large generator dominated the room it was in, and it was clearly made from some highly specialized equipment. She wasn't going to say much until Miss Drey started her pitch about the device, her eyes were still on the young girl accompanying Alicia. It was nagging at her now, the curiosity that was always present in her life, to further her search for information and knowledge.