Taris

[extras]

"You know you could've just called on the holonet like normal people. Or at least told me what this... thing was."

As the face of the so called Dark Jedi appeared, he found cause to speak.
His tone quickly changed to one he may have likened to a creche attendant berating a child.
" It is not a thing, it is a villip and I would not contaminate myself by using your...holonet."

He spoke the last word with such disdain it left no doubt in his mind that the creature would have conveyed it perfectly.

" You have considered what we discussed?" He queried somewhat curiously, but still in that tone that left no room for maybes.
He knew if he got the wrong responses from this stranger, chances were he'd have to find him and either bring him back with him on his next journey, or outright kill him.

[darklord]

Contaminate his self? What was that supposed to mean? This stranger seemed slightly out of touch with modern times. And when did these 'villips' come into use? Perhaps it was he who was out of touch with current affairs.


"You have considered what we discussed?"


He'd thought about little else for the last few years. But what were the strangers motives for hating the jedi?

"If your asking if id like to destroy the jedi, then the answer is yes. But what makes you think that you and I will be able to accomplish such a thing on our own?"

He needed to know what this stranger was hiding, Drevin would not commit to anything without knowing what he was letting himself in for.

"Ive seen nothing from you to suggest that you could take on a single jedi. Or are you hiding some sort of private army under that cloak?"

[extras]

"If your asking if id like to destroy the jedi, then the answer is yes. But what makes you think that you and I will be able to accomplish such a thing on our own?"

He allowed the Dark Jedi to say his piece, he was not so unreasonable to silence him so early into a conversation that could go either way. Just as long as this one did not speak so out of turn it irked him into cutting the deal short. Not to mention what would befall this one after such an event.

"Ive seen nothing from you to suggest that you could take on a single jedi. Or are you hiding some sort of private army under that cloak?"

Now that drew out a slight amused chuckle from him that was sure to make the recipient curious, or at least unnerve him some. Did these people feel fear as the rest of this wretched galaxy appeared to?

" Indeed you have not, but all in good time, first I required an answer before I could...elaborate."

He drew back the hood of his cloak to reveal what, at first, appeared to be a rather normal, if harsh-featured human face. He was of course wearing an Ooglith masquer, but the stranger need not know that yet.

" There is much that is not as it seems at this time," He began " as I am sure you are aware?" A flicker of amusement crossed his features,
"Perhaps not, nevertheless I would say to you that you need not concern yourself with acquiring the resources to eradicate the jeedai, but how you will do so effectively."

He was all too aware of how his accent had slipped, but that had been with purpose. It was often amusing to see the reaction of these oh so confused infidels. No matter the outcome, even if he died on this world alone and without honour, it was too late for them.

'The time of reckoning is near dark jeedai, you need only make one choice, to submit or to fall' He thought as he waited for some form of response.

[darklord]

The man on the other end of this... villip seemed to find his statement amusing, which left Drevin feeling slightly uneasy.

Everything that the stranger had said seemed to imply that he did indeed have the ways and means to take on the jedi. He thought back to the conversation they'd had in the cantina and the planet sernpidal came to mind. Was there some sort of connection between the stranger and that incident? The force seemed to surge at the thought as if it was confirming it. Could this possibly be...?

'The time of reckoning is near dark jeedai, you need only make one choice, to submit or to fall'

If he had any doubts then that statement seemed to reinforce his suspicion.

"I submit to no one! and you would do well to not suggest it again." Drevin resisted the urge to slice the villip in two with his lightsaber, although he quickly regained his composure.

"Though if it is my allegiance that you want to aid you in your fight against the jedi, then you have it."

[extras]

"I submit to no one! and you would do well to not suggest it again."

That was to be expected, the difference was, he had to disagree completely with the idea that he was above them in this.

"Though if it is my allegiance that you want to aid you in your fight against the jedi, then you have it."

Now that brought an ominous smirk to his face. Attitudes could be changed, or more aptly, forced to change. But for now he was willing to let this one believe he had made the choices entirely for himself and that he was still firmly in control of his own destiny as it were.

" Good, you will find me in the same cantina I spoke with you in earlier, from there we will take our leave." he paused, appearing pensive for a moment or two before adding, " I am sure I do not need to reiterate that should you attempt to try anything, it will not be the Jeedai alone who will not live to regret their actions?"

He did not expect an answer, his tone was matter of fact and that said it all. But now was the time for questions, should the stranger have any. And he was sure he would have plenty of them, especially as he had not been at all forthcoming with his own plans.

[darklord]

"I am sure I do not need to reiterate that should you attempt to try anything, it will not be the Jeedai alone who will not live to regret their actions?"

He smiled at this statement, more as a show of defiance than anything else. If Drevin were to 'try anything' then this stranger wouldn't be around long enough to report back to his superiors. But he couldn't afford to be too cocky, he needed to tread carefully with this one.

"Before we 'take our leave' as you say, id like to know a few things about you."

This was it, he needed to confirm it and to set aside any doubt.

"The force that attacked at Sernpidal. You are with them?" He paused and added. "Or one of them?"

The strangers appearance looked like that of a human, but he couldn't be sure that he was simply using some sort of image altering technology. The galaxy after all was full of such devices.

The rumors he'd heard on the holonet suggested that the aliens who'd attacked at sernpidal were a warrior-like race who used organic technology. He wasn't sure how much of that was true however but he would soon find out.

[extras]

"The force that attacked at Sernpidal. You are with them?"

He quirked a brow at this question as though it had come as a surprise perhaps. He would answer if only to avoid any shock reactions when the time came to put plans to use.

" Not entirely," he stated with perhaps a hint of disdain at the abismal failure that had befallen those who had been responsible for the distruction of sernpidal. Those who had later perished at Helska 4.

" Those responsible for the distruction of Sernpidal were indeed of the same essential origin as I, you are correct in your assumption." He paused to guage the strangers reaction " But where the Praetorite Vong failed is where the rest of us shall triumph, what they have set in motion the Jeedai will be unable to prevent, they are merely irritations as it were. As I am sure you would agree?"

He needed to watch his step, while it was safe to assume that his kind would indeed engulf the entire galaxy in war and distruction for the years to come, he knew that to carefully make alliances you needed to offer the other party something in return, something that this one was certain to pick up on pretty soon. Until that time, he deviated.

"Or one of them?" He recalled the words,

" We have a name, ignorant one, and it is the Yuuzhan Vong." He responded tersely, this strangers form of ignorant humour would wear him thin, he could see it now.

[darklord]

This drew a sudden intake of breath from Drevin. He had suspected it but to hear it so plainly was shocking. An alien force was invading the galaxy. Thoughts were racing through his mind now, questions he wanted answered.

Drevin snapped out of his momentary distraction. If the stranger was one of them, then that must mean he was indeed wearing some sort of disguise.

"Forgive me for saying, but your appearance is very different from the description the jedi gave of the.. yuuzhan vong." He said this rather awkwardly, finding the name difficult to pronounce.

Drevins heart was racing. Could he really do this? Could he really help these yuuzhan vong in their conquest of the galaxy? He may hate the jedi but this was bigger than them. His victory over the jedi would mean nothing when there was no one left.

[extras]

"Forgive me for saying, but your appearance is very different from the description the jedi gave of the.. yuuzhan vong."

So the Jeedai had a discription did they? The Praetorite Vong had been sloppy. It mattered not however, soon this entire galaxy would not need a discription.
Without word he pressed a single finger to a small patch of flesh beside where the Ooglith masquer formed a rather human looking nose. His skin seemed to ripple, as if in the midst of an intense shiver, and then slowly peel away fluidly to reveal scarred and intractately tatooed flesh beneath. Several deep scars ran the full length of his face, almost obscuring any true features that might once have been, and his ears were chevroned on either side of his head, one of them adorned with what appeared to be a small needle sharp spike of coral pushed through the tip.
" Does this answer your question?" He quipped pointedly.

****

It was almost a full half a cycle later that he found himself back in the abominable cantina that he had frequented the previous day. Horrible as always, he felt that he would need to flay his own skin to be rid of the tang in the air that seemed to contaminate him. Thankfully, he was for once greatful for the masquer he wore, it was but a small barrier between him and this disdainful place.
Now all he need do was wait again. Oh how he despised this task.

[darklord]

Still shocked at what he'd witnessed in his apartment Drevin made his way to the cantina the following day. The Yuuzhan Vong creature had revealed his true appearance that had been kept hidden under a living mask. To say that they were disfigured would be an understatement. He looked like something straight out of a nightmare and Drevin was not looking forward to seeing him in the flesh.

The being had reluctantly answered most of his questions during their long conversation. He now knew enough about the yuuzhan vong to realise that they were a much bigger threat than he had first thought. If what he'd said was true then the galaxy was in huge trouble.

Drevin had learnt a lot about the species from the stranger, including their hatred of technology.

When sleep had become impossible Drevin had instead turned to meditation. The force had given him the answers he was looking for and he now knew what he had to do. It would be a difficult mission.

Drevin strode into the dark cantina, his hood pulled down low over his face.

[extras]

He had recognized the dark jedi simply by his gait, that and the way that everyone at the bar seemed to remember him from the previous day also, each one casting a cautious glance his way and whispering. Particuarly notable was a rather reluctant looking gamorrean, who despite the shrouded the dark jedi was wearing, decided to take the opportunity to make himself scarce.

Rising, he met the dark jedi half way, this time, declining the idea of offering him a rather dubious drink. The less time they spent here the better as far as he was concerned.
When he was certain no one would eaves drop, he spoke up in hushed tones,

" You have transport offworld?" he queried, he would preffer not to take the method he had to get here, but needs must.
"If so we must leave soon, I can explain more on the way, the one I had arranged to meet here yesterday will not show, not now so there is little point in our lingering. "

[darklord]

Drevin shook off the feeling of discomfort as he felt once again the mysterious void in the force that surrounded the Yuuzhan Vong stood before him. That was one topic that he hadn't brought up the previous night. He didn't want his new ally to know that he had an advantage over him and Drevin secretly wondered if the Jedi had experienced the same problem with other Yuuzhan Vong.

"I have a ship yes. Its been undergoing repairs in the dock but it should be ready by now." He noted the look of disgust on the face of the Yuuzhan Vong and felt a wave of satisfaction. Perhaps Drevin wasn't so disadvantaged after all. He added "My droid should have it prepped and ready to launch within the hour."


"...If so we must leave soon, I can explain more on the way, the one I had arranged to meet here yesterday will not show, not now so there is little point in our lingering."


That last statement rang true for Drevin also. He'd checked out the coordinates he had for the dark side cave on this planet but instead of a cave he'd found a recently built hotel. He hadn't given up on his own personal quest, but for now it would have to wait.

[extras]

"My droid should have it prepped and ready to launch within the hour."

That made him want to shiver with disgust also, he would be sure to dispose of that abomination at the first chance he could.
He merely nodded once for confirmation and made for the door.
They had barely been in the street for more than a few moments when he began to divulge some more of what he had in mind.

" I will need to make contact with my people before we head anywhere near where we are to go, it would not do good to have your infidel made-thing shot out of the skies with us both still aboard." His tone was bordering on the sarcastic, but you never really could tell with him.

He side-stepped a large group of revelers, no doubt on their way to the filthy cantina they had exited, the second skin of the masquer wrinking up around his nose in a expression of pure distain.
" I would warn again against trying anything on this journey, there are those who would not take too kindly to my non return." He cast a narrow eyed glance in the dark jedi's direction in warning, before continuing on, " If through you a solution to the jeedai problem is found, you will have granted yourself spared from the fate those around you have chosen for themselves."
he chose not to elaborate more than that, and by what he meant when he said spared, was probably not what the average infidel would think the word meant either.

[darklord]

Drevin raised his eyebrow at the term 'infidel' but said nothing. He couldn't decide whether the intendant was telling the truth or just attempting to scare him. Probably the former.

"That certainly would be an inconvenience" He said, without a hint of humor.

"If through you a solution to the jeedai problem is found, you will have granted yourself spared from the fate those around you have chosen for themselves."

Drevin hadn't taken Tin'aa Shoolb's earlier warning too well but kept his tongue. He was possibly about to fly his ship directly into the middle of enemy territory so he would have to get used to the remarks and warnings. Besides, there would be plenty of time to decide whether he should kill the intendant on the journey.

"I see."

He looked around at the bustling crowd of people going about their business. His insides seemed to twist at the casual way in which this Tin'aa Shoolb was determining the fate of the people around him. They hadn't "chosen" anything.

"You can contact your superiors on the ship, i presume you'll be using your own method of communication?"

Drevin removed the communicator from his belt and spoke into it. His droid V3 replied with a series of beeps confirming that the ship had been repaired and was ready for take off.

[extras]

He didn't have to study Drevin to see that he was a little deterred by some of his turns of phrase. But as long as the dark jedi was not planning on messing things up, he did not much care. No doubt the dark jedi had a contingency plan...anyone who had ever simply agreed to work in unknown territory would have to have one after all. Hadn't he himself before coming here?
Tln'aa Shoolb certainly had one now.
He had been born in to a society and caste that was rife with backstabbing and general lethal - literally - rivalry, so expecting Drevin to try something was almost normal to him.

"I see."

He interpreted the tone as one that did not betray any thought, he could not tell weather this was a positive nor negative confirmation. This time, however, curiosity got the better of him and he really should have known better.

" Those terms are not satisfactory?" He queried, with absolutely no intention of changing them, let alone keeping his side of the bargain should this trip prove less than fruitful as he imagined it would. A Jedi was a Jedi after all, this was just a convenient turn up.

"You can contact your superiors on the ship, i presume you'll be using your own method of communication?"

Tln'aa Shoolb's nose ridge wrinkled in disgust again at the very idea he would use something other than his own methods of communication, so he responded in such a way it could have been the bark of a bissop hound rather than speech.

"Of course! I would use my own means of transport also if it were my choice."

He shot the dark jedi a glance akin to confusion, how could an entire galaxy be so ignorant? So blind?
The chittering of the dark jedi's droid on the other end of the communicator Drevin was using gave him cause to curse under his breath, how had it come to this? If his agent had showed up when they had supposed to, the pair of them could have returned with what was asked of them and more. Then he would be considered for escalation and that meant no more hiding in filthy little places such as this.

The docking bays were immense, crawling with abominations and infidels alike going about their business. There were several ships docked in this part of the bays, each of them as grotesque and alien looking as the next. He forced himself to keep an rather passive expression, he did not much like the idea of a security droid scanning him, let alone getting anywhere near him.

" Which way ignorant one?"